We had a full class for our first class of the summer: three of us from the church and eleven from the jail. The connections suggestions for the story of “Hagar Conceives a Child” were invitations to tell about (1) someone you know who couldn’t have a baby, or (2) a time you were treated with contempt. I started with a story about a friend who couldn’t have a baby and all but one of the others chose that option as well. Every situation described was unique, including recognition that sometimes the issue is with the man and a story about that. The woman who chose the contempt theme had a story that sounded much like that of Sarah and Hagar. Some of the stories were sad; some had happy endings; all were poignant.