Martin was stunned. How could she laugh about it? Again, it crossed hismind that she wasn't quite right in the head."So," she continued, "what happene... to make it come to this?"Martin shook his head and did not respond."Lost your job, lost your wife, lost your home?" Not difficult to guess I suppose," Martin agreed. "Although it was mygirlfriend, we weren't yet married."Suzie continued to look at him, waiting.Martin sighed. "I'm a... I was a teacher," he began. "Lost my job. That'swhere it all. ‘I’ve heard some awful stories about babies conceived in the old fashioned way.’ ‘Sounds so crude doesn’t it. It must have been awful for women back in the old days being dependant on men for that sort of thing. It’s difficult to imagine why some women still want to risk it.’ ‘No idea what’s going to pop out, have you?’ ‘Damn right Mary,’ her friend agreed, dismissing any thoughts of even considering that route. ‘I’ve heard tell that there’s a one in ten chance of the baby being male.’ ‘YUK!’. Walking up to the door, there were several men sitting in their cars in the parking lot. They all smiled and waved at me, hoping I would say something to them. At first, I was only going in to see if a sex toy caught my eye. I went inside and noticed there were no more DVDs to walk past, and the toy collection was much less as well. The man at the counter was friendly but disconnected. It was as if he were pretending that he was not working in a sex shop. He told me to let him know if I needed. ." And when the land cuts off in a glorious horizon, a dazzling view offaraway autumn forest, no cars for millions of miles (it seems) the carfinally stops. Before us, a small house, cottage really, made of stone. The sun is rising as you gently wrap me up in the sheet again, pulling mewith some force out of the car. I am taking in the scene and wondering ifI maybe died in my sleep...or maybe I am still dreaming...this is not areal place, after all. The sky pours lavender light down over.