by Leza O Dowd

Julie wanted to yell furiously at the bunch of snobby mothers seated around her. Their million dollar appearances and their snooty attitudes were suffocating; it was almost more than she could bear.

"My little Sarah is very advanced for her age," one of the women bragged. "She can already say five words!"

"My Geoffrey walked all the way across the room last week!" added another proud mother.

"The other day, Benjamin said the whole alphabet!"

Julie sat quietly and watched them rant and rave. She felt it was appalling how they used their children to belittle one another. Why wasn't it good enough for them that they had lots of money, good husbands and healthy children?

"Julie dear, how's your little one?" someone asked. "Julie?" she repeated.

Julie snapped out of her thoughts and lied. "Oh, fine, just fine." She smiled weakly. The women lost interest quickly and continued bragging amongst themselves.

Julie sighed, relieved they hadn't pressured her for more details. The truth was her son wasn't fine. Since the day of his birth, she'd noticed that he was different. The doctors had declared him perfectly healthy, but something just wasn't right.

Little Mason was now seven months old. Julie had watched other babies grow and advance. Compared to other babies, her son was rather quiet and inactive. She loved Mason more than anything else in the world, but she couldn't help but feel disappointed. Her parents had told her he was just a slow learner and would blossom in his own time. She hoped to God they were right.

When the finger food was passed around the group, the women talked about their children's future. It was something Julie hadn't really thought about. What if Mason is a slow learner all his life?

Yet the other mothers didn't seem to have this problem, as one after another said:

"Jimmy is going to be the finest lawyer in the country!"

"Stephanie loves ballet. She's going to be the most famous ballerina of all time!"

"Tony loves his toy cars. He's going to own his own car company one day."

They went on and on about what their babies were going to become, while Julie could only worry about her own son, and wonder why they felt the need to brag so much.

Her thoughts turned sour towards them. Jimmy will probably need a lawyer when he grew up. Stephanie will fall pregnant by the time she's sixteen and Tony would most likely end up compacting cars in a junk-yard.

All Julie wanted for Mason was a full life, filled with love and happiness.

Again her thoughts were interrupted.

"What do you think Mason will do when he grows up?" a very beautiful young mother asked. They all looked expectantly at her, waiting for her answer.

Julie froze. She didn't know what to say. Mason hadn't shown any signs yet of likes and dislikes; she certainly couldn't tell what he would do when he grew up.

She felt like she had to impress these women, although she didn't quite know why. It was bad enough that Julie didn't look like them; now, she felt pressured to act like them. Which she didn't appreciate at all.

Julie breathed deeply and summoned up all her courage before saying, "I'm not sure what he will do. I just hope that he'll be happy."

The women were confused and a little taken aback by her vague answer.

"Have you no dreams or expectations for him at all?" one lady asked as she looked down her nose at Julie.

Julie was annoyed at her tone and the way they all looked at her. They had no right to judge her. What was she doing here?

Julie stood up, glared at them and said, "Maybe he'll be a banker or a millionaire or a bloody football star. I don't know! It doesn't matter what I want him to be!"

She took a deep breath, and continued more calmly. "All I want for him is good health, love and happiness. Whatever he becomes is up to him." With that, Julie grabbed her bag and left.

When Julie returned home, she excused the babysitter and went straight to Mason's room. He was sleeping soundly in his cot; she watched him as he slept. He was so beautiful, so perfect and innocent, untouched by the stresses of the world.

Maybe he would be a little slow, she thought. So what! He sure as hell won't be brought up like those rich snobs' children.

Julie didn't have a husband or trillions of money. She knew whatever the circumstances and whatever life would bring, she would always love her little boy and never pressure him into doing anything he didn't want to do. Because together they would be happier than all of the richest people on earth combined.

*** THE END ***