Abstract
SHELLY: Doctor, we have been aware of the pregnancy for about a month now, and I have decided on an abortion. DOCTOR: Are you sure? You know, this is quite a serious decision. SHELLY: When Michael and I got married, we agreed that we did not want any children, at least not for the first few years. We have been married for two years now, and I would like to be free for a little while longer. You know how children can tie you down. DOCTOR: Oh, don't I know it! I have six kids, and even though I have a good income (wait until you get my bill), I still have to work much more than I should like to just to maintain the standard of living that we enjoy. Do you know what orthodontia costs? Dentists are crooks! SHELLY: That's another consideration, Doctor. Michael and I both work. We have been planning on quitting our jobs and opening a bookstore. Michael says that being a coal miner is much too dangerous, and I agree. Every day that a man goes into those coal mines he risks his life. Not to mention the long-term effects of black lung disease. But quitting our jobs means some lean times. If we had a child, we couldn't do it. We would just have to continue with our present jobs. DOCTOR: What does Michael think about the abortion? SHELLY: Michael is dead set against it. DoCTOR: Don't you think that you should both be in accord on this matter? SHELLY: I should prefer that we be in agreement, but we have gone over this time and time again. We just can't agree. We both understand the facts and the risks. We do agree that a baby would be the responsibility of both of us. We agree that we would not be able to quit our jobs, and we agree that we would have to share equally in the work and the pleasure involved. We have had such arguments about this that we have even talked of divorce, but a divorce wouldn't solve anything. If we went through with the pregnancy, the law requires that child support be paid. And even if support weren't forced, it would still be the right thing to do. We agreed that we still would have to keep our jobs in order to be responsible parents. And we would.
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