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Ms. Green:
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Well hello, Doctor.
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Dr. Balis:
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Hello, Anna.
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Ms. Green:
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Sorry about last time. I thought you wouldn't mind, actually.
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Dr. Balis:
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I didn't like you running out in the middle of the session like that.
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Ms. Green:
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Well, it wasn't in the middle of the session. I think we were going overtime already...sorry, Doctor.
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Dr. Balis:
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Did Martin manage to catch up with you?
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Ms. Green:
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Yeah.
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Dr. Balis:
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Do you want to talk about what happened here last time?
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Ms. Green:
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Well...
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Dr. Balis:
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I think we should.
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Ms. Green:
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I have a more urgent problem right now, Doctor Balis. And if you don't mind, I would like to talk about that.
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Dr. Balis:
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What happened?
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Ms. Green:
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Things got really bad, Doctor. I mean they were bad before. But now...
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Dr. Balis:
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What is it?
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Ms. Green:
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Martin took Kathy to her doctor's appointment last Monday. She was supposed to get some kind of test to check if the baby was all right.
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Dr. Balis:
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And?
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Ms. Green:
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I'm not exactly sure what test she took, but they found some bad proteins in her blood or uterus or something. They think it might be a Down's syndrome baby, Doctor.
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Dr. Balis:
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Oh god.
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Ms. Green:
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It's not for sure yet. They will do a full-on amnio on her next week. And then we'll know exactly. But Kathy doesn't want an abortion. She wants the baby regardless.
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Dr. Balis:
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I see. And Martin?
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Ms. Green:
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He hasn't been home since he brought Kathy back home on Monday.
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Dr. Balis:
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Where is he?
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Ms. Green:
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He is staying with a friend. He said that he has a lot to think about and he needs to be alone right now. But he calls in every day and checks on Kathy.
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Dr. Balis:
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Does he want to have the baby regardless?
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Ms. Green:
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No. He is totally freaked. He doesn't know what to do. It's one thing to have a normal, healthy baby. But this...it's not what I would have wanted.
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Dr. Balis:
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I see.
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Ms. Green:
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And I'm totally stuck comforting Kathy through all this. Can you believe it? She comes to me--to me!--to cry. She tells me her troubles. I think for the first time, she's actually worried that Martin might not be there for her.
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm.
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Ms. Green:
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I told her that I thought that Martin would always want to support his child. He'd send her money and make sure it's all right. But what does she expect? It's not even his love child, for god's sake.
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Dr. Balis:
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You didn't tell her that, did you?
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Ms. Green:
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Well, no. But I'm dying to.
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Dr. Balis:
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Anna...
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Ms. Green:
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I won't. I think Martin should be strong enough to let her know that. But she's a real basket case right now. She hasn't stopped crying since she found out. And the things she talks about...way over the top.
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Dr. Balis:
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Like what?
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Ms. Green:
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Oh, she talks about this baby always needing her. It would never leave her and always love her. And she would always be there for it, taking care of it, making sure it's okay. It would never grow up. It would be just like having a baby for the rest of her life. She could love it with all her heart, because she would never have to worry about it not being there or abandoning her. It's all weird stuff like that, Doctor. I think she's really flipped.
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm.
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Ms. Green:
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The more I think about her talking this way about this baby, the more I realize just how sick it is. She wants this baby to be a mental cripple! She's actually talking about it like it's a good thing. God! I'm thinking about recording some of our conversations and playing them for Martin. I bet he has no idea just how out of it she is.
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Dr. Balis:
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You mean recording without Kathy's knowledge?
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Ms. Green:
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Well, I know that sounds bad. But I think Martin has the right to know.
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Dr. Balis:
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I'm sure you'll tell him all about it.
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Ms. Green:
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Yeah. But it's better if he hears it from her own mouth. I wouldn't have believed that anyone could feel this way, if I haven't heard it myself.
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Dr. Balis:
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So you think Martin would abandon Kathy if the baby has Down's syndrome?
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Ms. Green:
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No, not abandon. He would support it, but he doesn't have to give up his life for it, does he?
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Dr. Balis:
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Would you want to continue your relationship with Martin if that happens?
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Ms. Green:
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I...
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Dr. Balis:
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Do you?
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Ms. Green:
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I don't want to be in a situation where I suddenly become a mother to this child. Perhaps it's possible to love your own child like that. But someone else's?
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Dr. Balis:
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There are a lot of people who take care...
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Ms. Green:
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I'm not saying it's impossible to love kids with Down's syndrome. But you have to dedicate your life to them. There are people who are specially trained to do the job of taking care of children like that.
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm.
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Ms. Green:
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And I suppose that if I had a Down's syndrome kid by accident, I would love it very much, too. But that would never happen.
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Dr. Balis:
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All right. So what are you saying, Anna?
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Ms. Green:
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I'm not sure.
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Dr. Balis:
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I think you just said that even if Martin chose you and Kathy and the baby were no longer in the picture, you still wouldn't want to be with him for fear that Kathy's child might become your responsibility.
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Ms. Green:
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It's his child, and he should be responsible for it. But I don't have to be. I want to get a clean slate on life, so to speak. I don't want to get stuck in a situation where I'm duty bound by something that I don't want to have anything to do with. What if he dies?
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Dr. Balis:
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Who? The baby?
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Ms. Green:
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No, Martin. What if Martin dies, and I get stuck with his baby? It's just not fair.
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Dr. Balis:
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I see. So are you leaving Martin and Kathy?
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Ms. Green:
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Well...
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Dr. Balis:
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Well?
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Ms. Green:
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I don't think Kathy should have the baby.
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Dr. Balis:
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It's not your decision.
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Ms. Green:
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It is, if I have to spend my life taking care of this child.
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Dr. Balis:
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But you don't have to do any such thing, Anna. You're free to leave. Martin said so himself, remember?
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Ms. Green:
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So I should just abandon Martin to his fate?
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Dr. Balis:
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I don't know. This is your decision.
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Ms. Green:
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I just can't do it.
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Dr. Balis:
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Can't do what?
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Ms. Green:
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I can't be a mother to that child.
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm.
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Ms. Green:
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That's how it's going to turn out if I stay. I'm not such a monster, you know. I wouldn't be able to just stand by and watch that psycho abuse a helpless child. I would have to do something. I would end up having the responsibility because there just wouldn't be any other choice.
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Dr. Balis:
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Not true, Anna. You always have a choice. This is not your child.
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Ms. Green:
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That's why Martin has to make Kathy get rid of it.
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Dr. Balis:
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Anna, I don't think...
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Ms. Green:
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There's no other way. Kathy wouldn't be able to take care of it. And Martin wouldn't be able to do it alone.
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Dr. Balis:
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I think you should let Martin figure out what he wants to do on his own. When is he coming back?
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Ms. Green:
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I don't know.
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Dr. Balis:
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Do you see him at work?
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Ms. Green:
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Not much. He is trying not to deal with it at work. He wouldn't even let Kathy come in for a visit. He said that work is the only thing that is keeping him sane right now, and he doesn't want to contaminate it.
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Dr. Balis:
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I see. And when is Kathy's next test?
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Ms. Green:
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You're right, Doctor. This is all very silly. We just don't know yet. So why go through hell for nothing? I'll talk to you next week. I have to go and feed the pregnant one. I told Martin I would do that for him.
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm. All right. I'll see you next week, then. Please take care, Anna. Don't make any hasty decisions.
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Ms. Green:
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I never do, Doctor. Good night.
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Dr. Balis:
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Good night.
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###
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Doctor Balis' Notes on this Session
Transcripts of Anna Green's Communications
