There is a young boy who often passes by my street and, every time he sees me, he points at my pregnancy and the only thing he says is: “You are carrying a serpent! Stop this pregnancy! Do not bring it into the world!”

I felt a chill run down my spine.

“Did he also talk about a snake?” I asked slowly.

Jordan nodded.

—Yes. Exactly that.

For a moment neither of them spoke.

Then Jordan laughed again, trying to break the awkward silence.

“He’s probably just a crazy kid,” he said. “Maybe he’s trying to scare people to get attention.”