Camaraderie in the Old Post-natal Ward

Camaraderie in the Old Post-Natal Ward

Julie was wheeled into the post-natal ward proudly looking at Jonathan, her first baby boy. Her girls were delighted to have a brother and danced with joy when they heard the news. His lovely brown eyes and shock of black hair reminded Julie of her darling husband.

“Hey, watcha have?” bellowed her still-pregnant-looking neighbour in the next bed.

“A boy,” whispered Julie, exhaustedly from the endurance of night-long pain and pushing.

“I’ve had a boy as well,” volunteered Bertha, “he’s absolutely delightful.”

“Oh, is this your first boy then?” questioned Julie tiredly.

“Oh no! “ retorted Bertha, “He’s my fifth boy. I’ve got a five-a-side now. Look at his bald head and blue eyes? He looks just like his Dad and the image of his brothers Ryan, Paul, Gary and Rio. This one’s gonna be the boss. I’m calling him Alex.”

Opposite Julie and Bertha sat a young woman Tracy cuddling her baby, oblivious to anything else going on in the ward. She kissed her baby daughter’s head.

“Don’t worry baby, whispered Tracey, “I’ll take care of you and make it up to you for not having a Daddy.”

Sister Monks strode in the ward, a baby in each arm, and sidled up to Margaret, sat upright in the far bed. She beamed from ear to ear as her twin daughters were reunited with her. It had been a long painful birth after many years of waiting for this moment. Two miscarriages and one still-birth had convinced Margaret she would never have a live baby and now she’d hit the jackpot with two beautiful baby girls.

“Well done girl,” shouted Bertha to Margaret, “gosh you must have gone through it. One at a time is bad enough. I’ve told him we were sticking with our five-a-side team. He better not come near me again. This little bugger hurt more than the other four put together.”

“Oh how lovely,” whispered Tracey wistfully, “your boys have got a good dad.”

“Good,” retorted Bertha, “if he’d been that good I wouldn’t be sat here now would I,” she bellowed with hearty laughter.

“Watch out,” whispered Julie, “I think you’ve got a visitor Bertha.”

“Oh hello darling, I was just telling my friends what a wonderful husband and father you are,” squirmed Bertha. She grinned, turned away from her husband and gave a knowing smile of camaraderie saved only for her new-found friends.