Dad and I handed our parking tickets to one of the valet attendants, and soon our vehicles were delivered to the entrance. Just before Josh and I were about to step in the van, my rescue squad pager went off. I cocked my head and listened to the police dispatcher sending the duty crew to a motor vehicle accident on the highway. Everyone looked at me expectantly, but I assured them the Thursday night crew would most likely be able to handle it. "Let's go home. I'm pooped!"

The ride home was uneventful until we were about two blocks away, at which point my pager went off again. I figured the accident was probably a bad one, requiring the squad's second ambulance, but then I heard the dispatcher say it was a maternity call.

I grabbed my two-way radio and notified police headquarters I was on the way to the building and would pick up the ambulance. I asked them to let me know if a senior member called in, as each call required at least a crew chief and a senior member. Josh had all his training and was well-qualified for the most part, but he was only a "probie."

While I was talking, Josh plugged the flashing blue light into the cigarette lighter. The Honda was directly in front of us, and I tooted the horn and waved to signal them we'd be delayed.

As I pulled into the squad's parking lot, I tossed Joshua the keys to the squad building, instructing him: "Quick, open the door and get the rig started!"

By the time I'd parked the van, Josh was already in the passenger's seat with his seat belt in place. I came running, jumped in and pulled the rig through the double garage door. As soon as we cleared the doorway, Josh hit the automatic garage door remote to shut the door behind us. I let the police know I was on the way, and the dispatcher announced that Carole Flanagan was responding directly to the scene. I was especially relieved a female squad member would be joining us on this one.

It was only half a mile to the address we'd been given, so we arrived in short order. As I pulled up and parked, I told Josh to bring the call book and the black bag that contains a blood pressure kit, first aid supplies and other basic items. Meanwhile I reached in the back to retrieve the maternity kit. As we ran toward the house, a police car pulled up with its lights flashing. While we waited for someone to answer the doorbell, one of my favorite cops, Jose Martinez, joined us.

"Whew, I'm glad you two beat me here," Jose said laughing. "It's been a long time since I had a childbirth class."

"Well, I wouldn't worry about it. With St. Francis Hospital only ten minutes away, our squad has yet to deliver a baby."

A middle-aged Hispanic woman soon appeared at the door and it took us only a few seconds to realize she didn't speak any English. At that moment I sure was grateful Jose was here. His fluency in Spanish would be a godsend.

The woman quickly led us to a bedroom. A young woman--I figured it must be her daughter--lay in a narrow bed, coiled in a fetal position, writhing in pain. I told Joshua to get her vital signs, while I opened the maternity kit and slipped on a pair of rubber gloves. I tried to calm the young woman and see if I could get some information. It turned out she didn't speak any English either, so Jose took over. In rapid-fire Spanish. she told him her pains had begun about two hours ago and were only a minute or so apart. Jose relayed the information to us and we also learned this was her first baby.

I performed a brief examination. "Uh oh! It looks like this baby is going to be born right here in this room . . . I can already see the head!" I told Josh to hurry and put on a pair of surgical gloves and spread the contents of the maternity kit on the bed.

"Better have headquarters dispatch a medic unit just in case," I told Jose, "then see if you can calm her down a bit."

After more conversation, Jose told us that the woman's name was Consuela Mendez, but she preferred to be called Connie. The older woman turned out to be her mother-in-law, not her mother as I'd previously thought. Connie's husband was at work, and from what Jose told us, she wanted him here now!

"Just keep reassuring her, Jose," I said, mentally reviewing all the things I needed to do. Connie began pushing hard and the baby's head appeared. I cradled the little head in my hand, and asked Josh to hand me the small rubber bulb syringe so I could suction the mucous out of the baby's tiny nose and mouth.

"Tell her to give another good push," I instructed Jose, but before the words could be translated, Connie had already done that and the baby's shoulders slipped right out, one after the other, followed immediately by the rest of its little body. After a tense moment, the infant gave a lusty howl.

"It's a baby girl," Josh announced in awe.

Just then, Carole arrived. I cut the cord and wrapped the little baby in a receiving blanket from the maternity kit while Carole tended to Connie. No sooner was that accomplished than two paramedics appeared, followed by Connie's husband. The small bedroom suddenly was getting very crowded.

