Was she talking with the pill fairy?

Don’t tell me that I should keep it.

HADAS DE LA PILDORA BY BJ TAYLOR 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 125

When Anita Diaz answered her phone a young woman asked, “Hadas de la pildora?” Was she talking with the “pill fairy”?

Anita, a paralegal at Dan Newsome’s law office in Alpine, Texas, was on her own. Her boss was in court for the morning. “Just a moment,” Anita said in Spanish. She locked the door.

“Okay, how can I help you?” she asked.

“My pregnancy test is positive. I’ve already got two children and I can barely make it financially. I work as cook at the Love Ranch, and they will fire me if I’m pregnant.” The clatter of kitchen cutlery interrupted the woman.

“Can you get to a room that is private?” Anita asked. “It needs to be a place where you feel less anxious.”

“Yes,” the woman said, pausing for a moment. “I’m in my bedroom now,” she continued. “We can talk. My children are at school this morning.”

“I need to ask some questions. About how many weeks along are you?”

“I missed my last two periods and I am beginning to feel like I’m pregnant. I’d say I’m about eight weeks into the pregnancy.”

Anita sighed with relief. More than likely, she’d be able to help. Mifepristone was effective up to 10 weeks of pregnancy.

“You did well to let us know now instead of later,” Anita said. “Do you have a partera?”

“La partera who delivered my last child has retired and now lives with her daughter in Fort Stockton.”

The woman began to panic again. “Don’t tell me that I should keep it.”