Posted by
Defend America on Wednesday, July 08, 2009 11:38:52 AM
My First Abortion Party
By Byard Duncan, AlterNet
Posted on July 7, 2009, Printed on July 8, 2009
http://www.alternet.org/story/141140/
"Have you guys heard the news?" Maggie (name changed) unwrapped
the scarf from around her neck and patted her flat belly. "Preggers."
It was around 30 degrees outside, and her cheeks were splashed pink
from the Indiana wind.
She had discovered earlier
that week, after missing a period and taking the test. "I kind of knew
already. My boobs and my lower back have been killing me for a while."
She shrugged.
My girlfriend Ali and I exchanged a
surprised look. Our forks, dotted with pasta sauce, dangled
identically, flaccidly, in our hands. She was quicker than me to gain
her composure, and turned to address her best friend.
"What
are you going to do?" Unnecessary question, really -- a conversational
life vest, used when you’re sputtering for something to say. We knew
the answer. Maggie, a 22-year-old college senior with no intention of
bringing a child into the world yet, was going to have an abortion. She
told us that she had already made up her mind; she had even determined
the time, date and location. A better question might have been, "How
are you going to pay for it?"
She answered that
one before we had a chance to ask. "We’re having a party Friday to
raise money," Maggie said. "You guys are obviously invited."
An
abortion party. For the price of whatever we were willing to donate,
she explained, we could partake of baked goods, beer and dancing. It
was going to start at 10 p.m. at Maggie’s.
The
Facebook invite came a day later, and it was settled. Ali and I were
going to scrape together what donation money we could and join in the
festivities.
http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/141140