Baby Problem

Nervousness would be an understatement.  What Gaia felt at the doctor’s waiting room had no entry in any dictionary in the universe.  Everything, including her future, depended on the test result.  The plush leather sofa she sat on did not calm her nerves.  She stared right across the hall where a mahogany door stood between her and the man who would tell her the most important news of her life.  A plaque on the door informed visitors that his name was Doctor Rock.  At the moment, the doctor had another patient, so said the bored receptionist at the front desk.  There was nothing she could do but read.  A magazine with a cover depicting a woman holding a baby aroused her interest.  The baby’s face was so irresistible that she couldn’t help but pick up the magazine and start browsing through the articles.  They were very helpful.  But would they be helpful to her?  She couldn’t help but think.  Before long, the door opened.  A woman walked out holding a beautiful baby.  She wondered if she would ever have the chance.  A man followed.  He was tall with thick facial hair covering his long chin and his big ears.  A name tag on his long white coat confirmed that he was indeed doctor Rock.

“Thank you for everything, doctor,” said the woman.

“You’re welcome.  Goodbye Ms. Puck.” replied the doctor with a soothing voice.  He took the couple to the exit and came back for Gaia.

“Ms. Gaia.  Please come in.”

“Very well.”  Gaia entered the doctor’s office.  Pictures of men and women holding a baby spread across the room like stars in the vacuum of space.

“Please sit down.”

She sat down on one of the two chairs located on one side of a work table while the doctor took his on the other side.  His face suddenly became serious and Gaia knew instantly what was coming.

“The test results had been delivered to me.  I’m afraid it’s bad news.”

The next hour went like a blur.  Walking from the hospital to her work office, all she could hear was Doctor Rock's verdict in her head over and over and over.  “You can't have a baby,” said the doctor.  How was she going to tell Mick?  Their relationship of two years was in jeopardy.  Mick insisted that a baby was essential if they were to continue.  She entered her laboratory where she had met him, though shorter than the average man, possessed just a slight hint of nerdiness that she always found attractive.  She had just moved in, a stranger in a strange place, and he made her comfortable and welcome.  While others simply scorned her, he taught her the different units of measurement that they used, which was different from where she came from.  Since then, he had moved up and became a senior supervisor.  Consequently, their relationship evolved.  Sooner or later, the question of a baby would surface.  And sooner or later, she had to tell him.

She gathered her courage and went up to the eight floor, the supervisor's office.  The four tube-shape elevators tirelessly took tenants and visitors up and down the life science research center.  From there, she could see the majestic mountain range overlooking the small town, protecting it from danger.  The lucky ones had the same view from their office windows.  She was not one of them but it served as a motivation to perform well.  That thought had to be kept for now though, as the elevator stopped at the intended destination.  Gaia quietly walked towards the supervisor office, contemplating the bad news she had to deliver to Mick.  There was no way back once she walked into his office.

“Mick, can I talk to you?”

“Oh hey, Gaia.  Sure, what is it?”

“I just came from Doctor Rock.”

“Not good news, I presume.  I know that look.  Just tell me.”

“He said I can't have a baby.”

“I see.”

“So, what now?”

“There’s nothing to decide.  It's over.”

“I fear as much.”

“Don't cry.  You're a brilliant woman.  You'll be fine without me.”

“But I hate leaving you.”

“So do I, Gaia.  But without the possibility of a baby, we can't continue.”

And that was that.  She had to make a decision.  Should she stay?  Or should she go?  She loved the place, no doubt about that, but she had to think about her own future.  If her future was elsewhere, she had to follow it.  There was no place for sentimentality.  With that thought, she prepared for her departure.  She contacted her travel agent, and her ticket home was booked.  One week was enough time to prepare, and one week passed rapidly.

Gaia always marveled at Anisa Space Port.  There was nothing like it on earth.  Through the port she arrived two years ago as earth's ambassador of life science, and through the same port she would return to earth.  Everyone was there.  Mick, Doctor Rock and Professor Rick, the director of the research center waited at the departure lounge to say goodbye.

“Gaia, I want you to know that we are sad to let you go,” the professor opened the conversation.

“Looks like everyone's here to witness my failure,” said Gaia half-jokingly.

“It's not failure, Ms. Gaia,” said Doctor Rock.  “It's just biological incompatibility.  The babys are such delicate creatures.  Fourteen fingers are required to handle one.  As we all know, you humans only have ten.  We tried everything we could.  Prosthetic fingers, gloves, anything.  They just won't work.”

“I wish you call it something else.  Baby is the word we use for human offspring.  It's very confusing sometimes.”

“I'm sorry for the confusion.  That is just what we call it,” said the doctor apologetically.

“And Mick, thank you for being my mentor even though it didn't work out.”

“It's such a shame, you mastered the theory very well,” said Mick.  “Before you go, someone wants to say goodbye to you.”

Mick opened his bag and took out a creature, which the Anisans called the baby.  It needed to be handled very carefully, as he did.  Using both hands, his ten fingers provided a resting berth for its belly while his four thumbs curled around its spine.  He had to be careful not to let its body bend or it would die.

“Sisi, say goodbye to Gaia.”

“Oh, Sisi!”  Gaia immediately reached out her hand to the creature that had caused her resignation.  “Can I touch it?”

“Of course.”

She put her right index finger on the creature's head.  The skin was soft and slimy but it was hard to the touch, due to the skull protecting its brain.  Its 3 purple eyes lie on the center of the head, unlike the reptiles on earth.  It opened its mouth for a split second, revealing its flat molar teeth, typical of herbivores.  She ran her finger down its spine, feeling its scaly exterior.  Its tail wiggleed as she touched it.  With six legs, it was the rarest reptile in the universe and would have been popular with earth children but it wasn't to be.

“I have to go now, my spaceship is about to leave.”

Gaia hugged each of the Anisan men as they said goodbye.  As the Saturn Spaceline flight 138 took off, she could not help but wonder.  Would she miss Anisa?  Of course she would.  The beautiful views, the research center, the men with their long chins and big ears.  The future lied elsewhere though, she would not stop reminding herself.  Picking up her communication pad, she started to type her report: Due to biological incompatibility, Anisan babys are not recommended for human pets.