The narrator recounts a true story about the night she caught her 16-year-old sister giving birth in their bathroom. The sister, Cassie, had been hiding her pregnancy from the family, and the narrator was shocked to discover her sister was nine months pregnant. The narrator delivered the baby and called an ambulance, which took them to the hospital. There, Cassie revealed that she had gotten pregnant by a boy from another school as a way to rebel against their parents, who were never home due to their work as lawyers. Cassie had planned to give the baby up for adoption but had second thoughts after giving birth. However, she ultimately went through with the adoption, and the narrator reflects on how sad it was to see her sister surrender her child.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The narrator woke up to their dog, Barney, barking loudly at 3 a.m.
2. The narrator got up to investigate and found their little sister, Cassie, in the bathroom.
3. Cassie was squatting on the floor, and the narrator realized she was giving birth.
4. The narrator had no idea Cassie was pregnant, as she had been hiding it from everyone.
5. The narrator's parents were away at a conference, and Cassie was 16 years old.
6. The narrator tried to call an ambulance, but Cassie begged them not to.
7. The narrator ended up delivering the baby in the bathroom.
8. After the birth, the narrator's parents were unaware of the situation, but two policemen showed up at the door.
9. The narrator's parents were lawyers who were never home, and the narrator felt guilty for not being a better sibling.
10. Cassie had been secretly planning to give the baby up for adoption and had already found potential adoptive parents.
11. The nurse told Cassie she had one hour left with her son before he would be taken to the nursery room to wait for his new adoptive parents.
12. Cassie was inconsolable and regretted her decision to give the baby up for adoption.