JOURNEYS OF .LIFE
PART SEVEN
by
BlackFury
January 1981
I had arrived in St. Louis in late November and, as the school year deepened, I saw less of David as he was caught up in high school and everything that goes along with it. My job at the herbalist shop kept me occupied, especially when the owner ended up in the hospital, suffering from kidney cancer.
David would come by after school and tell me about his day and his friends but, I could sense that something wasn't quite right but, I knew that if David wanted me to know, he would tell me. He was also upset that his brother, Kermit was having trouble getting his emergency leave because new fighting had broken out in the Middle East.
Their father was still holding on, determined not to go anywhere until his oldest could come home to say goodbye to him. I smiled on hearing that.
In the middle of January, I went to see Marilyn. It had been snowing, not too heavily but enough to frost the roads. The winds had also picked up and were icy. I had on my boots and a warm coat Marilyn and David had given to me the past Christmas. When I arrived at the house, I knocked and was startled to hear Marilyn call out, "Come in, quickly, Cathy!"
The door wasn't locked so, I went in to find her bent over in the dining room. She looked at me and the pain was radiating from her in waves. "You've gone into labour, haven't you?" She nodded, "My water broke just before you got here. I called the ambulance but..." I nodded. "Your child is on his way. He's going to be born here."
Just then, another contraction seized her and I helped her onto the living room sofa. I then looked up at her. "You are correct, they will not arrive in time. This baby is coming now. Do you trust me?"
Marilyn nodded and, thirty minutes later, her son was in her arms, the cord was still attached, I hadn't thought it was a good idea to seperate them just yet.
The ambulance arrived a few minutes later and they clamped off the cord then, they placed Marilyn and her newborn in the ambulance and whisked them to the hospital. I locked up the house for her and headed for David's school to tell him what had happened.
I found him outside on the football yard and he ran over to me. I told him what had happened and his eyes lit up when I told him about his nephew but, something in his manner, his 'chi' was different. He thanked me for telling him then, took off back into the school.
I made my way back to the shop, thinking about how the circle of life and death goes on, no matter what. It also made me sad, thinking about Mom, Father and Peter and how much I missed all of them.
Three weeks later, Marilyn and her son came home. I had arrived early and made sure the house was clean, ready and, I had gone from room to room, cleaning each space so that only positive energeries flowed through there. I also prepared a another special blend of tea for her, one to soothe her nerves now that the pregenancy and labour were done.
After everyone had arrived to welcome the newborn, Marilyn asked me if I would like to hold her son. I did and smiled as he yawned, hugely and curled up his tiny fists. I looked at her. "Have you chosen his name yet?" Marilyn nodded. "Robert insisted on Jason, for his own father. I chose the middle name and, with your permission, I chose Peter." I was suprised but pleased.
Then, I recieved another suprise. Marilyn smiled and looked at me. "I talked it over with my husband and he agrees. We would like for you to be Jason's Godmother. Would you?"
End Entry
