A Mother's Love

May started to dream and in her dream she wasn’t herself, but the mother named Fawn that had abandoned Peter. She relived the moments when she placed Peter in the doorway of the Home for Little Wanders. May also experienced the feelings that Fawn had in leaving the child and it brought a great sadness deep into her heart. She knew right then and there that Fawn had not abandoned the child but had done the only thing that she could do to save her child. May’s motherly instincts told her what Fawn had done was the only alternative that Fawn had. May felt her spirit meld with the spirit of Fawn and their minds became one. In her dream she experienced the thoughts and feelings that Fawn had after walking away from the child. It played like a movie in her mind, so she didn’t fight it and just let it happen in her mind. May would come to find the truth about the child and its’ mother.

It was a fact that the Agency will be looking for Fawn and the child by sunrise. For nine long months she had carried the child as a surrogate mother for the Agency and had come to know them for what they really were. A heartless organization that cared little for children they produced if the child did not live up to their expectations. It was Agency policy to eliminate that which did not meet this expectation. Memories filled her mind of how she got involved with the Agency.

A college student looking for a means of income, that could help pay for the cost of an education and a little extra to help with the many other bills. Checking the bulletin board around the Community College campus she came upon an ad for a surrogate mother for a Biotech company. Nothing other than a phone number and hours to make contact was on the advertisement. She tore off a tab from the bottom of the ad sheet with the phone number and stuck it in her pocket. Little did she know how much this incident would have in changing her life and opening her eyes to a world she could have never imagine to exist.

For the next few days she searches for that elusive job and came to the conclusion that none existed that suited her needs. Walking down Rutherford Ave heading to her apartment on Russell St the cold New England wind gave her a chill. She pulled up the collar of her coat to block the wind and stuck her hand deep inside the warm pockets of her coat and felt a small piece of paper. Removing her hand from her pocket she saw the tiny stub with the phone number she had removed from the advertisement on the bulletin board.

Thinking to herself, “Why not give it a call and just get some information on what requirements they were looking for. “ Removing her cell phone from her other pocket she dialed the number. It rang three times then an automated answering system responded with a pleasant female voice. Listening to the voice she was prompted to press number three on her keypad for information on the surrogate mother program. Following the prompt she pressed the three. It rang only once and another woman voice was heard; only this time it wasn’t automated. “Hello, this is Shirley. How may I help you?” Pausing she took a breath and thought she should hang up, instead she said, “My name is Fawn Moore, I’d like to gets some information on the surrogate mothers program if that’s possible.” Shirley on the other end responded, “We have an orientation seminar that you can attend to gather the necessary information that you seek.” We’re having one tomorrow night would you be interested in attending?” Fawn paused then said, “Yes I would.” Shirley gave Fawn an address to a building in the down town area of Boston and was instructed to bring identification. Shirley then said, “The seminar starts promptly at seven PM and could last up to two hours. There will be no admittance after seven so please arrive a little early.” Fawn said that she understood and would be there early, then thanked Shirley for the info and ended the call. Shoving the cell phone back into her jacket pocket she continued to walk back to her apartment.

