the instant of his birth was presented to her。
She was again lying on the delivery table； bathed in sweat； her hair in strings；
her feet splayed out in the stirrups
（and a little high from the gas they kept giving her whiffs of； at one point
she had muttered that she felt like an advertisement for gang rape； and the
nurse； an old bird who had assisted at the births of enough children to populate
a high school； found that extremely funny）
the doctor between her legs； the nurse off to one side； arranging instruments
and humming。 The sharp； glassy pains had been ing at steadily shortening
intervals； and several times she had screamed in spite of her shame。
Then the doctor told her quite sternly that she must PUSH； and she did； and
then she felt something being taken from her。 It was a clear and distinct
feeling； one she would never forget…the thing taken。 Then the doctor held her
son up by the legs…she had seen his tiny sex and known he was a boy immediately…
and as the doctor groped for the airmask； she had seen something else； something
so horrible that she found the strength to scream again afte