"adopted"--they chose their children out of all the thousands
available, just as the foster father chose his wife, and the wife her
husband.

This attitude toward the question makes for a feeling of family
solidarity and loyalty no less profound than that between other parents
and children. Everything must be done to prevent feelings of inferiority
from growing out of the adoptive relationship: the children must never
be reminded of the fact of adoption, the parents must not expect more
gratitude from them than they would from offspring of their own, and
they must never, never shout thanks to God, in a moment of anger, that
the children are not really theirs. To do so is not to play the game.
After all, under most state laws, children may be adopted on trial for a
year. If the children are kept after that date, the parents bind
themselves in law and in morality to bring them up exactly as if they
were their own. I keep using the plural throughout this paragraph
because I assume, of course, that you will adopt at least two children
if it becomes necessary for you to plan in this way your version of a
splendid American family--strong, loving, and creative of an ever finer
future.

_Dr. Hornell Hart_

CHAPTER EIGHT

_Detour Around Reno_

David and Ruth have been married four years. The first few months were
glorious: they had to make minor adjustments, of course, but they had
thrilling times together, and it was a wonderful thing to have someone
you belonged to, someone so comforting and lovable. Yet lately there
have been difficulties. David believes in saving money; Ruth thinks that
you live only once and that you ought to spend your money--wisely, of
course--for the nice things and the great experiences, especially since
there is no telling when the bank will fail or when the bottom will drop
out of the stock market and you will lose all you've invested. David
likes to get away from the house at night--to see friends, and keep up
with really good movies. Ruth prefers night clubs and gay parties. David
thinks Ruth ought to be more careful about those white lies and those
extremely decollete dresses; Ruth thinks David is rather a prude and
mighty inconsiderate in the way he keeps picking on her. And then there
is Junior. Ruth believes in loving one's children wholeheartedly and
trusting that affection and understanding will bring them through all
right in the long run; David thinks that right from the cradl