birth control, they reproduced. At thirty-two, Brad and his wife, Lisa, had a three-year-old boy, a one-year-old girl and a vasectomy.
Such was not the case with Julie and Billy. Sheâd been a few months pregnant already when they married at barely nineteen. Billy worked part-time and went to school part-time, earning his degree at twenty-four, when Jeffy was four years old. If theyâd had it their way, Jeffy would be at least ten before they had another baby; they were still so young, completely strapped with school loans, credit-card bills and low-paying jobs. They were compulsive about protection, except one night when they didnât use a condom and spermicide because they were so worked up, in a fever, wild. One time, just one time, and it hadnât even been during a vulnerable time of the month. Hello, Clint! Clint arrived when Jeffy was barely in kindergarten, the first year Billy was with the fire department. The next year, Stephieâthe result of a diaphragm that Beth said probably wasnât a good fit.
Billy knew the value of an education and had pursued it while waiting for an opening in the fire department. Heâd wanted to be a fireman since he was six; it was a childhood dream. It was also a good job with good benefits and a pension, but when you have three kids, lots of bills, a stay-at-home wife, the early years can be tight. If he had any real fascination with any other field, there were probably endless opportunities for a man with a degree, but in his job he had adventure and saved lives, and that meant more to him than anything.
Although Julieâs parents were both generous and patient, Julie felt sheâd let them down by marrying so young, having three children before she was thirty. She could sense they were frustrated with Julie and Billyâs chronic trouble of keeping up with expenses. It was taking them a damn long time to get on their feet. Her parents slipped her money they didnât have to give Brad, picked up the tab for things like Jeffyâs soccer or Parks and Rec programs, and Julie never told Billy about any of it. Any fancy toys the kids had, like the laptop or video games, came from Grandma and Grandpa or maybe Uncle Brad. The thought of telling her mother she was pregnant again chilled her. She would say, What about that vasectomy youâd planned on? What about it, indeed? Billy was supposed to take care of that and had simply put it off, a little nervous about having his testicles sliced into, as if oblivious to the complications of piling child upon child on a modest income. She had the IUD; they should have been safe for the time it took him to come to terms with it. But she was pregnant again, anyway.
Julie complained to Cassie about money, about stretching things so far month after month, but she could tell Cassie didnât take it all that seriously. After all, they somehow always managed and Cassie would die to have her problems. To Cassie, who was getting by but alone, a tight budget seemed like less of a problem than not having a partner, a family. And Julie just couldnât tell Marty, who seemed to have it made.
But Julie went to lunch even though she couldâve put that twenty in the gas tank, because sometimes she justneeded to be with her friends. She was the last one to arrive and the girls greeted her as though they hadnât seen her in a year, though sheâd seen Cassie and Marty recently.
âWine?â Cassie asked as Julie sat down.
âNo, thanks,â Julie said. âCarpool.â Of course, there was no carpool. âBeth? Youâre not having a glass of wine?â
âOn call,â she said, smiling. âAgain. But Iâm covered for lunch.â
âIs that how you keep your figure? Being on call?â Julie asked.
And then all four of them ordered salads, even Julie.
âI weigh the same, but theyâre working me to death,â Beth said. âIâm delivering all the
Such was not the case with Julie and Billy. Sheâd been a few months pregnant already when they married at barely nineteen. Billy worked part-time and went to school part-time, earning his degree at twenty-four, when Jeffy was four years old. If theyâd had it their way, Jeffy would be at least ten before they had another baby; they were still so young, completely strapped with school loans, credit-card bills and low-paying jobs. They were compulsive about protection, except one night when they didnât use a condom and spermicide because they were so worked up, in a fever, wild. One time, just one time, and it hadnât even been during a vulnerable time of the month. Hello, Clint! Clint arrived when Jeffy was barely in kindergarten, the first year Billy was with the fire department. The next year, Stephieâthe result of a diaphragm that Beth said probably wasnât a good fit.
Billy knew the value of an education and had pursued it while waiting for an opening in the fire department. Heâd wanted to be a fireman since he was six; it was a childhood dream. It was also a good job with good benefits and a pension, but when you have three kids, lots of bills, a stay-at-home wife, the early years can be tight. If he had any real fascination with any other field, there were probably endless opportunities for a man with a degree, but in his job he had adventure and saved lives, and that meant more to him than anything.
Although Julieâs parents were both generous and patient, Julie felt sheâd let them down by marrying so young, having three children before she was thirty. She could sense they were frustrated with Julie and Billyâs chronic trouble of keeping up with expenses. It was taking them a damn long time to get on their feet. Her parents slipped her money they didnât have to give Brad, picked up the tab for things like Jeffyâs soccer or Parks and Rec programs, and Julie never told Billy about any of it. Any fancy toys the kids had, like the laptop or video games, came from Grandma and Grandpa or maybe Uncle Brad. The thought of telling her mother she was pregnant again chilled her. She would say, What about that vasectomy youâd planned on? What about it, indeed? Billy was supposed to take care of that and had simply put it off, a little nervous about having his testicles sliced into, as if oblivious to the complications of piling child upon child on a modest income. She had the IUD; they should have been safe for the time it took him to come to terms with it. But she was pregnant again, anyway.
Julie complained to Cassie about money, about stretching things so far month after month, but she could tell Cassie didnât take it all that seriously. After all, they somehow always managed and Cassie would die to have her problems. To Cassie, who was getting by but alone, a tight budget seemed like less of a problem than not having a partner, a family. And Julie just couldnât tell Marty, who seemed to have it made.
But Julie went to lunch even though she couldâve put that twenty in the gas tank, because sometimes she justneeded to be with her friends. She was the last one to arrive and the girls greeted her as though they hadnât seen her in a year, though sheâd seen Cassie and Marty recently.
âWine?â Cassie asked as Julie sat down.
âNo, thanks,â Julie said. âCarpool.â Of course, there was no carpool. âBeth? Youâre not having a glass of wine?â
âOn call,â she said, smiling. âAgain. But Iâm covered for lunch.â
âIs that how you keep your figure? Being on call?â Julie asked.
And then all four of them ordered salads, even Julie.
âI weigh the same, but theyâre working me to death,â Beth said. âIâm delivering all the
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