Featured Short Story: Planting Seeds, Taking Root by TK Hadman

Planting Seeds, Taking Root
By TK Hadman

Ella rubbed herself furiously, trying to aim for the glass vial. Distractions kept bubbling to the surface. This would never work. How could she possibly explain it if she were discovered? She’d wanted kids ever since she could remember, and this was the only way she could have her own. Coming out at work had been hard enough, but now this? Misusing company property for her own ends? Dubious, dishonest trans people indeed. Out to destroy the very fabric of society.

She gave up; frustrated at the incessant hamster-wheeling of her brain and supremely weirded out that her father’s words had popped up. She knew this was the only way she could have what she wanted, no, what she needed. She had every right to be a mom. She’d been through this logic several times with herself and a handful of understanding friends. She was open to adoption, but saving the genetic material in hopes of getting the chance to use it was keeping all options available to her. Why close that door if she didn’t have to?

Furthermore, there was no point in spending upwards of $600 on her own liquid nitrogen tank and supplies when she had access to one at work for free. It was highly unlikely she would be discovered; the tank was huge and she was the sole research employee using the myriad cell samples within it.  She had already worked out how to label it and where to put it so it wouldn’t attract any attention from inspectors, and there was no risk of cross-contamination between her “sample” and the ones that were supposed to be there.

But more importantly, she was finally getting a hormone prescription tomorrow and this would be her only chance. The job as a lab tech paid well, but she had always been a planner. There were a lot of expenses ahead and she needed to cut corners whenever possible. At least Ramen still tasted good.

After a quick shower to clear the mind, she browsed through an old favorite porn site and didn’t look back.

***

Dean reached up and pinched Ella’s butt as they climbed to the top of the Jenkins County water tower. Ella paused to smile down at her, then kept ascending. She was one hell of a woman. To celebrate two years together, Dean had pitched the idea of returning to the site of their third date, when her affections had begun to root. There, Ella’d said, as her brown, dimpled chin motioned to the looming green orb in the distance. That’s where our picnic’s gonna be. Dean was hooked.

Dean’s love affair with urban exploration began when she was a rebellious fourteen year old who’d just come out to her parents. She liked heights; she liked being in places where she knew few had been. Normally she was the one cajoling friends and love interests to join her on rooftops or to poke around abandoned buildings. She’d never met anyone who could actually surprise her with new spots.

They sat side by side on the metal path that orbited the water tower, legs dangling, snacking on gummy worms in the waning light. The pair had finally reached that point where you could be silent together and it was okay. Both enjoyed simply being, nothing more. After a while, Dean said, “You oughta meet my folks.”

Ella looked at her, an eyebrow raised. “This is new.”

Dean held out her palm. “They don’t know how serious we are, because they get all sweaty when I tell them things like, my girlfriend and I moved in together.” Ella gave a small laugh, an incredulous look on her face. “Mom asks, are you happy? I say yes, and Dad says, well spare us the details, knowing you’re happy is enough.”

“So you want to put me through all that? Good thing I love you.” Ella tossed up a gummy to catch in her mouth but it hit her nose instead.

Dean giggled. She shook her dreadlocked head and tossed one up herself, catching it successfully.

“Seriously, though…why?” Ella asked, mouth full of worms.

Dean shrugged. “I think it’s time they come to terms with who I’m going to be sticking with for a while. A long-ass while.”

Ella shook her head. “You’re gonna have to meet Amy then. Only fair to trade one awkward family gathering for another.” She smiled at her partner.

Dean knew her twin sister Amy was the only way Ella kept in contact with her parents, and was suddenly overcome with a mushy feeling that seemed just beyond her understanding.  She grabbed Ella’s hand and placed it on her stomach just underneath her navel. “I kinda wish we could have our own chubby little out-of-wedlock monster. Maybe it’s the air up here.”

Ella’s face lit up as she told Dean about the dastardly plan she’d hatched several years prior. “It’s there whenever you’re ready,” she finished, turning her face skyward. She quickly changed the subject to the various summer constellations starting to appear overhead.

Dean admired Ella’s profile, and felt those roots grow deeper than they ever had before.

TK Hadman is an emerging writer, poet, and gendernaut. Zie enjoys reading George Saunders, David Sedaris, Imogen Binnie, and Jeffery McDaniel. Living in Atlanta with zir wife, zie continues to waffle about graduate school, wax nostalgic about Agnes Scott, and watch kitten videos on YouTube. You can follow zir creative exploits and art drops on Twitter @flashfictionatl.