PM Productions Presents
A Phillip Masters Fanfic
Father
  
     It was a stormy midsummer's day.  I was coming home from a visit to
my friend's house.  I was eager to return to my wife, as she seemed to
be ready at any moment.  She looked like a whale, but of course I would
never say that to her directly.  As large as she was, she was radiant
and dignified.  She also glowed.  Yes, glowed, illuminating all she was
close to.  Sharing the light she was holding within her, giving it to
all those who needed it.
     I came into the house dripping wet.  The storm had taken its toll
on me, but I was just tipsy enough not to care.  As usual with a trip to
my friend's house there was sake.  Lots of sake.  However, I had the
good sense not to overdo it.  Thankfully so.
     The moment I entered my home it struck me.  The feeling that
something profound was about to happen.  Something that would forever
change my life.  Something I would never forget for the rest of my days.  
     "It's time."
     I looked to the top of the stair case, where she stood.  My
beautiful wife, clad in only a light kimono.  For some reason she always
liked to wear a kimono, everywhere she possibly could.
     "Time?"  It took a while for it to sink in.  Time for what?  Then,
it clicked.  
     Let me tell you, nothing, absolutely nothing, will sober you up
faster than the declaration that you are about to have a child.  Her
contractions had shrunk to the appropriate level, and her water was due
to break at any moment.  She need to be taken to the hospital.
     Took me all of ten seconds to make those realizations, and to get
her into the car.  I'd thrown a coat over her shoulders and damn near
carried her out to the vehicle.  I threw my own jacket over her once
there so as to keep her as warm as possible.  Fortunately, the car was
nice and ready, and it was warm out, though the rain was freezing.  
     For the first time in five years I squealed the tires.  I whipped
out of the driveway, praying that no one would be in the way.  The Gods
smiled upon me this dreary night and cleared the path for me and my
pained wife.  The contractions were getting even shorter.  According to
her it wouldn't be long now.
     I tended to believe her, so my foot tended to push the gas a bit
much.  I almost flipped the car into the hospital parking lot.  My wife
just repimanded me and warned me about inducing labor.  Well, I for one
wasn't really listening.  I, for one, had a goal in mind, and wasn't
stopping until I achieved it.  No matter what it took.
     Once I pulled up to the Emergancy Drop-off entrance, I screeched to
a halt.  Obviously that was interpreted as the "Hey!  I've got a
pregnant woman in here, get your ass moving!" screech, for a couple of
nurses instantly appeared outside the door with a wheelchair.  How had
they known I was coming?  I hadn't called... dang.  One thing I
forgot... notify the doctor.  Well, there was no time to mull over that
right then.  Wife was ready to give birth.
     Wife was ready to give birth... wife... ready to give... I suddenly
realized I wasn't ready for this.  I was only twenty two, what in the
hell was I doing?!  I pleaded temporary insanity, no, it was a crime of
passion.  
     I looked to my right to see what my wife was thinking of... and
found no one there.  For a moment I panicked, just about stopped my
heart.  That was before I remembered where I was and the attendants who
had come out a minute ago.  While I had been lost in my own
self-searching, my wife was being carted off by strangers.  Some husband
I was.
     I got out of the car, removing the key from the ignition quickly.
I ran into the hospital, looking about for someone who could direct me
to the maternity ward.  Of course, I was too lost to just look at the
signs.  Never even occured to me.  
     After running about like a chicken with its head removed for about
three minutes, someone finally made themselves apparent.  I later found
out it was the front receptionist, located where I had come in.  I'd
probably run by it four or five times before the woman got completely
fed up and stopped me.  She gave me the instructions I required and sent
me on my way.  
     I finally made it to the proper place, exactly where I was supposed
to be.  At least, I thought so at first.  As it ends up, I was in X-Ray.
Ugh.
     Thirty seconds later, I was truly in the right ward.  Then, I
checked in with the nurse, who said my wife was in labor and I should
wait in the Expecting Room.
     Expecting Room?  More like Hell's Vestibule.  There were two other
men in there with me.  Both had wives in labor at that moment, and all
three of us were nervous wrecks.  Yes, we were all first timers.  At
first we ignored one another, then we just began to feel insecure.
Next, we tried making small talk, which ultimately led to our wives and
the current source of our misery.  Lastly, we decided to silently draw
on each other's strength.  We soon discovered how futile it was to
attempt to draw on something that wasn't there.  We ended up sharing our
frustration and anxiety, which dulled them only slightly.  
     Five minutes later a nurse came in to announe the arrival of the
Ichiko baby.  The father immediately lightened up, a bright
contradiction to the broken man he was a moment ago.  He followed the
decidedly English tradition of passing out cigars.  He was so happy and
joyous.  
     Outwardly, we were too, but inwardly we wanted to stick the cigars
where they'd fit most nicely, but most uncomfortably.  And light them.
     I was surprised when the nurse next came to say my child was born.
I figured the other guy would go first.  However, it wasn't to be, so I
just gave the poor sap a look of pity and followed the nurse to the
viewing area.  
     I asked when I would be allowed to see my wife.  She said as soon
as she regained consciousness.  I then asked if everything was okay and
went smoothly.  She said it had, very well as a matter of fact.
     We came upon the glassed in room that housed all the newborns.  Row
after row of hospital cribs filled the sterile sanctuary.  However, only
a couple of them were filled.  Two, to be precise.  Mine, and the other
guy who had just been called not more than ten minutes ago.
     I scanned the name tags latched on the baby cribs.  My eyes fell on
mine first, which instantly drew my gaze upward.  I looked upon
perfection at that moment.  There's that instant where the whole world
vanishes, and all that remains is you and your child.  A baby boy.  So
innocent looking, yet quiet and determined, like his old man.  A
powerful wash of pride the likes of which I had never felt transcended
my being.  Every fibre that made what was me became electrified.  I
inhaled deeply, suddenly loving the anticeptic odor of the hospital.  I
blinked back the few tears that threatened to escape my eyes.  This was
the greatest moment of my life, absolute and unchallanged.
     I turned to the other guy, who was in a similar state as I.  Don't
blame the fellow.  I know exactly how he feels.  He is an
extraordinarily proud looking man, standing straight as an arrow.  Only
his eyes, like mine, betrayed the unparalelled joy he was feeling at
that moment.  Only a slight quirk in his chin at regular intervals
showed the fact that he wanted to take me and dance about the room like
an idiot.  He was a mirror of myself in fact.
     I looked over to the nametag of his child.  I was curious to find
out what the name of this lucky child was to have such a strong father.
     It was a little girl, as beautiful as a sunrise and just as
cheerful.  On her head already grew a small tuft of chestnut hair.  I
had a fleeting notion to get to know the father better, perhaps join our
families if he had no previous engagements already.  However, I
squelched that thought, figuring I would want to give my son all the
freedoms I lacked as a youth myself.
     Anyway, I didn't want to do it to the young girl either.  
     Such a pretty name she has too.
     Tendo Kasumi.
     I feel she will make her father just as proud in life as he feels
at this very moment.
END...
Don't know where in the heck this came from, so don't ask.  Comments
graciously accepted, and thanks for reading...
PMasters  

"I'm only holding back the rain.  So many raindrops, so many pains.  I
want to find my train someday.  As seasons go past the station." - Tokyo
Babylon OVA 1
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