Third Child

by Kate Mitchell

  Why do some people make it to the top while others slip down the drainpipe? Is there something in the genes or the fabric of life which says that you deserve a raw deal? It was a question she often asked herself because of her sense of justice, the answer suggested that it was always unfair. Unfair because if she didn’t get into these states of mood called depression, her life would have been so much different.

  And then you meet someone like Angelia Joseph, beautiful and with a career, who on the surface had everything and yet she still had time to complain. If only Cecelia had half her luck.

  The telephone rang calling to be answered.

  ‘Hello Cecelia, it’s me, Angelina, please don’t hang up on me.’

  How strange, she had just been thinking of her. ‘What, are you bored? Do you want to invite me out for another meal?’

  ‘Oh, please be kind to me. I need to talk to you.’

  This woman who had everything was asking her to be kind from. What a joke. ‘What, just like the other time. No, sirree, I’ve got other things to do with my time.’

  ‘I promise I’ll tell you everything this time. Please.’

  ‘And you think I don’t have anything important to do with my life?’

  ‘I didn’t mean that. Please don’t give up on me.’

  Not immune to the plea in Angelina’s voice, it pulled out an immeasurable feeling of concern that she would do anything to save this other person’s suffering. Why should anyone suffer? Cecelia had first-hand experience of this. “Don’t,” Cecelia could hear the voice inside her head pleading, “please don’t.” This voice from the past came haunting back to the surface again.

  ‘Why can’t you tell someone else?’

  ‘I can’t—and I can’t explain either why I believe you would understand better. This could be your big break.’

  ‘Nah, that doesn’t work for me. I don’t need someone to tell me that they are doing me a favor. What I need to know is why you really picked me?’

  ‘Because you had a breakdown; because I think you believe in justice. There aren’t many people these days who can see right from wrong.’

  It came out in one long torrent of words which meant nothing to this woman but everything to Cecelia. She had lived this life; she didn’t need someone else trying to claim it.

  ‘And you think I can?’

  ‘Yes.’

  It was with mixed feelings when Cecelia put down the receiver. This woman had begged and pleaded to talk to her. Finally, she had agreed because the desire to help was erasing the face of her depression.

  She was going to this woman’s apartment in one of the most sought-after places in the city. Prepare yourself, Cecelia. Will you be jealous? Probably. Yet, going to see someone else’s home always fascinated Cecelia. Giving her answers to questions on what these other people had done with their lives, a keyhole into their private world.

  Yes, Cecelia’s private world was a world laid out for inspection. A desk, stacks of books every single one cataloged and in place. Rooms bereft of character, every mark erased. Someone could enter her studio flat without any problem and start living their own lives. No one lived here, no one of any character. This is what her studio flat said about her.

  Everything Cecelia saw was under analysis.

  And another thing, Angelina Joseph had asked her to come tonight. Come by taxi and she would pay. Did she have so much money that she could throw it away?

  It wasn’t on, feeling insulted, Cecelia told her firmly. She told Angelina that she would take a bus and then the Metro. But no, this wasn’t good enough for Angelina who had wanted to see her straight away. She wanted to talk to Cecelia, and now before she lost courage. And then that same final word which she always ended her sentences with, please.

  Of course, it was lovely to go by taxis everywhere, as it would be lovely if she had enough money not to worry about the future. And yes, she was a depressive which was also unfair. But life was all about unfairness, at least it was for her.

  It is hard to walk into another world when the contrast from her stark situation was to one of such luxury, and says, I wish this was me.

  In reception, there were two uniformed people in attendance, and no doubt there would be a swimming pool down in the basement and a helicopter pad on the roof.

  ‘I’ve come to see Ms. Angelina Joseph; she is expecting me.’ Holding her back straight, she gave the impression she was someone of importance.

  ‘Just one minute while I ring through,’ said the male receptionist. ‘Would you like to take a seat over there?’