I asked Carole and Josh to get the stretcher, as I filled the medics in on what had transpired before their arrival. Everyone was all smiles, except for Pablo, the husband. His expressionless face was ashen, his mouth gaping in awe. When the initial shock passed, Pablo bent down over the bed and tenderly caressed Connie's cheek. I handed him their new baby girl and he spent a few moments staring at her before he placed her in his wife's arms.

After a routine ride to the hospital we went back to the squad building. When we were alone in the ambulance, I asked Josh, "Well, what did you think of that? Do you realize we are the first members of the Merriwether Rescue Squad to deliver a baby?"

"Yeah! That was way cool, Dad. It was exactly like the movies they showed in childbirth class, but it's a lot more exciting when it's for real."

"Hey, guess what else? We'll be receiving stork pins to wear on our uniforms, and you can wear yours next to the CPR pin from the life you saved last month. Hmmm, two pins in two months--that's a record!"

We pulled into the squad driveway and it only took a few minutes to park the ambulance. On the way home, I said, "I sure hope you don't have a lot of homework tonight, Josh."

"Nope, Dad. There's not any more homework for the rest of the semester--just finals. But my philosophy is there's no point in cramming. We had the whole year to learn the stuff, and either we know it or we don't."

"Well, from the looks of your grades so far, your philosophy is pretty darn good. I trust your judgment, son."

"Thanks, Dad, I appreciate that. You and Mom have always been very supportive . . . that means a lot to me. Oh! I almost forgot. Speaking of supportive--I need a ride home from school tomorrow at four, and if it's possible, can we have dinner a little early? I need to be back at school by seven to get ready for the play."

"No problem at all, Josh. I'll be out of school by three-thirty and can pick you up afterwards. Then we can get some fast food on the way home. How's that sound?"

Josh grinned. "That's great, Dad. Thanks!"

When we got home, Maggie was puttering in the kitchen. I gave her a big hug and filled her in on the exciting news of the baby delivery.

We said good night to Josh and headed to our bedroom. With my pajamas in hand, I went into the bathroom, completely forgetting the toilet paper gadget. Again The Star Spangled Banner went off and I could hear Maggie laughing in the next room.

That's it, I told myself. I'm putting the old dispenser back in there."

When I got back in the bedroom, Maggie was bent over, brushing her hair toward the floor. I kissed the nape of her neck. "Here, give me the brush and let me do that for a bit. Tell me when to stop."

"Mmmmm, that feels good," Maggie murmured. After a few minutes she said, "That should do it. Thanks, Joe."

"My pleasure, dear," I said, adding, "there's something need to tell you, Maggie."

I proceeded to tell her about the phone call from the school nurse and Josh's visit to Ozzie's office earlier today.

Maggie was silent for a few moments, then she said, "Do you think it's serious? And don't hide anything from me . . . I want the truth, Joe."

"Well," I said, "I sure hope it's just something temporary that will go away quickly, but I really don't know. The tests Ozzie ordered should determine the cause, and we should know the results in a week or so."

Maggie's expression turned serious. "You know, this may sound kind of crazy, but I worry about Joshua because he's so . . . well, so darn good . . . almost perfect. His exceptional grades, his activities--church, Boy Scouts, the squad, sports . . . Many teenagers are so obnoxious these days, but Josh is just a sweetheart. The only fault I could possibly find with him is that darn long hair of his. I don't know . . . it seems like the bad stuff always happens to the really good people. Does that make any sense?"

"Yes, dear, it does," I replied. "Sometimes I have the very same thoughts and it scares me too. Another thing, look at how good he is with Becky. Why, the two of them adore each other. What did we ever do to be blessed with two such wonderful children?"

When we settled back in bed, we hugged each other and I said softly: "Honey, I can't thank you enough for making my birthday so special. With everything else that's been happening today, I haven't really had a chance to think about our trip. What an awesome adventure that's going to be!"

Maggie took my face in her hands and kissed me hard. "I'm so very glad you're pleased with our surprise, dear. I agree, it will be so much fun. But in the meantime, Birthday Boy, don't you think we ought'a get some shuteye? Morning will be here before you know it."








Continue to Chapter 6


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