The Case of Mary P.

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The Case of Mary P.

• Argument and Rhetoric Issues

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I really want to have a cute, little baby soon.
My friends and my parents keep telling me I'm too
young to have a cute, little baby of my own.
Don't they realize how unhappy it makes me to
hear them be so negative? If they all care about
me as much as they say they do, they wouldn't
keep making me unhappy.
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Anyway, I know all those scary things they're
saying aren't true. They couldn't be. I know I
could take care of a cute, little daughter just
fine. After all, I'm sixteen years old. I can
drive. Babies are so cuddly. I could give a
little daughter so much love.
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I've felt this way for as long as I can
remember. Like I remember I was always so happy
when I got a new doll. I could dress her up and
brush and brush and brush her hair to make her
look just the way I wanted. Sometimes I'd get a
darling little baby doll and I'd practice
changing her diapers and pretend feeding her with
a bottle. I did that a lot. It's like I have a
huge amount of practice taking care of cute,
little babies already.
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They all say I should wait until I'm married, but
I see lots of single moms around these days in
the mall with their cute, little babies. I could
be like them. I don't believe that single
mothers have as much trouble as my parents say
they do. It couldn't be that way. Maybe for
some girls, but it wouldn't be that way for me.
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I don't think anybody realizes how much I want a
cute, little daughter of my own. I might not get
married for years! I've heard that when married
people fight, they are fighting about their kids
lots of times. If I'm not married, I won't have
to worry about fighting with my husband about the
kids, right? So getting married isn't all good.
Besides, a lot of husbands beat their wives. Why
should I marry some guy who'll beat me?
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I used to think I wanted to marry my boyfriend,
but he doesn't come around much anymore. He's
pretty good-looking. My baby would be so cute if
she looked like him. Maybe I ought to give him a
call. I know I'm ready to have a cute, little
baby. When your body says you're ready, then you
should do it. I really want to have a cute,
little baby and I want everything to be perfect.
Why don't they understand?