  No, I wouldn’t. His suggestion had come like an order, but if she thought about it, she knew that was her just being awkward again. Everything is a battle in life, so don’t fight it. Instead, Cecelia smiled and walked over to the plush armchairs to the side and stood beside them rather than sitting. There is always a compromise for every event. Now, she was showing her independence.

  ‘You can go up now, it’s the first elevator on the right. Ms. Joseph is on the third floor.’

  In life, Cecelia thought while entering the elevator, I will always be in the basement while people like her would always be rising. That’s how life is, she supposed.

  When the elevator arrived, Angelina was waiting. Her beautiful face and perfect features were too lovely to be affected by spots or pimples, and she probably never had a bad hair day. With her income, she could afford to eat well, which meant she was always healthy.

  The demonstration of being glad to see Cecelia was over the top, it was more of an attack when Angelina grabbed hold of her hands and pulled her from the elevator. Over the top emotions, primed towards the dramatic. Is this how Angelina got everything she wanted?

  ‘I’m so glad to see you. Thank you, thank you very much for coming. I’m so sorry about the other day.’

  Cecelia was pulled towards an open door, overwhelmed by this woman’s display.

  ‘I’m going to answer every question you ask,’ she said dragging Cecelia into her apartment, her door was open awaiting the invited.

  This was not the time to be jealous, yet, Cecelia was, but it was not her place to judge people considering she had always asked not to be judged. Mental illness claims compassion and if you want forgiveness, the bargain is that you must first forgive.

  The apartment was beautiful, white being the predominant color with touches of French antiques about the room in little tables and the odd French eighteenth-century open armchair. Champagne colored silk striped pattern material over the seat and the back. They were there to look at and not to sit on. And matching Champagne colored curtains hung at the windows to melt the hard-glazed light before it poured into the rooms.

  ‘Would you like a drink—oh, first let me give you the money for the taxi,’ Angelina’s purse was already in her hand.

  ‘No,’ Cecelia heard her refusal which was contrary to what she had agreed with herself before. The other side of her, the one who always looked out for Cecelia’s benefit had lost to the awkward side. She was the one whose pride wouldn’t be influenced, especially by money. But this money would have come in handy—and why should she pay for expensive transport when she was doing this other woman a favor?

  ‘You did come by taxi, didn’t you?’ Angelina was now confused.

  ‘Yes, I did.’

  ‘So, then I should pay for it.’

  ‘I don’t want your money, and if we are going to argue about this instead of the reason why you wanted me to come, then I might as well go now.’

  ‘No, no—I’m sorry.’

  Pride that’s what it was. Pride which made her refuse, and which also cost her money she could not afford. It was also producing the pained look on Angelina’s face. This woman was used to being liked.

  ‘And where shall we sit?’ Cecelia looked about her again noticing the old-fashioned telephone. It would have looked odd in her rented studio apartment, but not in this woman’s place, no. It was obvious from how stylish it was that she must have had an
interior designer to attend to all these details.

  ‘We could sit here,’ Angelina offered as she gestured towards the two Champagne chesterfields sitting opposite each other with a heavy dark oak table between them. ‘These are the most comfortable…’

  ‘Do you mind?’ asked Cecelia taking out her recorder.

  ‘No,’ Angelina was now timid as the gadget confirmed what she was about to do. ‘Would you like something to drink?’

  ‘Perhaps in a little while. Now, let’s get on with the interview. But can I ask you one thing first before we start?’

  A nod.

  ‘Why did you get in touch with me again? You know how I feel about wasting my time?’

  ‘Yes. Something has happened which I can’t keep quiet about anymore, not if I want to live with myself.’

  On went the recorder.

  ‘Ah, I see, would you like to tell me about it, or start where you think it is best for you.’

  There was a long dramatic pause to make the most impact. The wait was there to gather up the storm of applause, but she wasn’t fooling Cecelia. With a skeptical mind, Cecelia waited for the theatrics to begin.

