***
Grant/1996
“
Alright boy hand me that
wrench.” My uncle hollered. I had been working in my uncle’s shop
since I was thirteen, bout the time I started running the streets,
he figured if I had a study job and check coming in I’ll stay out
of trouble… more specifically the penitentiary. “Uncle Day, when
Mac say he’ll be back for the car?” I asked while hooking up the
engine. My uncle’s name was Timothy Hutchinson, but everybody
called him day because he was so light skin like the sun. He was
the only child on my mother’s side that was fair, so people
suspected he had a different dad, but there were so many scandals
going on back then aint no telling. “I don’t know boy later on this
week probably.”
Uncle Day was my mother’s
oldest brother. He took me in when he saw that my parents had
fallen into a real bad drug habit which eventually killed them in
later years. He and my aunt were the only parental figures I had
ever known since then, but he was getting old in age but still
carried on as if he were still young. Running a full time shop like
this was no joke. I wiped sweat from my forehead and took a swig of
water due to the heat. “So boy, you been thinking bout what I told
you?” Uncle Day asked out of the blue. Knowing exactly what he was
talking about I nodded lying. “Yeah I have been thinking bout it. I
just don’t think it’s for me.” My uncle shook his head, “So what
you trying to do spend the rest of life here working in the shop?”
“Yeah, what’s wrong with that? We make a good living and I could
take over and start running things when you don’t want to no more.
I’ll keep the family business going?” My uncle stopped working on
the car and stared at me seriously. “Son I want more for you than
some hood car shop with damages everywhere and debt building up
like crazy.”
He said piecing me with his
eyes. “You got a smart head on your shoulders. You gonna have to
start using it.” I looked out of the shop into the city; all I
could see was busted glass in the street, dope dealers on the
corners and no positive future insight. Wasn’t anything out here
for me, nothing that could lead me anywhere. “I’m serious Grant, we
may not be doing badly but there’s nothing wrong with wanting
more.” My focus changed as I saw Lucy appear in the door way. “Bad
time?” she asked. I watched her strut in a pink fitted blouse and
white shorts, I felt like a scrub in this mechanic uniform but
seeing her made me forget all about that. I shook my head. “Nope.
Matter of fact I was just getting off.”
My uncle smiled at my
excitement to see Lucy. “How you doing there girl?” He asked her.
She came in and greeted him. “Oh I’m just fine, you?” “Half dead
but I’m still pushing.” Uncle Day laughed using the same expression
he always has. “Alright uncle I’m gonna be out.” I told him
gathering a rag to wash up with. He nodded. “That’s fine just don’t
come back with no babies though.” Another expression he liked to
use. I shook my head., “Ignore him let me get cleaned up and I’ll
meet you at the car.” She nodded. “Bye uncle day.” “Bye
sweetie….yep that girl going places hopefully she will take your
block head with her.” He said with a smile. I nodded.
“Hopefully.”
Lucy and I made our way
downtown to a little burger joint and then I took her to a nearby
lake where I liked to go to and clear my head. It was a very
secluded area with a lot of trees and a great view of the outdoors.
Being there always seemed to help me relax. We got into some heavy
kissing, touching, and feeling… but no sex. Surprisingly I was cool
with that mainly because we would find things to talk about. I
could tell her things that I never told any woman before or anybody
else for that matter. I could taste that cherry lip gloss she had
on, I guess that’s what kept me going, I obviously wasn’t into
kissing her like normal. Usually she would have to beat me off with
a bat by now. She picked up on my unusual behavior and pulled my
mouth away from hers.
“
What’s wrong baby?” she
asked confusingly. I rested my head against hers. “I don’t know…
guess I got a lot on my mind.” She sat up pulling grass out of her
hair and I rolled over. “So talk to me.” I looked out onto the
lake, picked up some nearby rocks and stood up. “My uncle has been
talking to me about going to school.” I threw a rock across the
lake. “He thinks I should enroll in some classes.” She stood up
beside me and wiped grass off her shorts. “What’s wrong with that.
I’m going to the university in the fall. Why don’t you come
too?”
