July's April

“Ah, lovely…another item gone; the more the merrier,” muttered Ann serenely.

It’s the shiny chrome-plated 1979 paper weight she’d received thirty-four years ago, when she was fifteen years old, from the Good Time Card Company; she’d sold the required amount of greeting cards that year. The lady had asked her to lower the price a quarter from the $2.25 she’d displayed. “Sure,” she’d told her. She gladly would have accepted only the quarter had the lady offered.

The steady flow of customers and friendly bargain seekers dwindled to almost nothing as the day progressed. It was a Sunday afternoon, and the weather wasn’t exactly conducive to an outdoor sale. It was sweater grabbing time, and the choice to put on long legged pants this morning was especially insightful on her part.

Thursday evening her son, 12 year old Finney, along with his father George (Ann’s husband) went camping at Greenwood State Park, which is twenty miles down the road from their residence. They’d left the sale completely in her care and ignored the fact that she hated doing garage sales.

She was glad she’d insisted they pack a warm pair of pants and shirt each besides their summer type clothing. She’d also sent along two extra blankets for the chilly nights they’d been experiencing lately. It was unusually cool for the end of August; Thursday’s rain had turned cold. Michigan, as a rule, is warm right up until Halloween, and then the kids, usually, have to wear coats to go trick-or-treating. It’s been this way since, well, forever.

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Ann couldn’t help but muse over the many times her Mother took her and her siblings to close net neighborhoods when she was younger. These neighborhoods were the type where the houses are nicely spaced and just right for trick-or-treating. When the nights were really cold her Mom resourcefully packed a hot cocoa beverage in their thermos to warm them. In those days they called it hot cocoa because it would be made from scratch using cocoa powder; stirring the ingredients together in a pan above a hot burner kept it from scorching while it was brought to a scalding temperature. Chocolate syrup from the store was unheard of by families in that era.

Her parents could never afford store bought costumes for their children; that was something only the well-to-do-folk could manage or some determined individuals that saved up their money toward the purchase. They would dress up in old discarded clothing and look like a bunch of hobos tramping off to some campsite along the river’s brink. Their costumes were complete with a knap sac at the end of a long stick, lodged over one shoulder.

Thinking about those costumes made Ann realize how novel they really were. Kids today, she thought, either have a newly sewn costume or one bought with oodles-of-bucks; they were not cheap. She could remember when, on rare occasions, her mother had found a costume in a used clothing store for a reasonable price, which she grabbed up. She couldn’t know if anyone would wear them, or even like them, but that was one chance she took. There was never a time that one kid, or the other, didn’t fall in love with what she’d brought home.

On very frosty, cold nights of her childhood Halloween experiences Ann and her siblings would wear ghost sheets over their heavy coats. They liked that better than wearing their coats over a bulky costume. The ghost sheets were kept from year to year for obvious reasons.

Kids never had to worry about finding razor blades or poison in their treat bags. Halloween was the best holiday ever for a kid to look forward to. It was right up there with Christmas.

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Ann ended the garage sale and added up the sum of the three days. She collected $338.50 for her efforts, which seemed to her like a lot because each sale brought so little.

Ann decided she had to agree with her friend Sally from the craft shop in town who’d responded to her first mention of her sale with, “It’s surprising how much money we have lying around our homes, bound up in little treasures that have absolutely no usefulness to us other than collecting dust.”

It wasn’t as if Ann disliked the things she’d sold, some had long term memories attached to them, some were homemade, but had out lived their usefulness, and some things she just plain needed to part with to make more room in the house. There had been box after box of clothing and old shoes, no longer worn by the family, which proved too nice to throw away, lovely jackets, long coats of hers and short ones too. Everything added up to a collection of attractive bargains for neighborhood families.

At four o’clock in the afternoon she moved the few remaining sale items into the garage and lowered the door; she wanted to indulge in a hot, sudsy bath and warm her cold, achy muscles before she needed to fix supper; her hungry boys were expected home by five. She was still enjoying her bath when the garage door opening alerted her to their return.

