How It All Goes Down
A Very Small Shoe
- Spring 1996 (Clare is 24, Henry is 32): Two years into their marriage, Clare's wish for a baby is growing stronger by the day. Henry is not optimistic about their chances, what with the possibility that Henry's disorder might be hereditary. But Clare doesn't want to think about the difficulties. "My body wanted a baby. I wanted someone to love who could stay, so when [Henry] was gone he wouldn't be entirely gone, there would be a bit of him with me… insurance, in case of fire, flood, act of God" (2.4.2).
- Sunday, October 2, 1996 (Henry is 33): Henry sits in a tree in Appleton, Wisconsin, musing that somewhere in Chicago, he's still a normal 3-year-old. That's what he wants for Clare and himself: "A normal baby who will do things normal babies do" (2.4.3). And he does, of course, love the idea that part of him would remain with Clare whenever he disappears. But. But. But… What if he child is a time traveler, like him? What if he's not meant to procreate? What if he's making a mistake in even trying?