Get Off the Unicorn by Anne McCaffrey Page B

“A man to do for, and George takes a lot of doing, you know. Keeps me on my toes. He has such tremendous vitality. I like that. He knows and loves, and understands the land, and I wanted that, too. I knew that was good for me, to be close to the land, and I wanted to raise my children close to natural things. Sometimes I think there’s too much dependence on technology. I’m a throwback, too, Nora, just as much as your father is with his antiquated notions of a son following in his father’s footsteps on land that’s been in the same family for generations.” Mother looked down at her square-palmed strong-fingered hands as if they represented her inner self. “I like to feel warm earth, to get dirty. I want to
do
with my hands, not just let them idly punch a button or two. I like growing things, young things. If I could’ve defied the Population Control laws, too, I’d’ve had a whole passel of brats to raise. As it was . . .” and her lips formed a glowing smile of love and compassion that could encompass a whole county.
    â€œAs it was,” Nora said with a giggle, “you had twins in spite of Father.”
    â€œYes,” Mary Fenn chuckled, her eyes lit up with laughter, “I had twins. A boy for your father,” and her face was both dutiful and mischievous, “and a girl for me.”
    â€œWell, Nick’s not the son Father wanted. Mother—” and suddenly the answer was the most important thing in Nora’s life. “—Mother, am I the daughter
you
wanted?”
    The laughter died abruptly and Mother placed her square hands on either side of Nora’s face.
    â€œYou’re a good child, Nora. You never complain. You work hard and willingly. Yes, you’re a good daughter.”
    But that wasn’t the answer Nora wanted.
    â€œBut what do
you
want me to
be
?”
    â€œHappy, Nora. I want you to be happy.” Mary Fenn turned, then, to glance around the kitchen area, checking to see if all was in order. It was a dismissal, a tacit gesture not to pursue this subject further. Her mother often did that. Particularly with Father. She didn’t actually evade a question, simply didn’t answer it directly or fully.
    â€œMother, that isn’t enough of an answer anymore.”
    Her mother turned back to her, her eyebrows raised in a polite question that turned to a frown when she’d studied her daughter’s stern face.
    â€œI only wanted a daughter, Nora, not a child in my own image, to follow in my path. Just a girl child to raise, to love, to delight in. A woman is proud to bear her son, but she rejoices in her daughter. You’ve given me much secret joy, Nora. I’m proud of you for many, silly little motherly reasons you’ll understand when you have your own daughter. Beyond that . . .” Mother began to move away. “I believe that everyone must be allowed to determine his own life’s course. In that respect I am completely modern. Do
you
dislike farm life as much as your brother, Nora?”
    â€œNo,” but Nora realized as she said it that she was no longer sure. “It’s not that I dislike it, Mother, it’s just that I’d prefer to do something more . . .”
    â€œMore cerebral, less manual?” her mother asked teasingly.
    Nora could feel the blush mounting in her cheeks. She didn’t want Mother to think she felt farming wasn’t a substantial contribution.
    â€œWell,” and her mother’s voice was brisk again, “the Advancements will soon be posted. They’ll decide the matter once and for all. In the meantime—”
    â€œI’ll be a good daughter.”
    â€œI know I can count on you,” and there was a sudden worded edge to her mother’s voice. “Now go. You’ve studying, I know. You want to achieve a good credit bonus at graduation.”
    Nora let her mother’s gentle shove