She knew they would unload their camping stuff before coming into the house. She reluctantly pulled the plug, toweled herself dry, and then got dressed. On the way to the kitchen she turned on the DVD player in the front den. Johnny Cash, one of her all time favorite singers began to sing. She began to sing along with him and June as she was in the habit of doing.

While working on the salad items, she’d taken out of the refrigerator; Finney popped in from the back entry-way and greeted her with a smug grin.

“Hi, Mums, we’re home! When’s supper? I’m starved.”

She threw him a kiss and said, “Leave your shoes on the mat, Sweetie, and please show your father where to leave his.”

“Sure Mom!” He turned and faced the garage before yelling, “Dad, Mom wants you to take off your shoes before you go into the kitchen.”

“Thanks, son, will do.”

Ann shook her head resolutely and laughed within herself; they were two of a kind, and she dearly loved them both.

George crept in a few minutes later as she inserted the broiler pan into position. It was spread with three thick Rib-eyes. He placed his hands around her tiny waist and tugged backwards slightly causing her to shove the steaks into the broiler burner, which she’d not yet ignited; she screeched and nearly jumped out of her skin. She’d wondered when her husband would come in, but hadn’t expected him to be such a sneak.

“George,” she sputtered, “I…what are you doing…how did…you shouldn’t do that to me.”

She straightened up, and they started to laugh as she laid her head back upon his shoulder; suddenly she felt it was alright that he wanted to startle her like that. She was glad he was home. They’d both missed the other terribly from their recent separation.

She turned on the broiler before turning around to properly greet her husband with a bear hug and tender kiss. The pose didn’t last long for she caught a whiff of some horrific smell.

“Whoo-ee! What is that smell? Did you rub up against a wild bear out there in them th-a-r-e woods?” teased Ann in her best slang.

“Yep, exactly,” he grinned deviously as he began to walk down the hall. “I need to shower before the meat is ready. Okay with you?”

Finney hadn’t returned from his shower, and George was about to begin his; she armed her right hand with an oven mitt and took the steaks out of the oven and turned off the broiler.

“Sure,” she yelled into the hall after him, “Take all the time you need, I’ll cook the steaks when you get out.”

The exclamation got louder and louder at the end because she imagined him already shedding his garments behind their closed bedroom door.

“Thanks,” he yelled back, “you’re a peach.”

Turning away from the hall she uttered under her breath, “I’ll have to burn those clothes!”

Not hearing Finney’s approach she literally jumped as she heard his voice very near her back.

“What did you say, Mums?”

“Don’t do that to me, your dad just finished his scare attack.”

“Sorry, Mom, why are you so jumpy? Hey, how come the steaks are just setting here? Is Dad still in the garage waiting for…?” All of a sudden his voice trailed off for a second while he tried to think how to change the subject. “He was wondering if his boss had called…yah...he’ll probably mention it to you?”

Ann caught the slip-up and wondered what these two had they were hiding. She knew her boys were up to something.

“Has he been worrying about work this weekend, son?”

“Ahhh, no, we had a swell time,” he said quickly and changed the subject. “Where is Dutchess, anyway? She didn’t greet us when we came in.”

I put her in the yard around three this afternoon, she’s been missing you Finn. She’s been lying beside your bed waiting for you to come home. I wonder if she’s loose again. That hole needs more in it then a few stones and a little dirt. Your Dad’s going to have to do something more permanent.”

“I’m taking a spin around the neighborhood to see if I can spot her. I’ll be back before the steaks are done if you want to get them started.”

“Half an hour Finn, it might take less.”

Her statement fell on deaf ears; he’d already sped out the door.

“That felt good, honey, I missed my shower this morning and by the time we got ready to leave I didn’t feel like showering. Sorry, I really needed to clean up before coming home to a nice clean smelling wife. Where’s Finn? I didn’t find him in his room?”

“No you wouldn’t, he’s gone. He’s riding around the neighborhood looking for Dutchess. I hope he gets back in time to eat. I’m going to start the steaks; I know you’re both starved. I am getting that way myself.”

