M.+Harding-+1979

1979 Dipity Timeline media type="custom" key="24034584"

1979 Narrative

The Little Pearl

We heard the news over the radio while we sipped our milk and ate our guilin rice noodles. After some quick bits about some Americans held hostage by Iranian radicals and something called a Happy Meal we heard the declaration. The government was issuing a One Child Policy due to overpopulation and lack of resources. I looked at my husband Jianyu, we shared a silent sadness and then glanced at little Ling as he threw his noodles on the floor, giggling and squirming in his small chair. Ling was only two years old and was just starting to form his words. He was such a bundle of joy, our little ray of sunshine. I got up from our table, and walked to the window, my body slowly dragging out of sleep. Jianyu came up behind me and wrapped his hands around my now-growing belly. "She is beautiful, just like you, Meiying. That is why I want to call her Meizhen, beautiful pearl, because she is my little pearl right now." Hands trembling, I felt my knees weaken and I tried to hold back the tears by swallowing but my mouth was dry with my nerves."But what about checkups at the doctor, what about the pressure to get rid of her, what about the saline solutions....?" I am scared for my unborn daughter. Scared she may never have a chance at life. "How do you know it's a girl anyway?" I turned and asked through the lump in my throat. He just looked at me with understanding and pulled me close to sooth my fears, then he whispered through my hair, "Because she has to be. I want a daughter that looks just like you." Ling laughed at us in the background and then began to sob gently as his noodle bowl slipped off the edge of his baby table.

Jianyu and I have lived in Beijing for five years now. We have always wanted a big family because we both grew up with large families. We know that having a second child under the One Child Policy would mean lots of paperwork and red tape and we would probably have to move out of Beijing. We have no idea how they will enforce the policy and especially since our new baby is a girl, we cannot risk her safety. This is our last week in the city and we move to my family's house soon and I hope I can have my baby in peace without intrusion by the government. As I clear away our breakfast dishes, I feel a flutter, place my hand on the place where my little pearl has kicked, and suddenly nothing else matters. Jianyu has Ling on his shoulders, carrying him off to his room and I know we will get through this as a family.