Molly Malone

The night was cool as Katie was lying awake on her bed, waiting for Johnny to come home from his late night waiters' shift. Her hands ran, absentmindedly, over her round stomach. She contemplated about the life that began inside of her. Katie could hear nothing but her own thoughts and the seemingly loud silence of her and Johnny's small house in Brooklyn.

The old wood door opened and its hinges creaked loudly. A smooth voice vibrated up to Katie, "In Dublin's fair city, the girls are so pretty…" The voice trailed off, she knew it well, it was Johnny.

Johnny's singing picked up again and Katie felt renewed, excited, and elated as his soft footsteps came up the stairs.

"…sweet Molly Malone. She drove her wheel barrow, through streets wide and narrow."

Katie couldn't help herself; she jumped out of bed and opened the door quickly.

Johnny was poised to say the word "crying," when he looked at Katie, surprised that she was waiting for him. She usually fell asleep before he got home.

Katie thought Johnny looked fine with his blond curls and still-fresh-looking dicky. She noticed the amused look on his face.

"Why, Mrs. Nolan," Johnny said with a smile, "you should be in bed!"

Although Katie lover her new name, she still wasn't used to it, and Johnny knew that.

Katie didn't say anything so Johnny continued, "Best be getting used to the new name," Johnny reached the top of the stairs, "Else the child'll never know its real name!" Johnny teased Katie lightly.

After Johnny was ready, they both lied in bed and thought.

Neither Johnny nor Katie thought of the sickly baby girl that was to be born the next day.

*Note: "Molly Malone" lyrics are taken from A Tree Grows In Brooklyn.