H-E acting instinctively, which in her case has manifested as maternally, knows she must take care of L-C, the adorable waif she has dang near stumbled over as she, upset to the point of chaotic panic, has in a hurry departed from 9 East 71st Street.
We wouldn’t call a waif a waif if a waif was heavy, as most waifs have been on a diet of most of their lives. They aren’t heavy– though H-E knows L-C is not her brother– he or she is her child. Not her adopted child, but her God-given child, for biologically given and God-given, though never mutually exclusive, can be.
This is to the point.
“He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.”
In 1960, there were likely fewer than 10 billionaires in the United States. Quora estimates suggest a range between 4 and 11. The concept of widespread billionaire wealth was less prevalent in that era compared to today.
In 2025, the United States had 902 billionaires, according to Forbes. This number represents the highest concentration of billionaires globally, with the US holding a significant lead over other countries like China and India.
In 2025, the 902 US billionaires combined worth, or wealth, (the two terms are not synonymous) is $6.8T. T stands for trillion, not for an old rugged cross. Or a Ford model T.
In 2024, the number of children (under 18) in the United States decreased slightly to 72.8 million, representing 21.7% of the total population.
Say a child could stay resplendently healthy on a diet costing ten dollars per day. (The estimate of ten dollars, even now, is not that far from the mark.)
72,800,000 x 10 = 728,000,000.
728,000,000 x 365 = 265,720,000,000, or 265.7 billion dollars.
6.8 trillion / 266 billion =
L-C was a bundle of joy as H-E scooped him-her up into her arms. H-E could feel the strength in her legs buoyant and ecstatic as if L-C was helium or something. As if L-C, while a bundle, was also a dirigible, or a beautiful balloon. Balloons aren’t heavy. H-E was vaguely aware, there inside 9 East 71st Street, deflated, and at times ripped balloons were being used as condoms. And, now and then, when one of the billionaires visiting the residence, probably the most expensive in Mannahattas, thus the gob, the goop, the globe, when feeling extraordinarily witty– for they were amongst and amidst all those witty, pretty, beautiful, jet setting dingbats– would use a condom as a balloon. Blow into it. Watch it inflate. Let go of it, watch it fall to the floor. Ha ha ha ha ha.
Spam of Human Affection 
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