  ‘I have been working at a private clinic for over ten years. We deal with the very, very rich and their private lives are treated with the highest respect.’

  Cecelia had heard all this before.

  ‘You could say that I worked my way up in the clinic, it holds the highest standards in treatment, discretion, and care. People come to us because they know we are the best. It was something to be proud of until just lately, well, since these last two years.’

  She looked to Cecelia for confirmation that she was still listening. And then ducked her eyes back down again.

  ‘I used to take care of the mother’s before and after treatment. These women were always nervous, it’s a big step to take becoming a mother, or father. I was there initially to tell them what to expect and to prepare them for the news, good or bad. Do you know anything about IVF?’

  Why should she know what happens in an IVF clinic? She had no intention of ever having children, with her condition she had a responsibility not to pass it on, it would be selfish. But Angelina was waiting for an answer.

  ‘Some women just can’t get pregnant, so, they need assistance. Although, some of these people just want a baby without any partner. An egg and the sperm are fertilized outside of the womb and then returned,’ she shrugged. ‘Is that good enough?’

  She hadn’t come here to hear her theories about what she knew of this abnormal treatment.

  ‘Yes, children are gifts. They complete parents' lives or rather they should. Sometimes, people put their careers first to make money to provide for these future children with everything they believe their children will need. They put it off and put it off until they realize that time has caught up with them and then it’s too late. I was very proud to be able to help these people have children. It was my ideal job.’ Again, Angelina stopped to consider what she had just said, was it perfect enough?

  But her hesitation to get to the point was annoying Cecelia who had already judged her as vain and spoilt.

  ‘The reason why I changed my mind about talking to you happened a few weeks ago when I was given a new client. I am not going to give you any names because this might be dangerous to us both. It suffices to tell you what this clinic is now dealing in.’

  ‘Yes, but I need more to work with,’ Cecelia couldn’t keep out the impatience in her voice. If she had no details, how was she able to help this woman?

  ‘Do you know anything about the IVF procedure?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘During the first day of the woman’s period several eggs are first stimulated by hormonal drugs and after three days they are collected.’

  ‘Why are you telling me this?’

  ‘I think it’s important you know. But to cut the explanation short, the eggs are mixed with the washed sperm for twenty-four hours, the donor of the sperms is usually the father. After the mingling, the eggs are placed back into the womb, and then, children usually result from it, but not every time, unfortunately.’

  Such a cushy job and all done in nice settings, probably there was beautiful and restful music playing in the background.

  ‘On conceiving women take a chance of having a normal pregnancy after they are over thirty-five. Its Nature’s little prerequisite that the mother is young and healthy to deal with the trauma, because it is a trauma and an invasion of the body. After the age of thirty-five, pregnancy is possible, but the child may not be healthy. Typically, Down Syndrome is one of the problems which can occur. If there are any problems, we can help them with their pregnancy by eliminating the sick fetus or fetuses.’

  ‘Yes, that figures.’ Cecelia was mentally walking out of the door. She had not come here for a lesson in reproduction and its complications.

  ‘I should imagine that you’ve heard of multiple births.’

  ‘Yes, I have.’

  ‘Good. Then you are also aware that there are parents who want to choose their children.’

  ‘Well, it’s understandable and not unreasonable. Someone I knew had five boys, but she and her husband wanted a girl. She got the girl in the end.’

  ‘I don’t think you fully understand the validity of what I am trying to tell you.’

  There was a spark of anger in Angelina’s eyes which surprised Cecelia, and so, she waited for her to continue. But it was difficult not to interrupt.

  ‘Supposing you could have the children you wanted and choose not only the sex they were but their hair and eye coloring.’

  Again, Cecelia held her tongue.

  ‘Supposing, you had, let’s say, six eggs implanted into the womb and all of them survived.’

  ‘Yes, multiple births, I get what you’re saying.’

  ‘Do you? Do you really get what I mean? What about if you didn’t want all six children?’

  ‘Then you abort the ones you don’t want.’

