What if...

If We Were Like Guppies

Pre-Note: Certain species of fish, like guppies, can store the genetic material from their mates indefinitely (forever) and use it at any time. Imagine if humans were like that:

A tall woman with brown hair and nervous brown eyes approaches her husband, a rather short man from the wears of life, at his desk in the study. He hears her coming, and turns. "Hey, Ellen, what's up?"

Ellen fiddles nervously with her hands, wiping them on her pants, even though hey are perfectly dry, and perfectly clean. "I have some... news, Sam," she says, not quite sure how to introduce her brand of news. Was it good? Was it bad? How bad would he take it? It's not like it was the first time this kind of news had been given before. The first three times, the response had be happiness, but the next thee had started to get less happy.

"Oh, great," he says, his face lighting up, "so do I."

"Really? You go first then." She was relieved to have a little more time to think about how to say it.

Sam pulls a piece of paper from the top drawer in his desk (that meant it was important). "I got a raise!" he exclaims happily. Ellen hugs and congratulates him. "So, what's your news?"

"Well... Honey. Guess what? I'm pregnant," Ellen flailed her arms in mock excitement, "again," she was losing enthusiasm by the word.

"But..." Sam sputtered, "we were completely safe this time. We made sure..."

"Ya, I know. Do you remember two years ago? When we weren't safe?" He nods vaguely, "Sorry sweety, I think I accidentally saved it. But this time, it's different."

He looks confused and worried, "how so?"

"Well, when I took the pregnancy test, you know, the new one that's reusable and tells you everything about the pregnancy? It says it's twins."

"We already have six of them," he laments, "we don't need two more." Sam falls forward, resting his head on his wife, and like a man, he cries.

Ellen pats him soothingly, "I know honey, I know. I guess it's a good thing you got that raise."