Posted on 08/01/2003 7:06:53 AM PDT by Saundra Duffy
Where's Molly By Chris Hansen
This is not a story of how things are, but of how things may be, if present trends continue as they have. What happens when moral choices have no authority higher than man; what happens when the distinction between man and animal is blurred by mere human reason? This story illustrates what I think will happen as a result of this kind of reasoning.
Bryan had just gotten back from summer camp. It had been a fun year. He skipped off the bus into a crowd of other children his own age. Bryan was 11 years old. His grandmother was chatting with someone in the crowd. "Kids loved camping when I was a little girl," she said, "and they still do, even in 2025." A lady responded, "I suppose they'll always enjoy it." Bryan's grandmother said sadly, "I just wish I had good news for Bryan." Just then, Bryan bounded through the crowd. He thought that it was strange to see his grandmother. Where was dad? "Hello Bryan," his grandmother said, "how was camp?" "Fine, I guess," he replied. And so it went on like that. There was lots of small talk with nothing really said, and lots of things that needed saying, that went unsaid. Bryan, and his luggage, and his grandmother were soon in a comfortable car and on their way to see dad.
Bryan could see, by the look in Grandma's eyes, that this was not the time for lots of questions. His face changed from a happy-go-lucky, bouncing off the bus, sort of face, to a something is the matter and no one will tell me what it is, sort of face.
The car pulled into the driveway. Dad came out when he heard the car door slam. Dad was kind of an average looking guy. He was a go to the office, read the newspaper, check his e-mail, watch TV, and, back yard barbecue with all the kids, sort of guy. But today, he really did look different! His face said, "I have something awful to tell you, but I don't know how to tell you." "Well, I'd better go," Gramdma said. "Yeah," said dad flatly. Now this really was strange. Grandma and dad always chatted, sometimes for a long time. But today, she couldn't wait to leave!
Something else was strange too. Where was Molly? She was Bryan's little sister. She was a cute little 7-year-old with long blond hair, and flashing blue eyes, and a sunshine smile. Bryan almost liked her! And that's saying something for an eleven-year-old older brother!
"Where's Molly," Bryan said nervously. This whole day had been strange. Grandma at the bus, dad all upset, and now, Molly! "Well, that's what I want to talk to you about," dad said. Bryan actually saw tears in dad's eyes! Bryan knew it was bad! "She's dead, isn't she," Bryan said fearfully. Dad began to cry out loud as he said, "Yes!" Bryan pressed on with his questions. "Was she sick, or what?" "No," was all dad could manage for a long moment.
Finally, dad said, "It's like this, Bryan. You remember last year, when Winky died?" Bryan nodded. Dad continued: "She was very sick, and we couldn't take care of her. She was in lots of pain too. Well, sometimes it's like that with people too. Molly has been unhappy for a long time. Yes, I know. She smiles, I mean, smiled, so beautifully on the outside, but she cried on the inside." Bryan interrupted, "But Molly's not an animal! She's my sister!"
Bryan began to remember his lessons in school about the human animal. He thought about evolution from lower forms of animals and how everyone was just another part of nature; just another species. It had all seemed so right at the time. But what about Molly? She wasn't just a pet to be put to sleep!
Dad went on, interrupting Bryan's troubling thoughts: "Son, it's what she wanted. You know we've been having family problems. She went in to see the school psychologist. By law, they are required to explore all options, even the right to" Bryan flew into a rage. "What about our rights? Why didn't you and mom stop her! Did you even want to! Or were you just too busy fighting!" Dad began to cry even more. He said, almost to himself, "They wouldn't even tell me until she had made up her mind! They wouldn't even tell me! They wanted her to be free to make her own decision. God knows I loved her!" Bryan's tears began to flow even more freely. He was suddenly changed from a boy who almost admitted to liking his sister into a grieving brother whose love now flowed as easily as his tears. He sobbed uncontrollably, "Dad, I loved her! I did! I did! Why does she have to be dead?" Dad held Bryan very close. Then he reached over and picked up a slip of paper near the phone. There, on the paper, was the number to the local clinic. Bryan took it, and just stared at it. Dad got up and began to pace the room. Then, he picked up some of Molly's toys and began to throw them across the room. Bryan said, "Dad, Mom's gona think you've gone crazy! Dad! Where's mom!" Bryan saw dad's face turn white! Bryan insisted, "Dad! Where is she!" Dad said nothing. Instead, he just cried and pointed to the open telephone book. Bryan saw something underlined. He read:
"Quality Of Life Clinic. Termination services provided."
Bryan's eyes filled with tears again. Bryan glanced at dad. There eyes met. Dad motioned toward the phone. Bryan nodded. Dad pushed the buttons. They embraced. The voice of a vivacious secretary said:
"Quality Of Life Clinic. May I help you?"
How odd that you would say that.
Thanks for your interest. It's a great story.
I know what you mean. Actually, we're not too far away from Molly's predicament.
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