the new year

January 2041 - Brenda Roennigke and Amin Zhang are 27 (Sandy Fairchild is 56).

One cold afternoon in January, Amin meets Brenda at city hall so they can make their relationship official. They've been together since college, and they think it's time for them to get married and have a family together.

Neither of them have family in the area, so instead of having a big wedding they just get married in front of Mayor Fairchild.

"Congratulations," Sandy says.

On the way home, they get their picture taken at the photobooth in the Lowell College student center. It's not a traditional way to celebrate a marriage, but it works for them.

Amin was recently promoted to detective in the Providence Police Department. He works out every day to keep himself in excellent shape.

Brenda is a member of the Providence City Council.

She works hard to keep in touch with her constituents and to build good relationships with Mayor Fairchild and other local officials.

Only a few weeks after they get married, Brenda starts feeling sick every morning.

At first she thinks it's just the flu, but eventually she can't ignore it anymore.

"I have some big news," Brenda says one evening. "I'm pregnant."

"Really? Oh honey, that's great!"

*****

Amin and Brenda started out as dormies, but after they fell in love, I let them graduate and move to Providence. Baby Zhang is due in September!