Short stories: Making choices

by Donald Hancock

Three Wishes
Roger was very delicate in his interpretation of Melissa's condition. She was, indeed, pregnant. But in the 1950's one was not free to use the word “pregnant” in polite society. So, as he wrote in his column of the young actress' condition, it was hard for him to deal with it delicately. She was “sans marriage license” and even “sans father of the child”.

Roger had known “Mil”, as he called her, since kindergarten. Their parents had all belonged to the same clubs and often got together for cribbage. Now Melissa was calling Roger at his desk at the newspaper office. “I am devastated, Roger, that you would mention my condition. You know most assuredly that I was a victim of that 'friend of yours' !” She used the last phrase with as much sarcasm in her voice as she could muster.

“I know, Mil, and I know that Monroe can be very persuasive when he puts his mind to it. But he really is a good guy. Whether you can bring yourself to believe it or not, he really loves you. I even think he intends to 'pop the question' when he gets back from his assignment in India.”

“Oh, I do hope you are right, Roger!”

Roger changed the direction of the conversation just slightly by asking, “Does he know about the baby yet, Mil?”

“Oh, I rather suspect so,” she said, again sarcastically. “I am sure he read it in your article, Roger. The London Times does reach New Delhi, you know!  I am kidding you, Rog. We have talked about it several times by post and telephone. He is fully aware that he is the father. He also knows that he is the only one that I have been intimate with.”

“Well, Mil, please let me know how your parents react to what I said. After all, everyone in Theater knows that you are pregnant, so I, as a critic, had to make some comment. I think I was kind!”

“You were very discrete, Roger, and I do thank you for that. I will let you know how my parents respond. So far they have said nothing about the article.”

Two days later Roger was happily surprised when Monroe Culbertson burst into his office with a shout and a grin. “Roger, old boy, I am still alive!”

“Monroe, you made it! I was just talking with Mil...” Roger's voice trailed off as he became embarrassed over the awkwardness of the situation.

“How is she taking it, Roger. I mean really? She tells me that 'she does not hate me', Roger, but I don't want her to marry me unless she loves me. I will support her and my baby for the rest of my life and just stay out of the picture, if that is what she wants. And I do not want to hurt her acting career any more than I have already done.”

“Does she know that you are back?”

“No, Rog, I didn't know if it was safe to show my face. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if her father has an elephant gun loaded for when I show up.”

“Well, why don't we put it to a test, Monroe, if you are game. Come back at 6:00 this afternoon, on the dot. I will make up some pretense to have Mil here too and we will just see how it plays when she sees you. How about it?”

“If you think it will help I will be here! Thanks, Roger old boy!”

Roger called Melissa and asked if she could come by his office to help him sort through some of her old publicity photos that he had found and that somewhere between 5:30 and 5:45 would be good for him. She agreed to come. At 5:45 Melissa knocked on Roger's office door and he jumped up and seated her next to his desk. After a few pleasantries, Roger said, “Mil, I have a confession to make. This isn't about photos at all. It is about you and Monroe. I have a very important question to ask you on Monroe's behalf. Monroe loves you so much that he is willing to support you and your baby indefinitely and anonymously if that is what you want.”

“If he loves me so much why would he want to do that? Why wouldn't he want to marry me?”

“Mil, he loves you too much to let you marry him without love. His own parents did that and he knows how dismal that existence can be. That is why he is willing to have you go on with your career and he remain in the background with no strings attached.”

“But I do love him, Roger. I love him more than my career. There is nothing I want more than to be Mrs. Monroe Culbertson!”

“Then this is what I would like to do, Mil. What I have not told you is that Monroe has just got back in town today. He has been to see me and will be back momentarily. I want you to step into this storage room and be quiet for a few minutes while I talk with him. You can listen to what he says. If what he says sounds good to you just come on out. But if you don't like what he says or you just don't really believe him, just stay in there and I will say I guess you decided not to come. How about that?”

“OK, Roger. That sounds good to me.”

In a few minutes, Monroe knocked on the door and came on in. Roger got up, shook his hand, and said, “Hi, Monroe. Have a seat”. Roger sat and paused for a moment and then said, thoughtfully, “While we wait on Mil I have a question for you. I know you are willing to stay in the background and just give financial support with no strings attached. That would allow you to fulfill your moral responsibility while having a life of your own. Is that what you prefer or would you want something else if you could have anything you wanted?”

“You mean if I could have everything just as I wanted it?”

“Yes, Monroe, what would you choose if you found the genie in the magic lantern?”

“Oh, there is no question what wish I would make, Rog. It would be the same thing that I have wished for every day since the day I first met Mil. It is what I have dreamed of every night. If I had a genie come out of a magic lamp and give me three wishes right now, Roger, it would be to be with Melissa for the rest of my life, to be her husband, and to be the father of our children!”

Roger smiled but said nothing. The door of the storage room squeaked open slowly and from the room came these words, “Your wish is my command, Master!”

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