Friday at the abortion clinic was very busy. We had a sustained conversation with a Guatemalan couple. One of the Partners had received, earlier in the week, a phone call from a Spanish speaking man who had the idea we could help him obtain an abortion for his girlfriend. The Partner clarified who and what we are and had a lengthy conversation with him, trying to help him see that there were better more constructive ways of addressing the problem (the mother of the child is not his wife. His wife is still in Guatemala). On Friday, then, when a red truck with a Guatemalan flag suspended from the rear view mirror pulled into the parking lot, our Spanish speaking partner was sure this was the couple to whom she had spoken. Nevertheless, despite the phone conversation and conversation that day in front of the clinic, they made an appointment for an abortion. The next day they returned and we again had sustained conversation with them. Once again, though, they seemed determined to kill the child. They entered the clinic and remained within more than hour. As we ourselves were leaving for the day, I happened to turn back for one last look–and I saw them exiting. I told our Spanish speaking Partner, who turned and ran after them. I went on to the car and pulled it around near the abortion clinic parking lot, where a couple of the partners were engaged in conversation with the couple. I also saw the abortionist and one of his assistants standing at the clinic’s back door watching us. When the conversation ended, as we were leaving, the assistant walked out to get a view of our license plate and jot down its number. She then warned us that the clinic knows “where [we] sleep.” Impossible to know, since the car we were driving belongs to no one in our group.
Later in the week, the same Guatemalan man called us to tell us his girlfriend had passed out and had been taken to the hospital. Two of us went into Detroit and met them at the hospital just as she was being released. No one seems to know the medical reason for her faint. He also indicated that there could be conflict between her and her uncle, with whom she lives, now that her pregnancy is known. We assured them several times we could help her find another place to live.
