That's lovely!
Thank you, ChubbyMonkey!
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| The Biggest Change of All http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=5600 |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ 26 Jan 2009, 17:36 ] |
| Post subject: | The Biggest Change of All |
Not being a parent myself, this is based more on reading than life experience, so I only hope that I've done the experience justice! The room had been darkened for the comfort of the two patients within, and the only source of light came from a tiny lamp on the bedside table. Jem had to rub his eyes to discern the shadow in the bedclothes, but once his eyes had grown accustomed he was able to make out her familiar features, smiling up at him delightedly. He smiled back, content just to see her face again. He loved her so much, his heart ached whenever he was called away from her. He would never forget that first encounter, her beautiful eyes when she sat up and stared around, the train wreck so close behind them. Had he but known it then, it was the greatest moment of his life. And if, after that, he mainly saw her when she pale and worried following on from Joey’s latest exploit, that did nothing to distract him from her beauty. She had once laughingly confided in him her first proposal, from the man with the gooseberries on the train, at the start of the adventure which had brought her into his life. He was surprised by the pang of jealousy he felt at any other man thinking he deserved her. She was his, his for life, his forever. Nothing could change that, nothing could take that away. It had been twenty one hours and forty two minutes since he’d last seen her – he would count every minute that he was away from her, whether at the San. or having been called down to the school. Today the reason for his absence was neither of these things. He’d got a call from reception inbetween checking on two patients, and when he went down it was to be told that his good wife had rung up. Her labour had started. For the six months that he’d known of her pregnancy they had waited in delicious ecstasy for their first born child. Now he heard that it was coming, everything else had flown to the winds. Leaving Maynard with hasty instructions to take over his work for the day, Jem flew home, forgetting in his rush to get there both coat and gloves. He realised his mistake after five minutes in the biting cold of the early morning, but didn’t bother to turn back. Madge needed him. It was in vain, however. As soon as he knocked on the bedroom door, Nurse, who had been dispatched immediately, shooed him off with the promise of being the first to hear the news when any should occur. After that, even his protestations of being a doctor brushed off by Nurse’s brisk manner, he was left no choice but to retreat meekly downstairs. He was shivering from having run home, and went to fetch himself a cup of coffee. Seeing nothing else for it, he retired to his study, though he paid little attention to the paperwork before him. No day had ever passed so slowly, it seemed to the doctor. He paced every part of his house save for the bedroom, from which cries and screams occasionally pierced the dreadful stillness. He was vaguely aware of sitting down to both Mittagessen and Abendessen, but of what he ate he couldn’t say. It was mere ashes in his mouth, the simple act of eating a habit to mark his inner distress. He had thought that, being a doctor, he would be so much more able to cope with this situation, but in actuality it only made things worse. He knew the number of women and children who didn’t survive this situation. What he didn’t know was how he would cope if Madge became one of them. He sent up more than one prayer, and at one point spent ten minutes pleading with God to let him keep his wife. He needed her. After a long day watching death and disease on all sides, he needed to come home and see her beautiful smile, her quiet, unuttered but obvious love. Everything good about his life came from her. He never spent enough time with her, but he never could have, because every second was a joy, every minute complete happiness. His favourite evenings were those where he would sit on the sofa and watch her sewing, but quickly tempt her into his arms, where she would lie while he told her about his day. There was nothing that she couldn’t do for him, and so he did everything that he could for her. He had been so lonely until he married. Everyone knew him, looked up to him as the great Doctor Russell, and though he had friends enough, he didn’t have someone who understood him completely. Madge was all that and more. She could look at him and in an instant know what to say to cheer him up, to make him better. There was nothing that he couldn’t tell her. If he lost her now he could never be happy again. Then the call had come. Madge wanted him. He was allowed to go and see her. There had been sporadic updates, but only to say she was holding up well, things were progressing naturally. He paid little attention to them. But clearly it had happened. If he was being called up he must, by now, be a father. His heart began to flutter. Tentatively, he