Lucy had got accepted to go
the UCF a while back, she was going to be a long way from home and
I was going to be missing her like crazy. But I couldn’t be mad at
her for wanting to better herself. I smiled at her naivety, not
knowing people like me don’t go college…hell I was lucky to even
have my GED. I was a street rat who was hustling at twelve and if
it wasn’t for my aunt and uncle knocking some sense into my head
and coming to save me, I would still be doing it. “That’s not for
me. That’s not what I want.” She looked at me curiously then out at
the lake. “Well what do you want?” To be honest I never thought
about it. I never thought I could have anything more than what I
have right now. I thought about something for minute…something that
could possibly be an option.
“
My grandfather was
welder. He used to travel the country and comeback and tell me all
types of stories about his job. Little adventures he called them.”
I threw another rock and paused. “Maybe that’s something.” “Grant,
there offering programs at job hunters.” Lucy said slapping my arm.
Her gaze turned to the lake, the sun was setting and we were both
there together to see it. “I can go with you first thing tomorrow
and sign you up…if you want.” I stared at this girl. I didn’t
understand, we were not in an official relationship, we weren’t
even having sex and yet I kept her around. I even talked to her in
ways that I have never talked to anyone and now here she was
willing to help me become a welder. “You really think I can do it?”
I asked her. She smiled at me while picking up a rock and throwing
it across the lake. “I think you can do anything.”
***
“
Ok baby, do we have
everything? Clothes, documentation, bags, is this everything?” I
asked Lucy. It was time for the baby to come and I was completely
in a panic. “Yes, yes, everything is here your worrying more than I
am.” She yelled. Lucy was moving more slowly now, I figured the
baby must be getting heavy to tote around in her small body. I
still caught myself enjoying looking at her round belly and
although she had always maintained my full attention…. It didn’t
hurt that certain objects were getting larger due to her pregnancy.
I could hear the wind coming down from the snow and it snapped me
back into reality. “We better get a move on baby, it’s getting bad
out there.”
“
I hope we can make it in
the storm” Lucy started to look overwhelmed. I came over and put my
hand on her lower back. “We will make it Luce…don’t worry
everything’s ready to go.” Lucy started to breathe heavy as she
leaned on the bed. “I just don’t want anything to go wrong.” She
panted. I looked down at my wife; she seemed to be in pain causing
me to get nervous.
“
Are you ok babe?” She
shook her head. “I need to get to the doctor…fast.” I pulled her up
to her feet and that’s when it happened. Splash. “Oh Lord. Is that
what I think it is?” I asked in shock at what just spilled all over
the floor. “Oh that’s just great… my water broke all over my new
fur rug. Perfect.” Lucy began to howl in pain, putting some
suffering on my hand that she was squeezing. “Um it’s ok, let’s
just get in the car and I’ll take you to the hospital.” I spoke in
a calm voice, but I was no were near calm. “Honey the hospital is
over an hour away, and there is probably so much snow outside we
couldn’t even get out of the garage.” Lucy tried to explain while
slowly moving back down to the bed. I ran to the window, she was
right we couldn’t make it out there in that snow. Oh damn, I was
starting to... starting to lose it but I couldn’t let her know
that. “I’m going to call the ambulance.”
“
Aaaaah.” The sharp pains
were coming from inside her and the pain from it all seemed
unbearable. I quickly finished the call and ran to attend to my
wife. “Baby its ok, I just got off the phone with the ambulance and
they’re going to get here as quickly as possible.” Lucy was
breathing heavier causing her to perspire. “Tell that to the baby
because it’s coming.” Panic struck over my face, I tried to keep my
composure but it didn’t last long. I was freaking out, but Lucy
wincing in pain brought me back to reality. I had to do something.
“Alright listen to me I’m going to go downstairs, get some towels
and water. Now I want you to lie back and try to get as comfortable
as possible.” I instructed.