Suddenly, George decided to take Dutchess’ leash to Finn, which he found still hanging on its hook in the breezeway. “In case he has trouble persuading her to come with him,” he said snatching the leash and pressing the garage door opener on his way to the car.

While they were gone, Ann decided to search the garage. She was a little more than curious as to what took George so long coming in after he’d gotten home. She also wanted to discover where that awful smell had come from. She set the alarm for seven minutes and dared not be away from the steaks any longer before turning them. She had an additional seven minutes to spend while the other side broiled.

She could smell the lingering stench when she opened the breezeway door to the garage. She checked the truck bed first; the smell got much stronger, but there was nothing inside. Looking around she peeked under the table where the remaining sale items lay; she found nothing. She came to the conclusion that whatever caused the smell wasn’t there anymore; she couldn’t think where else to look, so she went back inside before the alarm had a chance to go off.

After supper she asked Finney to fill the dish washer for her. She needed to spend some alone time with her husband before retiring for the night. Dutchess, their rascally mutt, was home again safely snuggled in the overstuffed chair, which was reserved for her.

The next day around five thirty in the afternoon George called from work and asked them to meet him at seven for supper at their favorite Italian restaurant. Finn had his own idea about where he wanted to eat, but that couldn’t be helped this time.

“Your Dad has already set the date and we are going there to eat.”

They leisurely got ready and left for the restaurant; they arrived on time. George was finding a parking place, and they spotted him as they rounded the walk to the front entrance; they stopped to wait on him.

George greeted Ann with a kiss and playfully ruffled Finney’s hair. Finn still feeling a bit put out at having to come to Palzones couldn’t ignore this kind of treatment. He grinned at George while smoothing down his hair. Life took on a sweet tinge for Ann when moments of affection between father and son ensued. George was a good father. His other kids Betty, and Sally were both happily married, with kids of their own.

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They were already grandparents who’d slipped because Finney came along six weeks after their first grandbaby’s arrival. It’s one of those unforeseeable situations where, in this case, the uncle is younger then the niece. Ann had always heard of this happening, in fact, when she was ten she’d had an elderly neighbor who’d told about how she was three months younger than her nephew. At the hearing of this news she couldn’t imagine such a thing happening. Her reasoning power afforded her these thoughts: after all wasn’t there an order to family members, there are aunts and uncles, nephews and nieces, the aunts and uncles were naturally born before their nieces and nephews. It had been all so confusing to her at that time.

As older parents, to a preteen, Ann supposed their satiation was unique in that they were more relaxed in bring up this child opposed to the girls. They had gained more confidence and knowhow. He was their first boy, and that was the only difference. But boys weren’t all that different to bring up. Yes, he seemed to be more adamant in getting his own way and the clothes were much more expensive than the girls’ had been, but, then again, it had been nearly ten years since they’d been responsible for buying girly outfits. It was the economy not the gender of the child she realized.

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George had made their reservations that afternoon. They had only a two minute wait before the hostess led them to their table; it was located on a platform two steps above the main floor. She left them menus and after ordering their meal conversation got underway.

“I want to announce my promotion to the position of sales president in the company. It involves a substantial raise in salary and more benefits to cover more comforts in our insurance policy. Now, you can get the face lift you’ve wanted ever since you turned forty, Ann, and we won’t have to pay one dime.”

“Wonderful,” she conjured not so keen on the idea anymore. She viewed her face and body as being like a younger thirty year old even though she had turned forty-nine during the summer. She considered her looks to be inspiring, yet pleasingly mature, so this rudimentary announcement had an adverse affect on her emotions and it made her feel like crying instead of the happy feeling her husband had aimed upon. George didn’t see her reaction for she successfully hid it from him. She put on a false smile in hopes of convincing him she thought he was the most thoughtful man in the world, and he was that indeed, but not, in her eyes, at this moment in time.

“Finn,” he began, “Are you ready to give the old canoe a try in this year’s, Father and Son Race?”

