As Ruth Williams and Vera Starikovich reached Chicago they were greeted by Jasmine, Ruth's oldest sister, at the bus station. After introductions were made, Jasmine had no objection to taking Vera back to the Williams home on Excalibur Street; after all Ruth was the owner and Jasmine had her own place. Vera's personality soon won Jasmine over and when Vera was introduced to the other Williams sisters, she quickly won them over as well.
Alisha and Vera became natural fast friends. Being of the same age and both pregnant inevitably cemented their particular friendship. Alisha loved sharing her room with Vera because her apprehensions of being pregnant so young were eased as she now had a roommate in exactly the same condition. Likewise, Vera benefitted from Alisha's friendship as it prevented her from feeling alone in her situation.
Vera was not homesick although she missed her family. Since her greatest desire was to move out of Crystal Springs, she was going to make the most of being in Chicago for the time being. She knew when she returned to Crystal Springs with her baby it would only be for a few years. She knew that once having tasted life in Chicago she would never want to remain in Mississippi.
During the next few days Vera was satisfactorily settled in. Jasmine and Ruth arranged all the social welfare details so that Vera was able to take advantage of all government programs both federal and state that were available to her. As Ruth had predicted Vera was not much of a burden on the Williams sisters' household and Vera became as self sufficient as she possibly could have been given her age and the fact that she was living in a strange city far away from her home.
Raven, Ruth's 20 year old sister, was indeed able to obtain employment for Vera as a busser at the restaurant where she was working. Vera was a very determined female who when her mind was made up succeeded at anything she attempted. She excelled so much as a busser that the management of the restaurant promoted her to a server within a few weeks after she had started. Vera carried herself so maturely that the restaurant management had no reason to suspect that Vera was really younger than the eighteen years of age as she had told them. Vera had cleverly utilized her older sister's driver license to obtain the position but was able to have her true SS number applied for her wages, so she never had tax problems. Raven did not think it was any of her business to make the restaurant aware of Vera's true age.
With her government assistance, Larry's money and her earnings at the restaurant, Vera was at least financially capable of taking care of her expected baby. Within a few days of arrival Ruth scheduled an appointment for Vera with the obstetrician/gynecologist, Dr Elizabeth Barrett, who was also the doctor looking after Alisha. The visit to the doctor's office confirmed that Vera was pregnant, and her suspected due date of Feb 15 was consistent with the doctor's examination of her.
After a week as she was well settled and her pregnancy confirmed, Vera could no longer delay contacting her family to let them know of her situation. She hoped in talking to her father that something of a positive note might emerge. Since her sister Anna had already been pregnant, she knew that her parents would take a more realistic approach rather than getting hysterical at the fact that she was pregnant at such a young age. However, she also knew that her father would vehemently oppose her plan of giving birth and would insist on her getting an abortion. She could only hope that since she was in Chicago her father would have no choice but to accept her plan since he was virtually powerless to do otherwise.
The conversation went as badly as she could have expected, "Hello Daddy, it's Vera, I am calling from Chicago."
"Chicago? What the hell are you doing in Chicago? Your mother told me you went to Gulfport to visit your friend Courtney."
"I am pregnant Dad. That's why I'm in Chicago."
Having already dealt with another daughter's previous pregnancy Leonid Starikovich was not shocked by this news. He fully grasped the situation and so responded, "So that's why you're in Chicago to have an abortion. Did your boyfriend give you money, because I know I sure as hell didn't? I guess it is a smart move to go so far away. No one here in Crystal Springs will be the wiser of your ah accident."
"Yes, Dad my boyfriend did give me the money for an abortion, but I'm not going through with it. I am going to have my baby."
"What? Don't talk such rubbish Vera. You have to take this matter seriously. This foolish notion of not terminating your pregnancy is just that, plain foolishness. My God Vera you are only thirteen. You haven't even started high school. You are too young to be a mother."
At this point Vera was glad she was talking on the phone rather than face to face with him. She knew in person he would never relent, but would brow beat her to submission and quickly take her to an abortion clinic before she could change her mind. On the phone she was emboldened to stick to her guns and maintain her resolve. So she replied, "Maybe so but abortion is murder. And I will not be a murderer."
"Your sister Anna had an abortion. So is she a murderer?"
"You forced her to have an abortion."
"So you are calling me a murderer?"
"If the shoe fits."
"Look Vera I had enough of your lip. I want you to be sensible. The law says I must look after you until you are an adult, but the law does not require me to look after your baby. You are welcome to come home alone. If you don't get an abortion, then at least give up the baby for adoption. If you show up at my doorstep with a child, I will take it to the Children Protective Services. Don't doubt me on this point. You understand what I'm saying?"
"Yes Dad I understand."
Vera hung up the phone and immediately started crying. Ruth was nearby to hear the conversation at least Vera's side of it but she did not understand a word and so she had no idea what in the conversation had upset Vera.
Vera and her father spoke in Russian. Leonid, although conceding and expecting his children to become completely American, nevertheless wanted them to be aware of their Russian heritage. To this end he allowed no English to be spoken in his home, only Russian. The rule was so strict that the children spoke in Russian amongst themselves in addition to their parents. They were so used to it that they spoke Russian between themselves even when out in public.
The Starikovich children attended public schools in Crystal Springs, but Grusha, homeschooled her children in Russian grammar and literature. Thus, although Vera's predominant language of use was English; her mother tongue was Russian, and she was as fluent as if she had grown up in Russia.
That being the case, once Vera diminished her sobbing, Ruth surmised, "I take it Vera that you speak another language with your father?"
Knowing that Ruth was obliquely questioning her as to the result of her conversation, Vera replied, "Yes we only speak Russian amongst ourselves. My father told me that he wouldn't allow me back unless I got rid of my child either by abortion or by giving it up for adoption. He further went on to say that if I did show up with a child, he would turn it over to the government child services. If I want to keep my child, I apparently will have to be a stranger to my family. God this sucks!"