“Hey, there’s my girl” Bob purred as he opened the door. Steamy food smells filled the hall. Bob was making his patented “Stew a-la Bob” which meant stew with twice as many carrots. Linda didn’t really care for carrots, but she always pretended to love it when he made it for her.
Bob ushered her in. She had been to his dorm room many times for “dinner” which really was just a prelude to fooling around. His roommate was gone, as usual. Bob reached past Linda and tied a red handkerchief to the doorknob.
“Come in,” Bob said. “Dinner’s almost ready.”
“Bob, I’m late.” Linda said.
“It’s only seven fifteen, you’re just on time.” Bob said looking at his watch. “Actually, for you, you’re early”
“No Bob, I’m late.”
Bob’s brow furrowed in confusion. Then his jaw went slack with realization.
“Late? You. But we, but you…” Bob’s face was a road map of confusion “You said you were on something.”
“I was. I am” Linda stammered.
“I thought the pill was ninety-nine percent effective,” Bob said. “Wow. So, what do we do now?”
“I don’t know.”
“I have a buddy who told me of a doctor we can go to. To take care of it,” Bob said.
“An abortion,” Linda said.
“Yeah,” Bob said. “I mean, it’s the sensible thing to do. We’re in college. Who wants to bring a person into this world when there’s a war going on?”
“Yes, it is the sensible thing,” Linda said.
Bob sighed. “I don’t think I have enough bread for the operation. Maybe I could borrow some. Say, you don’t have any stashed away, do you?”
“I want to keep it,” Linda said.
“The money?”
“The baby.”
“You do?”
“Yes.”
“Uh…then I guess we should get married, then,” Bob mumbled. His impromptu proposal became family lore, an anecdote to trot out for friends and family.