  A smile. Angelina examined Cecelia’s face.

  ‘Yes, abort the unborn babies you don’t want. But when should you start aborting these fetuses?’

  ‘I heard that women can legally abort a child up to twelve weeks.’ Cecelia’s patience was running out, how to get pregnant was not her territory.

  ‘On special medical grounds, you are allowed to abort the still called fetus for up to twenty-four weeks, but this is rarely ever carried out.’

  ‘Twenty-four weeks,’ Cecelia gasped. ‘But the child will be over five months. Surely that can’t be legal with any medical condition.’

  ‘At twenty-four weeks the baby will be fully formed and be around twelve inches long, and it will weigh about one and a third pounds. At this size, it has a viable chance of survival.’

  Gone was the tedium and boredom, Cecelia sat forward shocked by the unthinkable.

  ‘I was given a new client, as I said before. She was recently married to a mogul businessman. He married her because he specifically wanted children. But his new wife was over thirty-six and she had been on the pill since she was old enough to take it.’

  Cecelia never touched the pill, there was no need for it. The relationship with herself was trouble enough.

  ‘I’m surprised he picked her when he wanted to have children. Since he was the one with all the money, I guess she readily obliged.’

  Angelina licked her lips.

  ‘It’s none of my business why these two came together. Enough to know that she was a failed small-time politician who had an attitude problem. But linked to him, she was suddenly elevated to a newer and higher status, she became prestigious in the eyes of the world because of her marriage to this man.’

  It happens, thought Cecelia.

  ‘She said to me, in an off the wall remark which I didn’t give much credence to at the time, simply because I thought she was nervous. She said, “I’ll give him what he wants because he can give me everything I want.” What do you think of that?’ Haunted by this
memory, Angelina looked down for a moment of reflection. ‘Six fertilized eggs had been reinstated back into her womb. This wasn’t normal practice, but it does happen when partners become desperate.’

  Again, she stopped to walk through these memories which still troubled her.

  ‘The first fetus was aborted after three months by suction. I was with her when the unborn was taken out. Do you know what happens in an abortion?’

  ‘Of course, I’ve heard things, stories, but really, I’m not that interested in what other women do with their bodies. I’m glad I’ve never had to make that call. But I believe that they do some sort of vacuuming?’

  ‘It takes up to three days for dilation before the fetus can be aborted.’

  Already, the gory details were making Cecelia feel uncomfortable.

  ‘It’s a big ordeal for the mother both psychologically and physically. To avoid as much stress as possible, the patient is treated humanely. We like to give them nitrous oxide gas which puts the patient into a twilight state. To a degree, she is awake but sedated, tranquil. Depending on the age of the fetus or the age of the mother, another sedation can be given, a local anesthetic which is injected into the cervix making it go numb which causes no pain.’

  Cecelia flinched as she imagined this procedure. An involuntary shrug almost became a repellent shudder. What was the point of Angelina telling her this?

  ‘A third procedure which most women prefer is intravenous sedation. This is put into the patient’s vein while an anesthetic is injected into the woman’s cervix.’

  ‘It all sounds so gory.’ Cecelia shuddered now unable to keep the vision from penetrating her mind.

  ‘Yes, but to give birth to a defective baby whose entire life would be one of pain and frustration, an abortion is the best and kindest thing we can do for a life which is not worth living.’

  ‘If you say so,’ Cecelia glanced at her quickly. Why on earth would this woman want to work in this kind of world?

  ‘This woman had suction. The fetus’s bones are still soft at this stage, so they are easily sucked out through a tube. The problem after this extraction is to make certain that nothing has been left behind. A tool called a curette is inserted into the womb to search and scrape out any debris left. If anything is left from the fetus or the placenta, disease, or infection typically occurs. I have to stress that within the twelve weeks, the fetus although it has everything formed, heart, limbs, and toes, does not have a complete functioning nervous system so the unborn won’t experience any pain.’