Jack lit up a joint and waved the match out, flicking it onto the floor. He drew the smoke in deeply and exhaled as he lay back on the bed. He thought about Marcie. He wondered if she was taking birth control pills. He wondered why he hadn't wondered about that before. It was a little late to ask himself that now. Suppose she got pregnant. Surely she was on the pill, wasn't she? She wouldn't have sex if she weren't on the pill, thought Jack. But then, on the other hand, he had sex and he hadn't used a condom. Why wasn't that the same? Wasn't it being sexist to expect her to take full responsibility for them both being protected? Was it fair to justify by telling himself that he got carried away? What with the thunder and the lightning getting her excited and the dark romantic cabin and being all alone out in the woods. Her being so near and touching him and looking up at him like that. He reassured himself that he had never pressured her, that she had made the choice. But what if she got pregnant? What then? They had never discussed that possibility. Would she consider having an abortion? How did she feel about that? Jack didn't even know how she felt about that.

On the one hand, it was her body and ultimately her choice. But on the other hand, he would have been a part of it as well. It wasn't something they had ever discussed. Suppose she got pregnant and decided to have the baby? What then? Marriage? Okay. He loved her, no question about that. He also believed in doing the right thing. He could probably get a transfer to her school. Well, come to think about it, she probably wouldn't be able to go to school, certainly for a while and he'd have to get a job. They'd both probably have to get jobs. Could they balance school and jobs and caring for the baby? Daycare was expensive. So were diapers. Clothes. Baby food. Medical insurance. And all right, maybe there wasn't any question that they loved each other, but were they ready to take a step that big?