Crow

by Konichiwa Indojin © 2003

Twenty-one minutes had passed since the amber light outside Operating Theatre C had turned to green from red. Phil paced the floor outside the shut glass door and felt the glimmer of hope that had begun to form in his heart begin to get brighter. His previous two kids had not survived beyond the first twenty minutes.

"Torsional Atrophy" Dr Jenkins at the Palm Avenue Referral Center had dismissively suggested studying Emma's medical report.

"She can never be a biological mother again" ..The words kept drumming on Phil's ears as the lead nurse opened the door ajar and motioned for him to come in.

Phil walked into the room where Emma lay draped in emerald green patient overalls.She looked pale and exhausted but at peace..like an ebbing charcoal fire. Three nurses were milling around the room mopping up after the caesarian.

Doctor Jenkins strode up to Phil, shook his hands and said "Its a miracle Phil. You have a healthy baby". He pointed to the table where a nurse was in the final stage of wrapping up Phil's bundle of joy.

"Plum Cake --works every time", whispered Crow into his ear as a male nurse walked past Phil carting an oxygen cylinder trolley out of the room.

"We have plans to publish this case to the medical journal" Dr Jenkins was saying.

Phil was in no mood to listen. He could feel Crow's presence in the room. He felt the same sensations when six months ago as he sat lonely and desolate on a park bench, Dr Jenkin's "never-be-a-biological-mother-again" report in hand. He thought of the Superhero comics he read about in school and how they would solve all problems from the most trivial to the most towering in a matter of a few well thumbed pages. Ever the weak, dependant type Phil prayed for a superhero-induced miracle to lift him out of this predicament.

"Can I offer you a Plum Cake Mister?"

Phil looked up at a lean faced young man with gaunt features wearing large yellow bellbottoms and a cheap leather jacket, holding out a small brown box.He looked like a scarecrow doing a part-time job.

"Its cheap just a quarter for two"

Phil wanted the sartorial comedy out of his sights so he dropped a quarter in his grubby hands and dropped the cake into his overall coat pocket.

"Crow" shuffled off.

So much for a superhero.

That night as he slept with Emma contorted body next to his, he felt a rush of wind in his ear and a tingling sensation up his spine.

"Thanks mister for buying the cake. It works always.The Crow thanks you" Phil stepped out of bed and walked to the room closet to fumble for hSendis overcoat where he assumed the cake lied forgotten till this moment.

"Honey what's the matter?" Emma had awakened.

"Nothing Em. Just looking for a piece of cake I bought last evening"

"Oh you mean that cake! You very well know that that stuff will not do any good for your diabetes. I have been going over your pockets for the last few months and also the fridge to see that your calories do not hit the red zone."

"But what did you do with the Cake!" demanded Phil

"Why honey! I fed it to the cat. She licked up every last crumb!"

* * * *
"Mr.Walters?"\ It was the nurse who had been wrapping up the baby.

"Uh! What?"

"Would you like to hold him sir" she said holding out the baby in his arms

Phil took the baby and cradled it gingerly in his arms. As he looked into the baby's wide eyes, he felt his legs become heavy, like that of a swimmer who had just stepped out of the pool.

The baby had started to meow.

x x x




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