A Toast to Love and Sacrifice

“Congratulations Ms. Singer.  You’re gonna have a healthy baby boy.  I’m no geneticist, mind you, but I know my way around a nucleus and I’d say that the DNA markers predict he’ll be tall, dark skinned, heterosexual, and athletic!”  These were the words spewing forth from the ‘Flamingo Pink’ lipstick-stained mouth of the overzealous Lab Technician. Dressed in sleepy blue scrubs from head to toe, this fire engine of a young woman- robust, loud, and hair dyed hot red as a siren- should have seemed like a sweet chubby cherub with the news that she brought.  Instead, Simone Singer saw her as a plucky, evil sprite, her pen and clipboard replacing the spiked pitchfork she should have been carrying.

“Are you sure?”  Simone knew here mumbled question delivered in a low leery pitch did not comprise a query that the Lab Tech was used to answering.

“We haven’t been wrong since 2022,” said the LT, her previously enthusiastic expression now capriciously altered in a look of disfavor.  “You will have your first appointment with the doctor two weeks from today at 14:00.  At that time, he’ll discuss trait specifics and delivery options.  Good day.” 

“Look, man.  I’m sorry.  But I will do anything to affect change.  Go to any lengths.  I’d hate myself for doing it, and I’d consign myself to hell for it, and I know I’d risk losing Kelly, but damn it, if your woman won’t help change the system, I will punish her.”

Jack tried the rational approach.  “But you wouldn’t just be hurting her.  You’d hurt me, and my dad, and Kelly, your wife!”

Hawk closed his eyes to keep his own floodgates checked.   “It’s a chance I’m willing to take.  I don’t need friends, and Kelly-- Kelly will always love me, even if she hates me.  Just like Simone loves you and hates you.  That’s enough for me.”

Simone was astonished by the gall of this man’s indifference.  “You’re an evil man.”

Hawk angrily replied to Simone with a roar.  “You don’t know me.  You don’t know anything about me.”

There was silence as the invisible fire spread throughout the car.  Suddenly, Hawk moved the gun under Michael’s lap, “The conductor is coming.  Act normal, don’t say a word.”  With the gun shoved under her child’s rear, she wasn’t about to say anything that might cause her captor to flinch.

The tin doors linking each car were opened and a man in blue uniform approached.  “Tickets please.”  As Simone handed her ticket to the man, she was so afraid her horrified eyes would act as an unintended tip off to the attendant that would get her son killed.