A Doctor's Advice - What if Mary had visited a modern CLINIC?

A DOCTOR’S ADVICE

By Bob Allen

Cast of Characters

                                    Mary                            A teenager

                                    Doctor                         A doctor

                                    Nurse                           A nurse

“Then said Mary unto the angel, how shall this be seeing I know not a man?”

Luke 1:34

Scene

            A doctor’s office in a modern clinic, cold and impersonal.  Mary is seated while the nurse stands over her with a clipboard.  A sign announcing THE CLINIC sits on a desk.

NURSE:          The doctor will be in shortly, but in the meantime let’s get some of the information he will be needing.  Your age?

MARY:           Sixteen.

NURSE:          Sixteen.  And your general health condition?

MARY:           Good, I think.

NURSE:          No asthma, pneumonia or allergies?

MARY:           No.

NURSE:          No heart, blood or liver problems?

MARY:           No.

NURSE:          No reaction to any medicine?

MARY:           I really don’t know.  I haven’t had much medicine.

NURSE:          History of insanity in the family?

MARY:           Of course not.

NURSE:          Well, we have to ask.  Now, when did you first realize you were expecting?

MARY:           About three months ago.

NURSE:          Three months.  (Write on clipboard as DOCTOR enters)

NURSE:          Come in, Doctor.  We were just finishing up.

DOCTOR:      (Checking clipboard)  Thank you.  Mother and baby doing fine I see.  No dizziness?

MARY:           No, sir.

DOCTOR:      Eating regularly?

MARY:           Yes, sir.  Probably too much.

NURSE:          Well, that is certainly understandable.

DOCTOR:      Let me see.  Three months along.  Sixteen years old.  Could I ask just a couple more questions?

MARY:           Certainly.

DOCTOR:      Are you married?

MARY:           No.

DOCTOR:      I see.  Planning to get married?

MARY:           Yes.

DOCTOR:      And does he know?

MARY:           Not yet.  I have been waiting for the right time to tell him.

DOCTOR:      And your parents?

MARY:           No.  I am going to have to tell them soon as well.

DOCTOR:      I see.  Nurse, I think standard procedure is in order here.  You proceed and I will be back in a few minutes with my final diagnosis.  (He exits)

NURSE:          Yes, sir.

MARY:           What did he mean by standard procedure?  Is everything all right?

NURSE:          Everything is just fine.  He only wants to be sure that you know all the facts.  Listen, young lady.  Have you thought about how this pregnancy will affect your future?

MARY:           My future?

NURSE:          You’re only sixteen.  You have a full life ahead of you.  A great life.  One full of wonderful potential.

MARY:           Yes, a great life.  This is a wonderful blessing.

NURSE:          You don’t understand.  It may seem like that just now.  But think of how this will cramp your lifestyle.  Are you sure you are ready to care for a child?  What about education?  What about a career? 

MARY:           This is not just a child.  This child was given to me by God.

NURSE:          Oh, I see.  So you are religious.  Well, that’s all right.  It doesn’t really change anything.  You still have to face the facts.  The chance of a teenage marriage succeeding is almost nil.  What will you do if this man decides not to marry you?  What if he refuses to take responsibility?

MARY:           He would never do that.

NURSE:          Oh?  It happens all the time.  Do you have a job?

MARY:           No.

NURSE:          So how will you support yourself and a child?

MARY:           Nothing is impossible with God.

NURSE:          Right.  Tell that to the bill collector.  What do you think will be the reaction of your friends and neighbors?

MARY:           They probably won’t understand.  I didn’t understand before…

NURSE:          They certainly won’t.  That’s why you need to consider all your options.  You don’t have to carry this fetus to full term you know.

MARY:           But you don’t understand.

NURSE:          No.  YOU don’t understand.  There is no reason why you should put yourself through the trauma of childbirth at your age.  It’s just not necessary.

MARY:           So what are you suggesting?

NURSE:          That’s not up to me.  I am just preparing you for the doctor’s advice.  I’m just making sure you know all the facts.

MARY:           The facts?  I know the facts.  An angel appeared to me and told me I would have a son and that He would be called the Son of God.

NURSE:          The Son of God?  (Writes a note on the clipboard).  I think we’d better get the doctor back in here.

DOCTOR:      (Enters)  Well, any further developments?

NURSE:          Just this.  (Hands him the clipboard).

DOCTOR:      A history of insanity?  Well, that just confirms my earlier diagnosis.  Mary, my advice to you is to have an abortion, and the sooner the better.

THE END