Again there were only three of us at American Family Planning, since I have asked that any additional sidewalk counselors join Patrick at Summit in order to deal with the high volume of clients there. At Summit, then, I was very happy to see Kristine out again. Our friend Steve, from Ann Arbor, also helped at Summit; and again, the help was needed–and carried with it apparent fruit. Like last Saturday, as soon as we got in the van to join the Summit sidewalk counselors at our breakfast rendezvous point, the phone rang. A woman who had just been at Summit and had received our material there was calling to schedule an ultrasound.
At American Family Planning, several groups of people came and went, but in the end there were no more than two abortions. One of the mothers who left was not a classic sort of turn-away, though I’m pretty sure she did make a decision for life. She and her mother were at the door when we arrived, and since the mill hadn’t opened yet, we had extra time to talk to both. Her mother responded with some hostility, though she said nothing–simply stared at the door. When they came out about a half hour later, I followed, telling her to keep our envelope and to to call if she needed. I guess she wasn’t hearing what I was saying, because she just yelled, “I didn’t go through with it, did I? The baby’s still alive, isn’t it? So just leave me alone.” She was crying. Their carpulled back into the parking lot an hour later; they were in and out within ten minutes, both looking far more serene. I interpreted that as a trip made in order to get their money back.
The pile of diapers we collected at SSA is fast diminishing. Whenever we go to the restaurant, several mothers meet us there in order to collect a pack or two. Sometimes poor Alicia hardly gets a chance to eat her breakfast.
