Character Analysis
We don't get to know baby Rufus all that well, except for how Sam and Alicia feel about him. There's nothing like a surprise baby to make you grow up fast—like, really fast. We know that Alicia feels strongly about keeping the baby, and when everyone meets him, they're glad she has. Annie and Andrea are excited to be grandparents, and Alicia settles into her new life pretty quickly.
Here's the thing, though: While everyone comes around, they don't all start out thrilled by the news of baby Roof's impending arrival. Sam's mom doesn't run out and buy "It's a boy!" balloons when she first learns the news. In fact, she all but does the opposite. Sam thinks to himself:
I wanted her to tell me that everything was going to be all right. I wanted her to say that she'd survived, so I could too. But she wasn't telling me that. She was telling me that I didn't have a future anymore. (9.264)
Ouch. We think we should mention that Sam and Alicia's parents react to the pregnancy news with shock and disappointment because they've been expecting their kids to go to college or land a cool job after school. It's not that they don't love Rufus. And to be fair, no matter how you slice it, he really changes things for Alicia and Sam. It takes everyone a while to let go of what they'd hoped Sam and Alicia's lives would be like and welcome Rufus with open arms. Luckily, by the time he cries his first cry at the hospital, everyone is on board.