“Sure,” he said a little less enthusiastic then either his father or his mother understood.

“What’s this?” George pried. “Are you ready to pass on an opportunity like this?”

“Well you see, Dad, I wanted to do that last summer. Bungee jumping is all-the-rave now, and I would like to try my hand at it this summer. Canoe’s are for old men err…older than you. I don’t mean any disrespect Dad. But…well you see I…ahhh…”

“It’s okay, son, if that is the way you are looking to entertaining yourself. I don’t…”

“Now, just you wait a minute you two, whatever happened to our family counsel? I don’t know if I agree with this bungee jumping thingy.” Ann had a shrill in her voice that told her family she was not in complete control of her delivery.

Finn’s goal to bungee jump got Ann’s ire up. It was a dangerous sport she didn’t much care for. Her fears were normal for a mother, and her thoughts run along these lines: what if the cable breaks, or it’s too long, and then look at where a person would be. First would be the initial splat, and then a nothing, zilch, gone, as in dead. Nope! She couldn’t face that for one of her loved ones.

“I’ve made up my mind guys. There will be no bungee jumping from any in this household. Got that? Do you hear me, guys?”

At this point, she saw a few heads nod in her direction. It was not that they were in agreement with her because they couldn’t hear what was being said in her loud, whispered rebuttal. Nonetheless, she felt embarrassed for having drawn attention her way. Blushing deeply, she quickly lowered her eyes.

“Calm down, honey, we are not making any decision without considering your outlook. Understand? After all, we are in a restaurant, you know.”

Dropping the subject, they went on to better conversation. A subject that was fit for the mood of a family trying to eat out. Well, no that’s not exactly true. Ann had to discuss her recent knowledge as to why she’d been more emotional and jumpy than usual.

“I want to announce, while we are still announcing stuff, that I’m pregnant.”

She blurted the news out as if there were no tomorrow and expected to throw them off kilter for a few. But, the reaction she got was totally boorish. Finn slammed his fork unto the table and got up in a scurry and headed toward the restrooms; George and Ann were right behind him. Ann stood outside the door to the men’s room and heard choking gags coming from within and then a toilet flushed. She imagined Finn puking-up his supper and George holding his forehead while bent over the toilet like she always did with the kids when they got that sick. She wanted to go inside and see if she could help comfort him. But she didn’t dare; not with the whole restaurant staring her way. She knew what they were thinking. “What’s this silly redhead gone and done now to her grandson…Grandson!” That was the last straw. She felt like yelling in response to her imagination, “He’s my son; not my grandson; stop looking at me like I’m crazy. Can’t a woman in her late forty’s get pregnant without so much disapproval?”

Lucky for her, she kept her mouth shut. Instead she turned and went into the women’s room, entered the handicap stall, and bawled her head off.

When she’d finished with this indulgence she realized she was not alone. A toilet flushed and someone came out of the stall and over to hers and gently spoke to her.

“Sweetheart, is there anyone out there I can get for you?”

“No, I’ll be alright. Thanks though.”

“Will you talk to me about it? I’m a good listener.”

“Well, I just found out I’m pregnant, and I’m too old to have another baby.”

The tears started all over again because the nice lady wanting to comfort her.

“Open the door, dear, I would like to speak to your face.”

Ann unlocked the stall door and walked into the waiting arms. She cuddled her gently and then put her at arm’s length before giving her a good talking too.

“Nonsense,” she began, “if you are pregnant you can’t be too old to have a baby.”

She had never thought of it that way, it made her smile shyly through the lingering, tears in her eyes.

“Another thing about your pregnancy you might not have considered is the fact that this precious little life is already there waiting for you to love it.”

She hadn’t considered this aspect of pregnancy either.

“Oh!” she exclaimed joyfully after hearing this kind lady’s sincere utterance, “thank you I didn’t realize how much joy another child could bring. I only know our son didn’t react very favorably to the news.”

