Chapter I in an ongoing
saga
Britain, 1977.
London, to be exact. A delivery room in one of the hospitals. The
lady Starsmore has been in labor for nineteen hours. Her husband lord
Starsmore is pacing the waiting room. They are expecting their first child, a
boy, and hier to the Starsmore estate. A cry of pain is heard, then a slap,
and a baby crying. A nurse enters the waiting room and speaks with lord
Starsmore.
"M'lord..." the nurse says, "It is a boy..."
"A boy? Of course, a boy!" lord Starsmore exclaims, and proceeds to
hand out cigars to everyone in the waiting room.
The nurse rushes back into the delivery room, just in time to see Lady
Starsmore pass out. The doctor speaks with the nurse.
"Take a blood sample from the boy," he tells the nurse.
"Why?"
"We need it on record. It is a precaution, in case they ever come up
with a test for mutant genes. We take one every year, and we'll have an
updated sample."
"Oh, okay, doctor..." The nurse says, and then she sets the child
down in a basket on a cart. She wheels the cart away, so the blood sample
can be taken. The doctor goes out to talk with Lord Starsmore.
"Sir? Lord Starsmore? Could you please put the cigars out?" The
doctor asks, "This is a hospital."
"Oh, yes, of course. Are my wife and child okay?"
"Yes, yes. Your wife is fine, sleeping, as a matter of fact, and your
son has been taken for a blood sample."
"When can I see them?"
"You can see them in about an hour. Might I suggest getting
something to eat?"
"Of course. Something to eat. Which level is the cafeteria on?"
"One level down, sir." The doctor says, then leaves the waiting room.
Lord Starsmore nods, then leaves the room, looking to eat a hearty
meal.
Later that night,
Lord Starsmore is sitting in a chair near his wives bed. Lady
Starsmore is cradling Jon, their son, in her arms.
"Isn't he beautiful, dear?" lady Starsmore asks.
"Yes. I think he'll grow up to be a hansome young man, a chip off
the old block." He answers.
A nurse slowly opens the door.
"M'Lord, visiting hours are over. Will you be spending the eve here?"
the nurse asks.
"Yes. I'll spend the night here with my wife. Could you bring in a
cot?" He answers.
"No, m'lord. I cannot do that." The nurse replies, and she leaves the
room.
The nurse turns to leave, but stops.
"Um, miss, er, m'lady, I need to take your son down to the nursery."
The nurse wheels a cart and a basket next to the bed.
"Okay." Lady Starsmore says, and then she cradles Jon in the basket.
She kisses his forehead. "Be good, Jon." She says before the nurse takes
him to the nursery.
The nurse turns down the lights as she leaves, and Lord and Lady
Starsmore settle into slumber. (
geocities.com/timessquare)