William & Patty: Chapter Eight

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Sandra warmed up the car. Patty and William helped each other put on their leather jackets. They were going grocery shopping.

For William, it was a particularly sweet adventure: It was only his second trip to a grocery store in his adult life. In group homes, he never saw more than a portion of food at a time. He walked into a store on north McHenry Avenue and instantly felt giddy over the endless aisles of food.

He grabbed a can of Chef Boy-ardee ravioli, dropped it into Sandra's cart and walked on. Then he looked back to make certain all was OK. Sandra smiled at him and he clapped his hands.

As the trio worked its way through the store, Sandra taught the couple to compare prices. In the cereal aisle, William marveled at Snow White's picture on a box of corn flakes.

"Wow," William said. "I never had that one before. Hey Patty, you can cut it out and put it in a frame." "I love Snow White," Patty said.

They passed a couple in their late 20s: a woman pushing a cart with a man walking several feet behind her. After seeing William and Patty, the man and woman turned their eyes toward the ground and walked ahead.

Once they were out of earshot, the man caught up to his companion. He said something to her under his breath. She looked back and they both started laughing.

Patty sat on the love seat, sobbing loudly.

Patty's desire to become a mother peaked in the months after William moved in, and all she could do was cry. William had learned what to do. He sat down and put his arm around Patty.

"Patty, why are you crying?"

She didn't say anything. William tried again.

"Hey, Patty."

"I can't have a baby, William. I want to have a baby. I want to be a family."

William put his other arm around Patty, patting her in consolation. He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.

"It's OK, Patty. We have each other. We're a family, aren't we Patty?"

"Yes."