“He was probably terribly shocked. I come from a large family of twelve children. I was number nine, and had nieces and nephews older than me; I thought nothing of it. My mom went on and had three more kids. Of course, I was only tiny then. But, what do you think my older brothers and sisters thought of it? They, surely, adjusted for they never told me their feelings all these years. If you are going to be sad for this pregnancy then I pity you. This baby is the luckiest of the bunch; it seems he has a lovely mom like you to care for him. His older brother will adjust just fine, you wait and see. Kids get embarrassed because of their friends when they find out their mom is going to have another baby. Somehow they seem to think it’s all about them. They don’t stop to consider there is a precious little life present and a whole family involved, but they come around finally.”

A young lady came into the restroom seeking her mother. So, their talk ended, and the crying had turned to smiling, which gave the kind lady the go ahead to leave; seemingly her job was finished here.

“Thank you Ma’am,” she said as she was getting ready to walk out the door. “I am so grateful for your comfort.” Graciously she turned back to Ann and gave her one last hug and left. Ann instinctively knew everything would turn out okay after that.

School started the second week in September and eventually Finn began to bring home his school buddies for an evening of electronic games and relaxation. That is when Ann knew he had finally accepted the small joy that was to be theirs in the beginning of April, a full seven months away. He also began to talk to her about how nice it would be to have a little sister or brother to boss around for a change, “like my friend has,” he gestured.

Life was good again and they were united as a happy family once more.

Finn had a birthday in January, so instead of the usual birthday party, with cake and ice cream he wanted to go to a ski slope with five of his buddies. Since it was his birthday his parent’s paid their way. That was okay since George had the means through his new promotion to meet the need. Each day pass cost $85, but a group of six was a bargain at 12% discount. George and Ann didn’t ski so they stayed at the lodge and enjoyed a different kind of day while the boys worked the slopes.

Arriving at eight in the morning they had the whole day of entertainment ahead with a seven o’clock birthday dinner celebration to look forward to that evening.

Finding a breakfast nook they enjoyed a fine breakfast before the boys left. George gave each of them five bucks for lunch or snacks whichever they felt they wanted to take time for.

George and Ann headed toward the tour bus waiting outside. The bus ended up in a small town known for its historic sites, shopping malls, and live-theatric entertainment and gave the passengers time to take in a play, eat lunch, and do an hour’s shopping besides.

They thought the play was marvelous. Neither George nor Ann had been to see a play since high school years; they enjoyed the excitement of actors on the stage. Oklahoma was staged. All the old songs sung in the play, the drama, and the romance was all crucial to the atmosphere in the theater. Ann loved Curly and Laurey’s role as lovers. The sinister Jud Fry got what was coming to him. The box lunch social was such a romantic fair, she wished there were still such socials to attend today. It was such an enjoyable play. The shopping afterwards was fun but way too tiring for both of them. Their feet were not as young as they once were and the old arthritis was noticeable. Maybe, she thought, “I’m too old, after all, to have another baby considering my aches and pains”. But, hey, this much walking doesn’t happen very often, she considered.

They got back to the lodge at six fifteen, and had no trouble killing forty-five minutes until supper. They found a comfortable sofa and crashed. They’d found three items for the baby at the mall and a suitable card for Finn’s birthday. She put her arm through the package handles along with her purse and took a long thirty minute snooze, as did George. When they awoke, it was quarter of seven. Their stomachs were growling.

“I thought the boys would be back by this time,” Ann remarked. “Maybe they found us asleep and decided to let us find them at the restaurant.”

“Probably, let’s find out, I could eat a whole six course meal by myself I’m so hungry!”

George headed toward the restaurant area as his wife followed behind as quickly as a six month pregnant woman can.

Finn was indeed at the restaurant and seated at the bar with the rest of the guys.

“Sorry, to keep you boys waiting; what time did you get in?”

“Hey, see you two woke up! We didn’t want to disturb you, so we come on in here to wait. It must have been around six-thirty. I knew you would eventually wake up. Yep! And, here you are. Question…, Dad, Mom, what would you say to us staying the night and getting another day pass and skiing all day tomorrow, too?”

