“We want the most perfect baby possible,” Dolly said placing her right hand into Daniel’s left, smiling at the potential father.
“Of course you do. And with genetic engineering we can guarantee you a beautiful healthy baby or your money back.” Dr. Sullivan beamed with pride as though the scientific breakthroughs were a result of her own genius.
“Can we choose the baby’s sex?” Daniel asked.
“You can choose the baby’s sex, eye color, hair color, skin tone and several other physical attributes.”
“Is it safe?” Dolly asked. “Yes, very safe.”
“What about this Gene Tampering Syndrome we’ve heard about?” Daniel asked still concerned.
“GTS is extremely rare. Only in 1 out of 100,000,000 cases does gene tampering cause features to grow askew. Look on the positive side. Genetic engineering prevents many serious genetic defects ranging from Down syndrome to some forms of cancer. The benefits far outweigh the risks.”
Dr. Sullivan handed them a tiny flat vid card. “Here is a complete guide through the program. When you are ready, fill in the form with your decisions and we will get right to work.”
Six months later Dolly and Daniel were joyfully pregnant. The pregnancy advanced normally with Dolly enjoying glowingly good health and much loving attention from Daniel. Together they turned a room into a nursery, doing all the work themselves. Then as the date drew closer their friends threw them a festive parents-to-be party.
Dolly went in for her last scheduled ultra sound. “The baby’s heart beat is strong,” Dr. Sullivan assured them. “Your little boy could arrive any day now.”
Dolly was ready. But the images showed something else which Dr. Sullivan didn’t reveal to the expectant couple.
Finally Dolly went into labor. The labor progressed normally and with Daniel holding her hand in support, Dolly delivered a healthy baby boy. The newly born baby cried lustily, his tiny arms flailing, his left arm attached to the front of his left shoulder. Dr. Sullivan handed the baby off to a Nurse Andrews with a meaningful glance.
The nurse wrapped the newborn in a soft wrap. The baby stopped crying and fell asleep. “What a sweet little boy,” the nurse cooed.
“I want to see him,” his mother sighed.
“Here you go,” the nurse said placing the sleeping bundle in his mother’s arms. Daniel leaned forward as Dolly folded back a corner of the blanket so they could better see the baby’s sweet face.
Dolly and Daniel gasped in horror. The infant’s facial features were all askew. There were two eyes, two ears, a nose and a mouth, but they were all out of place like in a cubist painting.
“It’s a monster,” Dolly screamed. “Take it away. I don’t want it,” she cried throwing the baby to Daniel who stared at the deformed face in silent horror.
The baby cried in protest.
“Get rid of it; I want it destroyed,” Dolly said emphatically.
Daniel agreed.
When Dr. Sullivan returned to her office, she signed the baby’s death certificate. Then she called Dr. Frank.
Dr. Frank wheeled a disposal container to Nurse Andrews’ station to pick up the body. After securing the container to the floor of his van, he drove out of the city.
Eventually he turned off onto a seldom used road, little more than tire tracks in the dirt. Several slow miles later, he came to a gate posted with warnings to keep out and drove up to a sprawling farm house.
Penelope, who had been saved by his father from destruction nearly 30 years ago, greeted him at the door. Penelope’s eschewed facial features lit up with joy upon seeing him.
“Hi! Come in.” Several children of various ages were laughing over a game they were playing in the room behind her.
“I have something for you,” Dr. Frank said handing her the wrapped bundle. “It’s a boy.”
“Uncle Frank, Uncle Frank,” the children cried out with glee upon seeing him and ran up to greet him. Their misplaced limbs and eschewed facial features did nothing to dispel their happiness.
“You have a new baby brother,” Penelope announced.
“Can we see him?” asked five year old Melissa?
Penelope sat down, the children gathering around her, and unwrapped the baby boy to ooh’s and ah’s all around.
“He’s just perfect,” Penelope beamed with love. “A gift from heaven.”