The Baby Juke

juke 2 (jook) Football
v. juked, juk·ing, jukes
v.tr.
To deceive or outmaneuver (a defending opponent) by a feint; fake.
v.intr.
To deceive or outmaneuver a defender by a feint.
n.
A feint or fake.

We had another close call last week. On Wednesday morning our social worker called about a baby born the day before. Did we want our profile shown to the birth mother? Baby girl, no drug exposure, (relatively) low fees; that's all we know.

Yes, of course! Put our letter in the pile.
A snag: our updated profile letters just got put in the mail the day before. Could I send a copy of the letter as a PDF file, so that this birth mother will get the latest edition the life of Ed and Kris? O.K. Hurry up. Wait anxiously while the computer has a nervous breakdown. Talk to the social worker again when she calls to see if you sent the letter yet. Explain the computer's issues. Assure her the letter will be there soon. Bless the computer when it recovers. Send the letter. Wait.

While waiting, do not get your hopes up. But maybe this is the one. Better get a couple things lined up, just in case we gotta skip town tomorrow. Think about the other couples who are waiting for word from this very same birth mother. Think about the birth mother, who you know nothing about. Think about the baby. Wonder.

It's so interesting this web of strangers, with whom we momentarily and anonymously share such an event. I don't know how many profile letters an adoption agency gives a birth mom to read and choose from. I've heard 3 to 5. Maybe more. That's at least 3 to 5 households crouching in readiness. Ready to spring into action: make phone calls, book airline tickets, pack the bags, reschedule life for the next 2 weeks, and hit the road. Thinking they might be leaving to meet their baby girl tomorrow.