I’m thinking that you are out of your mind, son, what do you think we are made of? I gave you this day and two big meals to boot. What are you thinking?”

“Okay, I thought as much, but wait till you hear our plans. Ben, here, called his folks first, well, and then the rest called theirs. Their parents are all paying for the day passes and together their paying for a huge apartment for the night and all day tomorrow; they even chipped in for my pass. It’s on the house for you guy if you go along with the plan. What do you say?”

“Well, what do you think, Sweetheart? Should we stay or leave them here by themselves?”

“Stay! Stay! Stay!” Everyone chanted in unison. “We want you to stay!”

Well, it wasn’t hard for them to except considering the prize included a bed without traveling the 150 miles yet that night, risking tiredness, and possible danger from sleepiness in the driver.

“Under, one condition,” Ann dealt. “Its lights out at ten and you each get a good night’s sleep. Is that too much to ask?”

“Thanks, Mrs. Phase, we will be as little angels,” said Pat giving Joel a punch on the arm.

“Ouch, that stings, Pat! Here, Ben, pass it on,” he yelled giving Ben a similar punch on his shoulder.

Ben socked Finn, who in turn socked Stan, who socked Phil and then back it came to Pat, who decided there had been enough hitting, “before we get in trouble guys,” he said.

“Here’s the cake” howled the kids. Finn and his friends began to count the candles. And, of course, there were exactly thirteen.

Since there was no presents and only one card to open they were out of the restaurant by eight thirty and soon in their apartment. Ann was ready to relax, so she gladly let George get the kids settled down when he offered; she spent an enjoyable soak in the tub.

Ann was tucked away in bed long before the boys finished with their turns in the shower; she was again ready for a good nights sleep. Saturday’s fun came and went without any incidents, and they started back home at seven that evening reaching their destination around eleven thirty after depositing each boy at his door.

In March a very special surprise was given to Ann. As she had expected Finn and George did have something up their sleeves the night they’d come home from camping in August. After blinding her eyes George led her into the den. He helped her across the polished, wooden floor and guided her as she stepped on what he called, “a new rug”, to keep her from stumbling; he wanted to get her in position so she could, “view the surprise from the right angle,” he explained.

Before he would remove the blindfold he asked her to keep her eyes closed until he told her otherwise. When the time came to look she could hardly believe what she saw. There it was, as beautiful as if it were made of pure gold and just as valuable in her opinion; lying there on the den floor beneath her feet was the nicest, nine foot long, bear-skin rug she’d ever seen. It was a rich, lush brown color with a contrasting pure white collar around its neck. The legs spread seven, or more, across with huge clawed paws. She was so overcome with emotion and pride she could barely speak a word.

“Oh, boys, it’s beautiful, how did you do this without my knowledge?”

“Mom, you’d better sit down you look awful.”

“Thanks, I’m glad you think I look awful.”

“You don’t look awful like that; you look beautiful but awfully shaky like you are going to fall over.”

She asked Finn to remove her shoes along with her socks after finding a hard seat to set down on. Standing up she walked, or rather waddled, over to the rug to feel the fur underneath her feet, which she found to be surprisingly soft.

“I thought it would be rougher; a bear is such a wild animal.”

“It’s a courser type fur compared to a dog or cat. But, I’ve heard bares come from the same family as dogs, and their fur is not all that rough.”

“How did you come across such a beautiful creature? You didn’t shoot it yourself did you; you didn’t take your rifle along camping, did you? I have a pretty good idea you handled him from the way you smelled when you came home from camping that night, though.”

“Hey, girl, slow down with the many questions. No, I didn’t shoot him, but bought him off the guy that did. I helped skin the bare on Thursday.”

“Mom, we had it in the truck the night we got home. Dad had to wait for the guy to come and pick it up. We called him about a half hour before we got to the house.”

