Крестный отец

           Ayearlatershe’sbackandIsliceofftheothertit.Ayearafterthat,Iscoopoutherinsideslikeyouscooptheseedsoutofacantaloupe.Afterallthatshediesanyway.Meanwhilehusbandskeepcallingupandasking,‘Whatdothetestsshow?Whatdothetestsshow?’

           "SoIhiredanextrasecretarytotakeallthosecalls.Isawthepatientonlywhenshewasfullypreparedforexamination,testsoroperation.IspenttheminimumpossibletimewiththevictimbecauseIwas,afterall,abusyman.AndthenfinallyI’dletthehusbandtalktomefortwominutes.‘It’sterminal,’I’dsay.Andtheycouldneverhearthatlastword.Theyunderstoodwhatitmeantbuttheyneverheardit.IthoughtatfirstthatunconsciouslyIwasdroppingmyvoiceonthelastword,soIconsciouslysaiditlouder.Butstilltheyneverheardit.Oneguyevensaid,‘Whatthehelldoyoumean,it’sgerminal?’"Julesstartedtolaugh."Germinal,terminal,whatthehell.Istartedtodoabortions.Niceandeasy,everybodyhappy,likewashingthedishesandleavingacleansink.Thatwasmyclass.Ilovedit,Ilovedbeinganabortionist.Idon’tbelievethatatwo-monthfetusisahumanbeingsonoproblemsthere.Iwashelpingyounggirlsandmarriedwomenwhowereintrouble,Iwasmakinggoodmoney.Iwasoutofthefronttines.WhenIgotcaughtIfeltlikeadeserterthathadbeenhauledin.ButIwaslucky,afriendpulledsomestringsandgotpieoffbutnowthebighospitalswon’tletmeoperate.SohereIam.