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Comedy
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| The Call | |
| By TomOBrien | ||
| 04 February 2008 | ||
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Humorous Commentary 720 Words I had lunch with an old friend recently. His daughter is pregnant and expecting to deliver any day now. She is in fact, over due by a couple of days. This will be my friends 2nd grandchild. My friend and his wife have spent a number of sleepless nights and fretful days anxiously awaiting "The Call." He's checking his cell phone every five minutes like he might not hear it if it rings. Or, maybe, he just wants to be looking at the screen when "The Call" actually comes in. I don't know. I must be missing something here. "She's been there before buddy. She did just fine. Her husband is there with her. What's the big sweat?" "Well, the thing is, William." He says to me. William is their other grandchild. This same daughter's first child. He is three. "What about William?" I ask. "Someone has to be there to look after William if she goes into labor and has to go to the hospital." "What's wrong with her husband?" I ask. "Well, he wants to be with her." "And? What? He can't take William with him to the hospital until you get there? Or drop him at a neighbor's house?" You see, what I can't understand is why it is that my friend and his wife, the grandparents, have to lie awake nights and fret through each waking hour in anticipation of "The Call." They seem to be in a situation where their daughter will not be able to leave her home for the hospital until her parents arrive to look after the other child. This can't be the reality of it, but it's the way he at least perceives it. They live about sixty miles apart. I can't swear on it but I'm willing to bet that neither of my nor my wife's parents were lying awake waiting for us summon them to our house to take care of our children while my wife and I went off to the hospital to deliver another one. (You've been smoking what?) I remember calling our families the day after each child was born to inform her that we had been blessed with yet another beautiful baby girl. It's almost like my friend feels that him and his wife are the last people left on earth, after his daughter, her husband and William of course. And, once his daughter goes into labor and off to the hospital, well, that's the end of it. No one will be there for poor William. "Bob. You gonna join the gang for a couple of jars after work tonight?" "I don't know. It depends on what my daughter does?" "What are you, her obstetrician? Are you going to deliver the baby?" How can you put your life on hold while you wait to see what your daughter is going to do? You're out having a couple of beers with your buddies. Your wife or daughter calls to say they are on their way to the hospital. The baby is coming. You buy a round for the group and toast the new baby. Right? No? You drop everything and run out the door? You don't even go to the pub for a couple o'jars with the guys. You go directly home just in case you get "The Call." And do what when you get there? Circle the telephone in nervous anticipation? My wife and I eagerly await our own grandchildren. I am sure that we will rush off to the hospital each time one of our daughters is giving birth. I just don't see us checking our cell phones every five minutes and nervously glancing at our desk phones while we wait. All life activities have been canceled until further notice. You will go to work and then directly home afterwards. DO NOT PASS GO! Talk about house arrest! Our kids know that if they need our help they only have to call. However, each of them are responsible adults perfectly capable of taking care of themselves. "Mom? My water just broke. We are off to the hospital. William is with our neighbors Fred and Wilma two houses down. They have your number and if they need any help they will call you. Come on over to the hospital later and meet your new grand child. Love you."
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