Her small apartment located on Russell Street was located in a three story building, typical to all the others in Charlestown. It had clapboard siding with a white trim around the doors and windows. The house number was located to the left of the door right above a set of three mailboxes. Opening the front door, she climbed the stairs to her second floor apartment. Searching for her keys in her purse her cell phone started chiming from her pocket that there was an incoming call. She reached into her pocket and retrieved the phone and saw the number she had just called for the surrogate mother program. She opened the phone and said, “Hello, this is Fawn.”. On the other end of the line a male voice said, “This is Doctor Caleb Scull. I am with the surrogate mother program and I would like to ask you a few questions about your interest in the program. Do you have some time right now?” Fawn hesitated then said, “Well I’ll answer your questions if you could give me a little more insight to the program.” The voice at the other end of the line agreed saying, “I will give as much information as I can about the program and answer all your questions and concerns before I ask any.” Fawn accepted his terms and unlocked her apartment door and walked in, dropped her purse on a side table and removed her jacket. A million questions ran through her mind of what she should ask and she had to choose the right one to get as much information as she could. So she said, “Can you explain to me how my role in this will be defined?” Dr. Scull without hesitation said, “You will be the surrogate mother of a child for a family that you will never meet or can make contact with. Let’s just say our cliental have a high public profile and wish to remain anonymous. All medical examination and expenses shall be arranged and paid for by the agency. You will also receive a monthly payment by the Agency for your participation. I cannot say at this time how much that amount might be, but I can assure you that it is more than enough to meet your needs. Is there anything else you like to ask?” Without hesitation Fawn said,”Will I get to see the baby and hold it?” Dr. Scull answered,” Yes, we have no problem with that. We understand that there builds a connection between the surrogate mother and child, but after that there must be no encounter with the child ever again. Do you fully understand what I am implying? You must give up the child at the time of birth to the Agency. Are there anymore concerns you wish me to address?” Fawn asked “What are your criteria for choosing a suitable woman for the program?” Again without hesitant Dr. Scrull replied, “We are seeking woman between the ages of 18 and 30 who are healthy and drug free. There will be a complete physical performed on each applicant and a thorough medical background check which the applicant will have to approve. After all this criteria is met our medical staff will determine which applicant will be accepted as a candidate for insemination. Those chosen candidate will be notified and arrangement will be made with them for terms of payment and when the procedure will occur. Are there any other questions you’d like me to address? “Fawn could not think of any so she said, “No, you’ve seemed to informed me quite well of what’s to be expected and how would fit in to all of it.” Thank you” said Dr. Scull, “Now if you would please answer a few questions for me.” Fawn agreed to answer his question by saying, “OK, I guess I’m a ready for your questions.” Dr, Scull asked, “What is your legal name?” “Fawn Margaret Moore”, she replied. “Your date of birth?” asked the doctor. “It’s May tenth nineteen ninety.” The doctor then asked, “Do you know what city you were born in and possibly the hospital’s name?” “I do replied Fawn, “It was the Deaconess hospital, in Waltham Mass.” Puzzled by the question she asked, “Why do you need all this information? Couldn’t they gather this information at the seminar tomorrow?” “The Agency does a preliminary background check to save time on screening the applicant.” he replied. “When the applicants report tomorrow, to the address given to you, they will have been prescreened and we can eliminate some before the seminar starts. This in itself is a cost effective for the Agency.” Fawn replied that she understood and asked him to continue. The doctor said,” I only have one more question. Do you have a physician that you normally see?” “Yes”, she replied “Doctor Norma Formby. “Do you need her contact number?” “No’ the doctor replied, “We have a listing of all the doctors affiliated with the AMA and we will be able to contact her.” He then said, “We appreciate you participation in the program and hope to see you at the seminar tomorrow. Thank you for your time and cooperation in answering these questions.” Before Fawn could reply the call had ended. A though quickly shot through her mind. How did he get my cell number? I never gave it to anyone at the Agency. She thought to herself that they must have caller ID on their phone system and let it go at that.

Anyway there was the possibility that she wouldn’t even make it through the pre screening. She wasn’t going to let it bother her; she had bigger things to worry about, like how to pay the bills and continuing her education.

She was going to look at the situation as just another job interview that she probably wouldn’t get anyway, but she’d give it a chance and accept the outcome. Right now she had a paper due for class tomorrow and had to give her uninterrupted attention to it. So she headed over to her laptop and turned in on.

She couldn’t concentrate on working on her paper. Something in the back of her mind kept creeping into her thought pattern. It was the doctor’s name. She had heard it somewhere before, but just couldn’t place it. She clicks on her internet icon on the laptop screen and her home screen came up. She typed Dr. Caleb Scull in the search box and pressed the enter key. The screen changed and there were multiple results from her search. She clicked on the first result and the screen changed again. This time a picture appeared and she could put a face to the name. The picture showed a man who appeared to be in his fifties, salt and pepper hair and beard, and a pleasant smile. Below the picture was the caption: Dr. Caleb Scull noted doctor and researcher of the DNA genome: Specializing in genetic modification, recombinant DNA techniques, and DNA nanotechnology. Fawn remembered where she had heard the name before. It was in one of her college classes. The professor had mentioned him when talking about great breakthroughs in DNA nanotechnology.

How Dr. Scull’s research and methods have advanced this new field of endeavor. All she could remember about it was DNA nanotechnology makes use of branched DNA structures to create DNA complexes with useful properties. She had mixed feelings about all of this. How did such a prominent doctor and researcher fit in to all this program of surrogate mothers? Then again he did say that the people he represented had high public profiles. Possibly they search him out for his expertise, which would mean she could mother the child of a very famous or very influential person. This idea excited her interest more in participating in the program.

She had answered the question that had been bothering her and so she closed down the web browser and continued writing the paper due the next day. She seems to find a new confidence as she wrote; after all she could be the surrogate mother of a child to an important person. Somehow it made her feel a little more important and self assured.