Free Among the Ducklings by Marsh Brooks Page A

the belief that she would be saved by
God. In the story, the person died only to find out in the afterlife that the
help that she declined came from God.   Had Isabel just thrown out her only chance of happiness? Had she refused
the lifeline of love?   She would never
know, because Phil had already left the building.

    ##

    It was late
in the evening when Phil finally reached home, having stopped at the nearby bar
for some shots of whiskey.   “Whoever said
that alcohol lessened someone's pain was lying,” he said to himself.   He was still crushed when he left the
bar.   Isabel was right. It was arrogant
of him to think he had a chance at happiness with her. He wondered what he would
do if he came across her and Richard at the Center.   Would Richard laugh at him? He had no doubt
that Isabel would tell him. Then in a flash, he knew what he needed to do. He
made a decision that he thought would be best for all three of them.

    ##

    After
Phil's departure, Isabel went to see her aunt.   As she entered Marcia's office, Marcia, who was reading some kind of
medical book, looked up with alarm and said, “You look a mess Isabel.   Have you been crying?”

    Ignoring the question, Isabel said, “I just
wanted to talk to you about your niece.”

    “You mean,
your sister,” Marcia reminded her. She knew that something must have happened between
Isabel and Rebecca for Isabel to refer her sister like this.

    “If you say
so.”

    “So what's
wrong with Rebecca? Is she OK?” Marcia asked.   Isabel could read the concern on her aunt's face.

    “She’s
pregnant.”

    For one
moment, Marcia looked as if she was going to pass out at the news. “How did
this happen?”

    “Stupidity, I guess.”

    “Is Mark
the father?”

    “Yes,”
Isabel replied.

    “Does he
know?”

    “Yes, he
wants Rebecca to have an abortion.”

    “That
creep,” Marcia said.   “Who else knows
about it?”

    “No
one else.   Apparently, neither one wants to get married
because they think they are too young.”

    “They
should have thought about that before engaging in sexual escapades,” Marcia
said.

    “That's
what I said,” Isabel agreed. “What do you think I should do?   I talked to Rebecca about how stupid she was
and I want her to take responsibility for her own actions.”

    “It's
understandable.   What does Rebecca want?   Did she say she wanted to have an abortion?”

    “No. She
wants to keep the baby.”

    “Good.   How many months?” Marcia asked.

    “Rebecca
said three. I also placed a call to Mark's parents, I'm not sure where that
will go,” Isabel said. “Mark is not even working and Rebecca's part-time job
barely covers gas for her car.”

    “We'll help
for sure. But they're going to have to get real jobs.   After all, they're going to be parents.”

    “I told
Rebecca that too.” Isabel said, nodding her head.

    Her aunt
then paused pensively for one moment, and then said, “I'll tell you what. I am
free this Saturday.   Why don't we see if
we can invite Mark's parents to lunch?   Then we can talk to them about this.”

    “Thank you,
Tia Marcia. I would like you to be there.   I am so upset right now about the whole thing.”

    “Don't
worry. She'll be OK,” Marcia added.  

    “I know,”
Isabel replied. She felt guilty for leaving Marcia with the impression that her
problems were solely related to Rebecca.   Then again, how could she tell her aunt that she had fallen for a man
she barely knew?  
    “Her aunt didn't need
to know,” she said to herself.   After
what happened between Phil and her today, Isabel doubted that Phil would ever
talk to her again, let alone talk to Marcia about her.  

       

    ##

    Stacy's
flight from Los Angeles to Miami was noisy. Being in first class doesn’t shield
you from crying babies, annoying passengers, and incompetent flight attendants
who dared to call themselves stewardesses. It was these six hours of hell that
finally convinced Stacy that