grabbing her bowl and retreating to a stool.
“My unborn child is unworthy of dining with
the family. I dare not dream of a gift. Mother-
in–law is right.”
World War III erupted between Mom and
Janie. Mark, stunned for a moment, sided
with Janie.
“Mom! How could you say that? Janie and I
both want a son to carry on the family
name!”
“What did I say? She better have a son, or
people will talk.
33
“Stop it! It’s all my fault!” Janie fanned the
<
flames, Mark’s protective instincts went into
overdrive. He and Mom argued, the dinner
table descending into chaos.
My mom always ruled the roost. Dad, sipping
his scotch, muttered, “Your mother’s just thinking about the family line.” His tone was
condescending. Mark, ready to die for his
precious wife, was completely lost to reason.
Janie, attempting a dramatic, novel–worthy
faint, actually fell. And started bleeding.
When the paramedics arrived, Mom hissed at
me, “Go with her! Use your doctor
connections! Find out if it’s a boy or girl!”
<
It finally hit me. They’d always been cold to
me, showering Mark with everything while I
wore hand–me–downs and relied on financial
aid for college. Only after I finished med
school did they suddenly care.
I’d thought my success had finally won their
approval. I treated their every ailment, cared
for Janie and her son.
I was just a free clinic.
“Okay,” I said flatly, following Janie into the
ambulance.
At the hospital, Janie’s…limitations…were on
<
full display.
“Have you eaten anything today?” the
ultrasound tech asked.
“I wanted to buy my son a longevity lock,
but…”
“What did you eat? Where does it hurt?”
“I’m 28 weeks pregnant. Last night, I snuck a
Swiss roll and my husband caught me. We…”
The tech rolled her eyes. She sent us off for
medication. Janie grabbed her arm.
“Is it a boy or a girl? Tell me!”
r
“We’re not allowed to say.”
“Whisper it! Just to me!”
“Your condition isn’t serious. Go home and
rest. A longevity lock is a lovely idea.”
I raised an eyebrow. Janie, oblivious, threw the ultrasound gel on the floor. “Is it because we didn’t give you enough? How much do you
want? I can pay!”
The tech stared, shocked. She told Janie to
leave, stop making a scene.
“Ha! Guilty conscience, huh?” Janie preened.
The waiting room was full of onlookers,
く
The waiting room was full of onlookers,
emboldening her. She pulled out her phone.
“Everyone look! This OB–GYN takes bribes
for gender reveals!”
She was a thorny rose indeed. Pricking
anyone who came near.
Before things escalated, security arrived, two large men “escorting” her out. Even as they
blacklisted her from the hospital, she fumed, “Amy, do you think she wanted more
money?”
I batted my eyelashes. “I think so. She totally
didn’t want to tell us.
33
L
Janie, no longer in pain, leaned in
conspiratorially, pulling out a small bag of
pills. “I met a nice lady outside. She has a
secret family recipe for having a son.
I looked down. Gender–selection pills.
Janie, I’m not as smart as you. What are
those?”
