
Transcriber's Note:
Len and Moira share a cramped, fir‑lined cottage that smells of fresh geraniums but is choked by overgrown brambles and an untended lawn. The young couple, still adjusting to the late‑stage jitters of Moira’s pregnancy, spend their evenings juggling chemistry papers, half‑finished coffee, and nervous laughter that feels oddly out of place. Their banter—Len’s bruised nose, Moira’s nervous giggles, a misplaced baby illustration—reveals a fragile mix of affection and uncertainty as they await the arrival of their first child.
Beyond the kitchen’s ticking clock, the couple’s finances are stretched thin; Len teaches without seniority while Moira clings to the hope of a modest future. The modest liquor cabinet, the unpaid tuition plans, and the looming pressure of a summer school deadline all hint at the strain of trying to build a family on a shoestring budget. As the season turns, their everyday worries begin to swell, leaving both partners to wonder how much more they can endure before the next big surprise arrives.
Language
en
Duration
~39 minutes (38K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2010-04-16
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1922–2002
A sharp-minded force in science fiction, he helped shape the field not only through his own stories but also as a critic, editor, and organizer. He is especially remembered for the classic story "To Serve Man" and for the lasting influence he had on generations of writers.
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