“The man had to leave on an emergency; before he left he asked me if I could bring it on home and then he would pick it up from here. I helped load it unto the back of his truck. That is why I smelled so terrible and took so long coming in after we got home. I was a little worried you would decide to come out and see why I was taking so long.”

“I never in all my days would have thought I’d get my wish for a bearskin rug. Oh, the poor bear had to give his life for my rug. It’s so sad to think of it like that.”

“I was waiting for that reaction! You are so emotional right now. It will be nice for the baby to learn to crawl on.”

“Yuck! She will get it all puke and wet if her diaper leaks,” said Finn. “It’s just like a girl.”

“For one thing, Finn, what makes you think this baby is a girl?”

“Nothing, it’s just my luck that’s all.”

“Here’s more for your luck, you get to paint your old crib tomorrow while I have to do more shopping before the baby comes. I need a lot of supplies and would like to get them purchased before I get any closer to my due date. There’s not much time left.”

“Which one had the crib, Honey, Betty or Sally? I saw it in the garage now?”

“Sally who’d borrowed it last loaned it to a family at church. She went and picked it up for me and brought it over yesterday morning. I never dreamed I would need it again.”

“But you did, Mums’.”

“When I leave tomorrow you can start painting on it. Be sure to spread newspaper on the floor before you start; I don’t want to come home and see drips all over the garage. And, the stir stick is right there on the paint bucket.”

“Yes, mums, I know how to paint I have been well instructed.” Looking at his dad he rolled his eyes. “Aren’t you guy’s ever going to get used to me?”

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“George, you awake? George?”

Shaking him doesn’t do Ann any good. She’d set upright wondering what had awoke her, but after the next pain she knew.

“George!” she practically screamed. “Wake up. I’m in labor and need you to call the doctor…George,” he stirred ever so slightly.

“Did I hear a scream? What’s wrong, Honey, is everything alright?”

“No, everything isn’t alright. Something woke me and I just figured out what it was.”

“That’s nice dear tell me about it in the morning…night.”

“George Philip Phase, get out of bed this very minute,” she wanted to scream, but didn’t, she said calmly, “Honey, You need to call the doctor my labor has started.”

“How far apart are the contractions?”

“I don’t know; I just woke up and didn’t even know what had awakened me till I had the next contraction. I have sat here a few minutes but haven’t had another.”

“Well, I suggest you lie back down and try to get some sleep. If you start having them regular then we will call the doctor and keep a watch on the rate of their recurrence.”

“That’s kind of you,” she thought. “Okay and what if my water breaks?”

“Are you trying to tell me it has? Why didn’t you tell me? That’s a different matter entirely.”

“The bed’s all wet. I need to change it.”

“Okay, Ann, if that‘s how you want it, and then when you are finished making the bed you can lay down and have the baby in it because that is how quickly you deliver. Remember?”

“You are right, George, sorry. You call the doctor; I’ll grab my bag and tell Finn we are leaving.”

“Yes, now, that sounds like a plan. Where’s the number, Hun? Oh, here it is. Doctor Marshall, Ann Phase is in labor and her water has broken. She delivers quickly once her water breaks. We are headed to St. Mary’s.”

“Have the hospital call me when you arrive, Mr. Phase.”

“Okay, I’ll have them call you when we arrive. Thanks, Doc.”

Ann found her bag and Finn knew they were leaving. She knew he would rather sleep than join them. He’d rather come and visit after the baby had been born.

They arrived at the hospital, and the contractions were two minutes apart, and she felt like this baby was going to drop right out of her at any minute. She had a terrible time trying to not push, but she’d been warned before never to push lest there was someone in position to play catch. The emergency stretcher was on its way she only had to sit still till they got there. At last she could see them at the automatic doors. It had been only a few seconds but it seemed like ten minutes. Another contraction tore at her pelvis…she tried with all her might but couldn’t stop the push. They are trying to get her out of the car, she tells them she’s in a contraction and begs them to wait until it lets up. It won’t stop. They see she needs assistance. They force her to move.

“The baby is coming,” she screams.

