Beres Behesh (The Baby Maker)
I wanted a baby.
Sometimes, life will bring people to you that you might have never met or listened to. Fortunately, when I had lowered my guard and opened my mind, I met an old man who changed my life. After the tears, sadness, sense of failure, and overwhelming disappointment, I had reached a point where I would do just about anything to conceive a child.
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My name is Francine (Fran), and this story recounts events that took place over several weeks, almost three years ago. My husband Frank Parsons and I had been married for nearly four years, the last two trying to get pregnant. Frank was quite a bit older than me, and though a wonderful man, husband, and provider, I was still childless and growing more and more depressed as I approached my thirtieth birthday, and that proverbial biological clock continued to tick louder and louder. As much as we loved each other, the pressure and disappointment of trying and not being able to get pregnant were taking a toll on our relationship, and our lives had gradually become an almost constant state of angry words and recriminations.
We did all the tests, went to the doctors and specialists, spent a fortune, but nothing happened. Everything pointed to us both being physically capable of having a child, and yet, after almost two years of trying, I still didn't have a baby.
I was slipping into a growing depression, and I think my best friend Peggy sensed what was happening. I had known Peggy forever; we had been close from the time we first met in kindergarten, through high school and college, and into our adult lives. Peggy was familiar with my desire for a child and knew the difficulties and problems Frank and I were having and their effect on our marriage.
One day, while at lunch, Peggy told me that she had gone to have her palm read. I had no idea what she was talking about, and she explained that she had passed this little house with a small sign out front that said 'Tarot Cards Read' for months, and one day, she and her sister decided to go in and see what it was all about. Even though the house was a little creepy, they went inside anyway and met an old fortune teller named Sister Kasimma.
"I don't know if I believe in that kind of stuff, Peggy said, but it definitely gives you something to think about."
"You know Fran, what the old woman said was kind of interesting; why don't you go to her and see what she says about your situation?"
I looked at her and rolled my eyes.
"No, I'm serious, don't roll your eyes! Who knows, Sister Kasimma might be able to tell you something that will make you feel better, you know, more hopeful."
With a sigh of resignation, I finally agreed to go and see her fortune teller. I don't think I had any expectations and was just doing this to appease Peggy.
*****
The fortune teller's house was small and packed to overflowing with all types of little figurines and statuettes, candles, strange dolls, and what I assumed were pictures of saints. While my friend Peggy waited in an outer room, I was led into a darkened room that smelled of incense and fragranced oil. I was told to take a seat at a small, heavy, wooden table.
After about ten minutes of sitting alone in the room, an old woman came in and sat down opposite me. She was dressed in what looked like a large, brightly colored caftan with a shawl or scarf that covered her head and partially concealed her face. She said nothing for several seconds and then held out her hand and simply said, "Your palm."
I gave her my upturned palm that she held in her hands and examined closely and thoroughly for several minutes in total silence. Finally, letting my palm rest against the table, she covered it with her hand and, looking across at me, said, "You will have the child you desire."
My head snapped up, and my eyes were filled with questions.
"I cannot tell you more, but a seed will be planted that will grow and fulfill your future. There will be a period of mistrust and perceived betrayal between you and the one you love, but stay firm in your resolve and love, and these things will pass. If events are to play out as fate has ordained, you must open your mind and your heart, but you must let your heart lead you and not your mind."
"Do not be afraid. Trust the old one, and if you allow him to guide you, he will help you achieve what you most desire."
And with that, the old woman, Sister Kasimma, rose and left the room, ending the meeting.
I must have sat there for a minute or so trying to figure out what had just happened. When I finally got up and went into the adjoining room, Peggy hurried over to me.
"Well, what did she say? What did she say?" Peggy asked excitedly.
I looked at her and dumbly shook my head.
"Nothing, she didn't say anything that made any sense. Just some mumble jumble able following my heart."
Peggy stared at me and quietly asked, "Are you okay?"
"Yes, yes I'm fine . . . just a bit confused and a little tired, I guess. Peggy, would you mind dropping me off at home?"
"Sure Fran, no problem, no problem at all."