WAITING
The thunderstorm was growing in intensity. Lighting flashed making strange shadows of the trees into the room. Thunder caused the china to shake in the cupboards.
It was in this that a small being was to make its entrance into the world. William was 10 years old. He sat on the shelf near the window and looked out. The thunder had a calming effect on him. The other sounds in the large home disturbed him.
His mother was in the next room crying out every so often. She had been in there for hours. Mairéad had been with her the whole time since she first had been having pains. The midwife and her daughter were with his mother now. His father had returned only minutes ago with them. Now the man was pacing with a snuffer of brandy in his hand as he too waited for the birth.
George Tavington had waited nearly nine years for another child to be born. His young pretty wife had born his son and then had had five miscarriages. Now after nine months his beloved wife was laboring to bring another child into the world. When she had become pregnant he had not allowed her to leave the house often for fear anything could cause her to loss the child.
William turned to his father as he leaned against a pillow with his knees drawn to his chest. He had watched his mother grow heavy with the child. In the beginning he liked to sit on her lap. However, after some months he could not. He knew nothing about how she had come to have a baby in her. His father had explained that he had been their once as well.
A loud cry caused both to look at the door. There was rustling in the room and then the muffled sound of something whimpering.
George smiled and took a large swallow of his brandy. William unfolded himself as the door opened to reveal the Mairéad. She was wiping blood from her hands. Behind her came her daughter. The young woman held a precious bundle against her, wrapped in warm blankets.
"You have a daughter Tavington." She said softly.
William was surprised. He had wanted a baby brother to go and play with, but he was going to have to deal with a sister.
George came forward. He looked at the child and then looked up at the nurse. "May I see my wife?" The large strong man asked brokenly.
"Yes." The midwife's daughter answered. "Just do not upset her. She is weak."
George nodded and passed into the room. William looked at the woman holding the infant. He was a tall lanky boy for his age. He was nearly as that as she was. The woman smiled gently. "Are you the brother?"
"Yes." William answered.
"Come here and take your sister." The woman directed. "Sit down in that chair and hold her while I go help my mother."
William obeyed and sat in the chair. He took the bundle as carefully as he would a piece of glass.
"Hold her head." The woman said. William shifted his hand under the tiny head. She nodded as he pulled the bundle to him. She nodded to the nurse and then walked back into the room and shut the door.