They lay her back on the seat and pull her out of the car onto the portable bed she went feet first while being supported on every part of her body. They lift the bed to make it stand tall and rushed her inside and then to the birthing rooms.

The hospital called the doctor the minute George let them know she needed help. The doctor was waiting inside the delivery room. The delivery was all natural because there was no time to administer the drugs for a pain free one. Events happened so fast that both parents later marveled at the urgency April made her appearance. Ann talked musingly to her later and was certain her baby had no idea how daunting the outside world could be. Her impatience made the entrance into this world much the sooner.

“It’s a girl.” The doctor held the newborn up-side-down by her ankles and whacked her feet causing her to cry out sharply and then he laid the whimpering child across her mother’s belly and snipped the cord. He tied the knot and the nurse whisks her off to her cart: to be weighed, measured, cleared of mucus, and had silver-nitrate drops added to her eyes. She was washed and dressed in her T-shirt and diaper and donned a snug knit cap to help keep her body heat from escaping. The nurse swaddled her securely in a pale pink receiving blanket before she brought her to Ann. The doctor finished sewing up her abrasion caused by the quick birth.

The baby seriously studied her face as she held her for the first time. April looked deep into Ann’s eyes and her dark blue ones were wide and bright. Soon the nurse took the baby away and moved her into a five bed room. She lay on her tummy for the first hour as she’d been instructed, which was very enjoyable to her. It’d been several months since she’d been able to do that and it felt really comfortable. She sleep came as a result of exhaustion. When she awoke George and Finn were sitting in chairs around her bed. She was aware of the baby too. They were bringing her for her first feeding. The nurse said she wouldn’t settle down without it. Ann nursed her for twenty minutes on each breast before she settled down and slept. She was going to be a good eater.

“What’s her name, Mama?”

“Why, her name is April, Finney. Finn, meet April Mae Phase.”

“Hi, little April; you sure are tiny. Why is her face so red, Mama? What is all that white stuff in her hair? She doesn’t have much hair does she? She is cute, though, I like her. When you coming home Mama?”

“Goodness, Finn, you got enough questions for an epic. What was that first one again?”

“Oh, I don’t remember; I’m just so excited. I want to know everything all at once. There is time for questions later.”

“Wow! Finney, did I just hear a mature word come out of your mouth, you are showing off in front of your little sister aren’t you? You indeed are her big brother. It’s nice of you to act your part. Keep it up, Son.”

Mother and daughter left the hospital when April began to hold her own. It was only two days. Ann was eager to get her home and into her own room. She wanted to rest in her own bed and fix her own meals and get a shower, if the doctor would let her on account of her stitches.

It was okay to take a shower just not to soak in a tub for another week. The doctor’s instructions were written out for her on the discharge papers. Home felt so good. Having a new little charge was a wonderful gift and it felt divine. They all loved her so much; it’s like they didn’t know how they lived without her.

April is a content baby. She is three weeks old and sleeps all night. Ann is glad to accommodate her; she likes the idea of sleeping all night, so does George. Their daughters are happy for them; they love coming over and holding their baby sister.

“Oh, mom, I am so proud of you. You weren’t afraid what people might say; you went right ahead and had another baby.”

“Betty,” Ann informed her. “That wasn’t by my choice. God gave us this baby. I just found out about it one day. We were all pretty unsettled at first till we got used to the idea. But, you see, everything has turned out for the better.”

And, that is how they all felt. When Ann wanted to watch TV or felt like relaxing with April, she would go to the den and lay on her new bearskin rug. She is going to grow up with it so she felt she might as well introduce her to it early. And, they both love it, it’s soft and warm, and it smells wonderful. George had told her about the procedure of putting the skin in a freezer for six month to get rid of all the bacteria that might be living on the fur. She felt comfortable having it around the baby knowing it was practically germ free; it has been washed and perfumed, too, she imagined. Anyway, it's such a nice addition to the den. A year ago she never could have imagined how blessed her life would be today. She liked the new lease God had given her on life. They all loved the new life he had given them through their precious April.


Word Count: 7035