It was pouring
rain. I repositioned my umbrella so the
wind wouldn't break it. In between
prayers I mused at how crazy I looked to passer buyers. A lone girl, holding pamphlets, standing in
the rain, apparently talking to herself.
A Crazy girl. I was at the back
entrance so there wasn't a whole lot of traffic in and out of Emily's abortion
center especially so because of the rain.
A girl entered the far gate into the parking lot and I watched as she
lit a cigarette and stood in the rain taking visibly long drags. As many yards away from me as she was I could
see and sense her stress. A while later
a woman walked by me going into the clinic.
I spoke hoping I was using the right words. She didn't look at me as she continued past
and disappeared behind the door. I took
a deep breath and continue on with my rosary.
I saw two girls walking up on my left.
I walked up and met them and asked if they had an appointment at Emily's
clinic. One of the girls nodded and I
handed her a pamphlet as I asked if she knew how far along she was in her
pregnancy and I told her that we could give her a free ultrasound in the white
bus. It will only take five minutes
whereas in Emily's she would have to wait a couple hours. They looked a little dubious but I smiled and
continued speaking and they followed me to the bus. As we waited for Roseanna to set up the
ultrasound machine Lilly and I talked to them asking why she couldn't have the
baby. She told us she wants to go to
college and she is too young for a baby.
Not ready. They started feeling
very unsure of their surroundings and her friend looked as if she was about to
bolt. I switched the conversation
asking where she had got her shoes and were there are some good places to shop
in The Bronx. At this point Roseanna came
in to take the girls to the back room. I
waited in the front saying silent prayers.
Through the door I heard the strong, fast heartbeat of the baby. A few minutes after that Roseanna poked her
head out and said "It's a boy! 24 weeks!". I was able to go in the back and see the
ultrasound. Both the girls were crying
and the friend stroked the girl's hair as she lay on the bed looking up at her
baby. "Look at all that hair!" Roseanna said as she pointed it out. "I have always wanted a boy," the girl smiled still crying. As they left her friend took off her coat and
put it over the young mothers shoulders to help shield her from the rain. I congratulated her and she told me thank
you. I smiled barely holding back my
joyful tears as I responded I was so
glad I had been there to talk to her.
"So am I." She replied.
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