Sitting in her living room, watching her closest friends and relatives play pin the diaper on the baby, Nandi was awash with disgust. An anthropologic study could be done on baby showers, she thought.. As a cultural phenomenon they are rife with traditions, ritual, family dynamics and conflict. Before she was a teacher, and before she was the vice principal, Nandi had been an anthropology student. This was her second child; she wouldn’t say so, but she hoped it wasn’t another girl. People always say girls are harder, but those people are misogynists, she thought to herself. She watched her daughter Thembi, sitting on the floor surrounded by pink and baby blue balloons, licking icing off her index finger. Those people are idiots, it’s all hard.

Rebecca caught her eye and raised her eyebrow. Nandi waved her off. 

Rebecca shook her head and walked over. “Hey momma, what’s up? Why aren’t you having fun?” she asked kneeling down next to Nandi. 

Nandi rubbed her big belly. They’d known each other since university, they were student teachers together. There was no hiding anything from her.

“Let’s talk later,” she said quietly. 

Rebecca nodded knowingly, then stood up and clapped her hands. “Alright ladies! I think it’s time for presents!” she shouted. Nandi had asked her to plan the party, to make sure it didn’t get too ridiculous. She was happy to be throwing her best friend’s shower, or at least she wanted to be.

“Gather round! Gather round! Okay, who would like to go first with their gift?” Rebecca picked up a large yellow package decorated with ducklings and handed it to Nandi. “Here we go, this one’s from your mom!”

She sat down to watch her friend gently open the present and fold up the wrapping paper. Rebecca laughed. Inside the box were a pair of hand-knitted little boots and a tiny yellow hat. Nandi beamed and hugged her mother.

Rebecca felt a lump form in her throat. The booties had little pompoms on the toes. How could their feet be small enough for those little shoes? She held her breath and looked away. Today was always going to be hard for her.

“You’re welcome,” Nandi’s mother cooed. “Thank the Lord. I’m just glad I finished them in time,” she said rubbing her arthritic fingers.

“I love them! And they match the ones you got Thembi!” Nandi smiled. Her daughter looked up from her cake-covered hands upon hearing her name.

“I kept the yarn just in case you did decide to have another little blessing,” Nandi’s mother said proudly patting her daughter’s knee.

Nandi and Rebecca exchanged a meaningful look.

“Speaking of which!” Nandi’s mother used her cane to hoist herself out of the low leather couch. “Why don’t we all gather round for a minute?”

Rebecca looked around confused. This wasn’t on the program she’d set up. Nandi’s mother carefully walked over to her. Rebecca smiled cautiously.

“While we are here celebrating my daughter’s growing family, I don’t want us to forget the promises the Lord has made to our beautiful Rebecca,” the old woman said sitting down next to her and taking her hands.

“I’m sorry what’s happening right now?” Rebecca quickly glanced to her friend for help.

“I know you and your husband have been fighting the burden of infertility for a long time,” the old woman said patting her knee and looking around the room for confirmation. “We would like to take this time to thank the Lord, but also to come together in faith for the miracle God has promised to your family.”

Rebecca swallowed hard. “Umm thank you, but it’s not necessary,” she said laughing nervously. Outside the children were screaming and jumping on the bounce house. They seemed to be taunting her. Her face was getting hot. Everyone was staring at her.

“There is no shame in being barren dear. We need to trust for a miracle.”

Rebecca’s eyes burned at the word. “I am not barren.”

“Let us all gather round to lay hands on our friend.”

“No thank you,” Rebecca said, moving the woman’s hands off her. 

More women began to stand and gather around her. Hands began moving over her and settling onto her shoulders. 

“I said no!” Rebecca jumped out of her seat and stormed out of the room. The kitchen door slammed closed behind her.