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barely covered Ben s tuition and ex-penses, forcing him to get through
Harvard College and Harvard Medical School on loans, scholarships, and
part-time work. Yet even after Marge became pregnant, he was sure they
could scrape by.
Benny, I think it s time, she said.
The bag was already packed. Calmly, he walked her down-stairs and hailed a
taxi. Although they couldn t afford it, he re-fused to chance the bus.
Boston Veterans Hospital, please, he told the cabdriver. Fast. My
wife s about to have a baby!
The driver s eyebrows slid up his forehead as if trying to es-cape. Don t
worry, ma am. We ll make it.
Throughout the trip, Ben held Marge close, rubbing her back and shoulders.
The fare was sixty cents, but Ben gave him a dollar. Best cab ride we ever
had. In fact, it was the only cab ride they d ever had.
Hey, thanks, the man told them, his hand closing over the two silver halves.
And good luck.
Ben escorted his wife through the emergency entrance. The walls were clean and
white. Even the floors looked spotless; more safe than sterile. While Marge
waited, Ben checked in at the desk. The
Veterans Administration would pay for every-thing. Their first child would be
born in a real hospital.
Husbands, even premed students like Ben, were required to sit in another room
while their wives endured labor and de-livery, so he found a pay phone and
called Toby Fiske. Also a Harvard premed, Toby still lived at his mother s
house in Wakefield.
Toby arrived about ninety minutes later and waited with Ben. Except for the
two young vets, the large waiting room was empty. They sat, mostly in silence,
surrounded by vending ma-chines, coffeepot, water cooler, and dozens of
magazines. How blessedly and terribly apart males were, Ben thought. Vended
treats to make them feel at home. He hoped Marge was okay, but doubted she was
feeling too at home right then.
You scared? Toby asked.
Not really, Ben said. Wish I was inside. With Marge ...
Instead of out here with the likes of me?
Ben laughed. Yeah, though I wouldn t ve put it quite that way ...
Toby smiled. What I actually meant was, are you fright-ened, y know, about
parenthood? And all that responsibility? Don t think I could handle it
myself.
Actually, Ben laughed, I m more alarmed at the prospect of giving up sex
for the next six weeks!
Well, I can see how that ... Hey? You mean you ve still been having sex?
Ben nodded. Remember the pennies-in-ajar parable?
Sure, Toby said. If a newlywed couple puts a penny in a jar every time they
make love during the first year of the mar-riage, and removes a penny every
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time after that, no matter how long the marriage lasts, they say, the jar will
never be empty.
I told Marge that story before we got married She took it as a challenge! We
actually keep a piggy bank by our bed now.
Toby laughed. You sly devil.
Y know, Ben said earnestly, we always wanted a family. Not sure I
envisioned it happening quite this soon, but I think we re ready.
Scary time to have kids, Toby said, with the A-bomb and all. They say the
commies ll have one in ten years.
Ben was amused at his friend s bluntness. Toby and he had always shared
their thoughts without affectation or artifice. They d never dare use it.
Old buddy, this is the most exciting time in history. If anything, I was born
too soon. When I think of the scientific miracles this child might see ... Our
baby s gonna live a much longer and healthier life than you or I will. And see
things we can t even imagine.
I thought you were planning to live forever.
Well, maybe I m more realistic now. I feel lucky to be alive at all. But my
children or grandchildren might. My own immortality ll come through them, I
guess. Which is good enough for me, Ben said, suddenly realizing it wasn t
true but easier not to think about. This child might never die, but he
certainly would. He pushed the jealousy from his mind before he could quite
recognize it. Life was short, and too damn precious for negative thoughts.
Sam and Alice Smith arrived several hours later. Marge s parents, Oscar and
Mary Callahan, who had the foresight to bring a deck of cards, showed up
shortly after that. The six spent the ensuing hours telling jokes, pacing the
floor, and taking turns at gin rummy and hearts.
In all, Marge s labor lasted thirteen hours. When the nurse told them it was a
healthy baby boy, Toby gave Ben a great bear hug, lifting him a foot off the
floor. It s real now, Toby said. I didn t think I d envy you one little
bit. But maybe I was wrong.
Moments later the same nurse escorted Ben inside to look at his son through a
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