Summary

The story opens on the protagonist, who is referred to throughout the story only as ‘the Mother.’ She is at home with her infant son, who is referred to throughout the story only as ‘the Baby.’ One day, while changing the Baby’s diaper, the Mother notices what appears to be a clot of blood in the Baby’s fecal matter. She calls the local children’s hospital and tells the staff of this observation. The person on the other end of the phone tells her to bring the Baby to the hospital immediately. Later, in the radiology lab, a radiologist performs an ultrasound on the baby. The ultrasound reveals that there is something irregular in one of the Baby’s kidneys. The radiologist tries to be reassuring, but the Mother is very anxious. Later, a surgeon speaks with the Mother. The surgeon says...