Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
f YV 1 LP-c. ' vl e �vrv��n <br /> Labor <br /> He handed his father the polaroid camera and came to stand by me. I rocked Xabien <br /> gently in my arms,trying not to look up at all of their wide,phony smiles. Pat grabbed me by the <br /> waist and tugged me against himself. <br /> "Smile!"Mary trilled, "just smile- aren't you happy?" <br /> "The happy parents,"Tom confirmed, aiming the camera at us. <br /> "Smile,"Pat whispered through gritted teeth. <br /> I tried. <br /> Tom pushed the button.A bright flash,then the flat vomit of a polaroid appeared- our first <br /> family photo. <br /> Mary slipped Pat a small envelope on their way out,whispering, "Get her something <br /> nice." <br /> He nodded,pocketed the gift, and kissed her on the cheek. He walked his parents outside, <br /> taking the phone with him. When their car was out of sight,he called someone to pick him up- <br /> half the cash for a ride to Debo's house. <br /> Ben was there in no time. He came in briefly to greet the baby,making faces and <br /> spouting the standard congratulations. For a moment, he stopped and looked at me-blinked hard- <br /> and then sighed and said he'd wait in the car. <br /> "You don't have to go,"I offered, not looking Pat in the eye. <br /> He snickered over his shoulder as he walked out, "Yeah,well,you'll be saying something <br /> different in a few hours when you're dope-sick." <br /> Xabien started to stir in my arms. Hungry already? I laid down on the couch and <br /> positioned him in the way the lactation consultant had shown us.A little mauve hand made its <br /> way out from the amateur blanket-swaddling job I had done and gripped at my chest. It opened <br /> and closed against my heart as he rooted for milk. I closed my eyes and held him tight. <br />