The Tribulations of Fatherhood in a Modern World by Benjamin Harris (books under 200 pages txt) 📖

did not care. He opened the door, braced for impact and jumped out of the hell car and rolled onto the pavement.
The Nissan Bluebird 'Betty' continued on regardless with its passenger door swinging manically. Todd checked himself for broken bones but all he had was a huge pain in his side and a swollen big toe. Not bad considering what could have happened if he's stayed in the car.
He was nearer town now and the streets and neighbourhood looked more civilised, large Victorian houses and whitewashed town houses told tales of rich suburbanites nestled comfortably in soft couches next to open fires. Todd envied them as he looked at his torn and tattered suit, looking more like a wandering hobo than a respectable member of society.

On the corner St George road and Crescent Avenue, Todd beheld a sight which was so beautiful it brought tears to he eyes. 'Victoria Road Taxi's' was wrote in finest light box lettering across a sizeable building, which bustled with activity. He limped towards the 'customers' door with a sense of relief and utter exhaustion.

4.

The taxi driver was blessedly quiet and drove with suitable speed understanding Todd's urgency but also not driving like a psychotic Father Christmas. The street lights blurred into a hypnotic pattern as Todd could feel the adrenaline lag take hold. His eyes fluttered threatening full closure when the neon cross sign of the hospital came into view coupled with a sign announcing itself as the 'Maternity Wing'.

“We're here sir.” said the driver holding out his expectant hand. Todd shoved a twenty into his hand and left the taxi.

A blast of cold greeted him and woke him up as he could feel renewed adrenaline. He was close now.
The bright lights of reception hurt his eyes as he made his way to a butch-looking nurse.

“My wife is in labour. Can you please tell me which room she's in please?”
“Sure, her name please?” asked the nurse in the robotic fashion of someone who's had to say the same questions repeatedly.
“Julie Davis.”
“Umm, yes, she in room five. I think you're just in time.” She said with a sly wink.
“Thanks!”

He rushed down the corridor frantically searching until he saw Julie's brother Dan and his girlfriend Tania seating outside nursing cups of machine coffee.

“Jesus, Todd, you know how to live life dangerously mate.” said Dan getting up and slapping his back playfully.
“You would not believe mate. How is she?” he asked tentatively.
“Why don't you find out?” said Tania pointedly.
“Okay, you right.” admitted Todd turning to handle to room five.

The doctor and who he recognised as their midwife Doreen were hustling around the rear of Julie and Diane was holding her hand and whispering encouragingly. Diane turned to and looked at him with a look of anger and relief Todd had never witnessed before.

“Jesus wept Todd, where have you been?!” she asked with clenched teeth as if her hand was been slowly crushed, which it probably was.
“I've been though hell Diane, sorry.”
“Hell, hey? Welcome to its epicentre! Take you wife's hand now!” she said extracting hers from Julie's grip.

He rushed to Julie taking her hand. She was sweating and breathing erratically. All that he's learnt in Lamaze class fled his memory and all he could think to say was: “I'm here now, honey.”

“Where have you been, you bastard? She said through intakes of breath.
“Oh, you know, abandoned car in the ring road, hijacked by a psychopath Santa and had to jump out of a moving car.”
“Stop joking and mope my brow!” she punctuated the sentence with clenching Todd's so hard it felt worse than his unconventional exit from the Hell Car.
“Okay honey, sure thing.” Julie past him a damp flannel and his heart raced as the doctor announced that he could see its head.
“Push Mrs Davis PUSH!”

A scream pierced the walls of St Lorenza's hospital so loud that geriatrics in the ward next door turned down their hearing aids and children in Paediatrics looked nervously as the cartoon clad walls from whence the scream came.

“You sonofabitch, you bastard!!!” this list of profanities blurred into incoherency as his wife gave birth and all he could do was mop her brow and say 'Breath, darling, breath'. He felt useless, out of place. An inert bystander to a miracle.
“That's it, Mrs Davis, once more PUSH!” said the doctor enthusiastically.

The doctor extracted their baby as though receiving a rugby ball. It was slimey, veiney but also sublime.

“You have a boy, Mr & Mrs Davis. Congratulations!” said the doctor also using these well rehearsed lines, but with a genuine sense of glee. The doctor snipped the umbilical cord, cleaned and passed Julie the baby.
Todd felt emotions so strong, unlike anything he'd ever felt. He could feel tears flowing down his face and he hastened them away.

“He is so beautiful honey and you did so well. I'm so proud of you.” He said kissing her forehead and then his new son's.
She looked jubilant, full of life-giving energy. She turned to him with an ecstatic smile and tears in her eyes.
“I love you too sweetheart, but if you don't have the grandaddy of all reasons why you were not here I'm going to kill you.”
Just then their new son let out a whaling cry that shattered the tranquillity.
“He gets that from you.” said Todd with a nod of certainty. Imprint

Publication Date: 01-23-2011

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Dedication:
To my beautiful wife Lory.