Bonzer Words!: Proud Parent
Colleen McMillan tells a delicious tale of a mistake made by a proud new dad.
Colleen writes for Bonzer! magazine. Please visit www.bonzer.org.au
'Hello Mum!' Russell's voice was loud, loaded with joy, as he took rapid strides down the hospital corridor towards the middle-aged lady standing holding flowers, and peering at the direction signs.
Mary Long turned to greet her son with a smile almost as wide as his. 'I was just checking for the number of Sue's room, dear. How are . . ?'
He didn't let her finish but taking her hand, (Mary couldn't remember when her son had taken her hand last) with boyish enthusiasm he led her down the corridor saying, 'The nursery is on the way. You must see Jessica.'
'There!' he said. 'Isn't she the most beautiful baby you've ever seen?'
Mary looked at the tiny pink bundle behind the protective glass of the nursery, and then turning her shining eyes to her son she exclaimed, 'Oh Russell, she is just gorgeous! She looks exactly like your sister Anne did when she was born . . . the same shaped head and rosebud mouth . . . and the ears, Russell, they are yours, aren't they?'
Russell beamed at the tiny pink shells and said a bit sheepishly, 'I thought so too. Sue is always saying what neat ears I have. She is going to be dark like Sue don't you think?'
Mary looked at the bit of dark fluff adorning the mostly bald little head. 'Mmm,' she said. 'That lot might fall out but they say it's the bald babies who have the curls and Sue has lovely curly hair.'
At this stage the baby opened her eyes. 'Look Mum, her eyes are blue, like mine.'
Mary didn't have the heart to tell him all new-born babies have blue eyes, nor did she have the chance, because at that moment the baby also opened her mouth and let out a wail.
A nurse pausing on her way to the nursery remarked, 'Oh, we have a hungry one here.'
Eagerly Russell turned to her. 'We are just going in to see Sue, Can we take her in with us?'
The nurse tried, but the corners of her mouth turned up all by themselves and a stifled laugh crept through her fingers. 'Oh no, Mr. Long. That is not your baby. She woke earlier and I took her into your wife to be fed.'
© Colleen McMillan
