In grade school, I tried to figure out how women got pregnant.  

I told Petra my theory one afternoon, when we had ventured upstairs to our parent’s room.  We weren’t allowed there, but went occasionally anyway.  I liked to bring a book because it was sunny and warm in winter, and light bounced off the yellow walls.

“I think that when the man puts the ring on the woman’s finger, there are chemicals in the ring that go into her body, and signify that she’s married, and then she becomes pregnant.  But . . . some couples are married and they don’t have children . . . ”

“Emmie,” Petra said impatiently, “Dad put his penis into Mom’s vagina, and that’s how babies are made.”