“
No, I don’t want you to
leave me.” She began to plead. “Honey the baby is coming, I have to
do something to help ok.” Lucy was nodding through falling tears. I
grabbed her face and kissed her mouth to calm her down. “Everything
is going to be fine, I promise. Just relax.” As she eased back on
the bed, I ran downstairs and gathered everything I could think of
from birthing class…good thing they gave us some material on what
to do in case of an emergency. Lucy was breathing properly but
couldn’t fight the tears that were flowing down like puddles on her
face. “It’s ok. Everything is going to be ok.” I reassured her
while gently placing everything down. The towels were on the bed
and the tub of hot water on the floor. I sat on the bed in front of
Lucy contemplating what to do next.
“
Ok I got everything. I
just have to see what’s going on down there.” I slowly took off her
underwear, and looked under her dark orange dress. “To think this
is how this all got started.” I joked. She laughed through the
pain, clutching the sheets for dear life. I opened her legs and put
my hand down to feel for widening or for the baby’s head. Clearly
there was no need since I could see the head as clear as day. “Oh
hell!” I jumped back. “What is it? What’s wrong?” Lucy asked
worried. I choked back vomit and remained calm. “Nothing its good,
it’s all good.” Ok, I said to myself just don’t look down, you can
do this. I reached for the head again. “Alright baby you ready?” I
prepped her. Lucy looked shocked. “What? Ready for what?” She
looked at me not knowing what the hell was about to happen.
“Sweetie you got to push.” “Push, so you’re going to deliver the
baby? No, we have to wait for the doctors. They’re going to be here
any minute.”
She tried to convince
herself but another contraction struck causing her to scream. “I
think the baby disagrees with you.” I replied trying to talk some
sense into her. Lucy kept shaking her head and I was becoming more
and more frustrated in this dire situation…I didn’t have time for
all this defiance right now. “Look honey this kid is coming. Now
you can try holding him in for as long as you want or we can go
ahead and meet our child.” Lucy was breathing more rapidly now but
complied. “Ok, on three now I’m going to need you to push. One,
two,” I could feel the baby slowly easing on out I was practically
holding him in my hands. Lucy looked as if she was going to pass
out due to all the pressure but kept going. “It’s ok honey. Its ok,
were almost done. All I need is just one more good push
ok?”
She nodded. “On three, One,
Two,” And in one swoop he came to me with the lungs of life. I
cradled him in my arms and quickly cleaned him off. My little boy
continued to cry out, hating the fact that he had to leave his warm
haven in his mother’s womb. I sat there and admired what had been
created over the past nine months. He was so beautiful. He had a
head full of black hair, pretty pinkish skin and dark brown eyes.
We looked so much a like I might as well have given birth to him.
“Well look at you huh.” He calmed down from crying so much after a
while. I was gleaming at my son. “Lucy baby look at him he’s
beautiful look….” Lucy wasn’t making a sound, I moved closer to
her. She was breathing; I think she passed out due to all the pain.
I laid the baby on her chest and I held them both in my arms as the
sounds of sirens started to pierce my ears …damn what a
day.
Chapter 5
Get with
it or Get lost
Lucy
By the time the paramedics
got to the house everything was ok, baby Gregory James Smith had
been brought into the world successfully. I couldn’t believe my
little boy was here after all this time. Grant was so strong and
brave to deliver our son all by himself; I was in complete
admiration of him for bringing our baby boy into this world safely.
After little Greg and I were brought to the hospital to be examined
we were able to be released a few days later. I was so excited for
my family to come home together and start our lives. As a few
months passed Grant and I had to adjust to our new bundle of joy,
who left us completely and utterly exhausted. “Waaaaaah, waaaaaah.”
“Oh c’mon kid damn.” Grant groaned while slamming a pillow over his
head.
“
Does he ever sleep?” I
slouched up in the bed and dragged myself out. “Nope…and neither do
we.” I headed to the nursery and heard my baby boys screams grow
louder and louder. “Awww…What’s wrong little man.” I gently picked
up little Greg out of his crib that cost us a fortune. I made sure
my baby had the best, a well put together crib, room full of toys
and flashing chu chu train lights, come to think about it Grant and
I may have went a little overboard for our newborn. I sat down in
the rocking chair and I held him close till he dozed off. I noticed
Grant watching over us in the doorway. He came over and laid his
head in my lap. “What’s wrong baby?” I asked. He hesitated a minute
before answering, “Lucy I think I’m going to give up
welding.”