Violeta

by Isabel Allende

The only good thing about kids is that they grow fast.

Fabian was occupied with artificial insemination. Of animals, of course, not people. He didn’t come up with the idea—it was something that had been done for many years with sheep and pigs—but he had the notion to try it with cattle. Though I’ll spare you the details, it’s enough to say that the procedure seems terribly disrespectful to the cows. I don’t want to even think about how he obtained the bulls’ crucial contribution.

half the country would agree with me, and the other half doesn’t count.

If the doctor was wrong and I’m not dying, it will be a major letdown.