Could I use my foreknowledge that something was going to happen to cause it not to
happen?
Let’s turn it upside down – If I keep something from happening, how could I have
foreknowledge of something that never happened?
Don’t try to sort that out; you’ll bite your own tail.
Is it ever possible to avoid an appointment in Samarra?
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I knew that the power satellite was going to blow up, killing everybody aboard. But
in 1952 no one else knew that there would ever be a power satellite. In 1952 it was
not even a blueprint.
What was my duty?
On Friday Dr Rumsey told me that Priscilla was not pregnant and that she was
physically old enough to be bred and that he was willing to support a delayed birth
certificate, if I wanted her to have one, showing an age anywhere from thirteen to
nineteen… but that in his opinion she was childish in her attitudes.
I agreed. ‘But I may have to phoney an age of at least sixteen.’
‘I see. Her brother is screwing her, isn’t he?’
I answered, ‘Is this room soundproofed?’
‘Yes. And so is my nurse. We’ve heard everything, dear, much of it a lot worse than
a little brother sister incest. We had a case last week – not Howards, thank God –
of “His brother is screwing him”. Be glad your kids are normal. With brother-sister
games all that is usually needed is to see to it that she doesn’t get pregnant and
that they get over it in time to marry somebody else. Which they almost always do.
Haven’t you run into this before?’
‘Yes. Before you took over your father’s practice. Didn’t he tell you?’
‘Are you kidding? Pop treats the Hippocratic Oath as handed down from on high. How
did it work out?’
‘Okay in the long run, although it worried me at the time. Older sister taught
younger brother and then younger brother taught still younger sister. I walked on
eggs for a while, wondering whether to catch them or just to keep an eye out for
trouble. But they never let it get intense; they just enjoyed it. My kids are a
horny lot, all of them.’
‘And you aren’t?’
‘Shall I take off my panties? Or shall we finish this discussion?’
‘I’m too tired. Go on.’
‘Sissy. Eventually they all took the Howard shilling, and now all three couples are
friendly, with, I think, occasional Westchester weekends. But they keep such things
out of my sight to keep from shocking poor old strait-laced Mama. But these two
don’t have that easy-going attitude. Jim, I’ve got to get that girl married.’
‘Maureen, Priscilla isn’t ready to get married. The cure would be worse than the
disease. You would ruin some man’s life while spoiling hers, not to mention the
damage to possible children. Hmm – Priscilla told me she had just moved here from
Dallas. I don’t know Marian. Hardy family – right? What sort of a person is Marian?’
‘Jim, I am not an unprejudiced witness.’
‘That from the woman who can always see the good side in the Devil himself tells me
all I need to know. Well, Marian may have had good intentions but she did not do a
good job on Priscilla. At least not good enough to risk letting her marry at
fourteen, no matter how mature her pelvic measurements are. Maureen, I’ll fake any
age you say – but don’t let her get married so young.’
‘I’ll try, dear. I’ve got a tiger by the tail. Thank you.’
He kissed me goodbye. Shortly I said, ‘Stop that; you said you were too tired. And
you’ve got a waiting-room full of patients.’
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‘Sissy.’
‘Yup. Some other time, dear. Give my love to Velma. I want to get you both over for
dinner next week to see my new house. Maybe then.’
Princess Polly took a while to accept the move. For two weeks I kept her indoors and
using a sand box. Then I let her out. An hour later, not being able to find her, I