Chapter 23: The Checkup
Nurse Medusa was really surprised when Casper and Thatch came in together and told her about the pregnancy.
"How very strange." She said. "I didn't think that men could get pregnant."
"I guess ghost have that strange ability." Casper shrugged.
"We want to know if it's a boy or a girl." Thatch explained. "Do you have any techniques for that?"
"Of course." Nurse Medusa smiled. "I know how kids nowadays are, so I came prepared."
Nurse Medusa invited the two into her office and had Casper lay on the bench.
"Now Casper, I want you to take deep breaths while I try to find the baby's heartbeat." She explained as she put on some stethoscopes.
"Heartbeat?" Casper and Thatch both said at the same time.
"Yes." Nurse Medusa nodded. "We want to know if the baby's alive… right?"
The boys hesitantly nodded.
Nurse Medusa placed the metal piece on Casper's stomach, moving it around to find the beat of the baby's heart while Casper took deep breaths.
"AH!" She cried when she finally found it. "It sounds like a very healthy beat. It is quite alive."
"That's good." Thatch wipe away some sweat from his forehead.
"Now to see if it's a boy or a girl."
Nurse Medusa pulled out some clear cream and rubbed it on Casper's stomach. She pulled a monitor out from the corner and turned it on. She took the scanner that was hooked up to the monitor and started moving it around on the cream.
Casper and Thatch watched the monitor with the nurse to see just that one glimpse of the baby.
"AH! There it is." Nurse Medusa said when they could finally see a white embryo among the dark.
"What's that cord connected to it?" Thatch asked.
"That would be the cord that helps put the food that the mother eats into the baby's stomach." Nurse Medusa answered.
"What?" Casper asked, confused and shocked at the same time.
"Yes Casper," Nurse Medusa nodded. "Baby's need to eat even before they are born."
Nurse Medusa studied the embryo for a very long time, measuring the width and height, and weight of it.
"Looks to me that the baby is a girl." She answered.
"A GIRL!" Casper and Thatch cried at the same time.
"Yep." Nurse Medusa nodded. "You two are having a girl."
"Whose genes is she gonna have the most of?" Thatch asked.
"You'll just have to find out when she's born."
"Thank you for your time Nurse." Casper said as he got off the bench.
"Here's a note for you Casper." Nurse Medusa finished scribbling on a note and handed it to Casper.
"What's this for?" Casper asked.
"It's a pass." She explained. "Being pregnant is not easy Casper. You'll have to take it easy for a few months, or however long ghosts stay pregnant for."
"Thank you Nurse Medusa." Casper and Thatch said at the same time as they walked out of the nurse's office.