sat on the edge of the bed and looked down into the dear, delicate, tender face, framed by newly brushed, gleaming curls. Madge smiled back at him, her eyes tender if tired. He kissed her gently and ran his hands through her hair, a sixth sense telling him that they were alone in the room and Nurse would have slipped quietly out so that they could have their moment. “How are you?” he asked, breath bated. “Tired, but I shall sleep in a minute. First, there’s someone I must introduce you to.” She leaned over and picked up the tiny bundle of cloth on the bedclothes beside her. It mewed, and a tiny hand reached out, clutching vainly at this air. Madge laughed, but didn’t hold it for long. Instead she laid it gently in Jem’s lap, where it wriggled and began to cry pitifully. He pulled it into his arms, and looked at her, wonderment in his eyes. “Meet your son,” she whispered. He pulled back the blankets a little more and stared at the tiny, tiny face below him. It was currently screwed up, hot tears streaming down his son’s face. He couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t do anything but stare at the tiny bundle of human life in his arms. His son. He had held many babies in his time, but never one that was part him, part Madge. Perfection. Tiny fingers latched on to his, holding him firmly. He was the rock of stability in an ocean of insecurities. He would be the one that taught and guided this little boy, the one that shaped his character. He had the responsibility on his shoulders for the rest of his life. The baby had stopped crying now. He opened his eyes and looked at his father. And Jem saw, with a feeling he could never describe, his own eyes looking trustingly up at him. |
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| Author: | Lottie [ 26 Jan 2009, 17:53 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Biggest Change of All |
That's lovely! Thank you, ChubbyMonkey!
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| Author: | Emma A [ 26 Jan 2009, 18:20 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Biggest Change of All |
Lovely - we see Jem's authoritarian side so often that it's very touching to see how tenderly he feels towards Madge and, now, David. Thank-you, ChubbyMonkey. |
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| Author: | Amanda M [ 26 Jan 2009, 19:44 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Biggest Change of All |
That was beautiful Chubby Monkey. Thank you. |
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| Author: | Celia [ 26 Jan 2009, 19:53 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Biggest Change of All |
Thank you Chubbymonkey, lovely to see Jem so concerned and vulnerable. |
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| Author: | JB [ 26 Jan 2009, 20:25 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Biggest Change of All |
That was beautiful. Thanks. |
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| Author: | Lesley [ 26 Jan 2009, 20:45 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Biggest Change of All |
Tears in my eyes - that was wonderful. Thank you. |
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| Author: | Elbee [ 26 Jan 2009, 21:36 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Biggest Change of All |
That was lovely, thank you Chubbymonkey. |
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| Author: | Alison H [ 26 Jan 2009, 22:14 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Biggest Change of All |
I want to cry now! That was lovely. |
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| Author: | abbeybufo [ 26 Jan 2009, 22:41 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Biggest Change of All |
Lovely. Thank you Chubbymonkey
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| Author: | dackel [ 26 Jan 2009, 23:04 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Biggest Change of All |
That was absolutely perfect! Thanks! |
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| Author: | Karoline [ 27 Jan 2009, 08:30 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Biggest Change of All |
That was lovely, thank you |
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| Author: | Cath V-P [ 27 Jan 2009, 10:19 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Biggest Change of All |
That was delightful, to see Jem so loving and caring. Thank you. |
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| Author: | LauraMcC [ 27 Jan 2009, 11:34 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Biggest Change of All |
Aww, that was a lovely insight into Jem's, often suppressed, caring side. Thank you, ChubbyMonkey. |
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| Author: | Abi [ 27 Jan 2009, 22:44 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Biggest Change of All |
That was lovely - not a side of Jem we often see, either. Thank you! |
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| Author: | Vick [ 29 Jan 2009, 15:24 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Biggest Change of All |
That was lovely, thanks ChubbyMonkey 
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