My heart pounded in my throat as I realized that I was about to become a midwife, whether I wanted to or not.
"Oh, wait!" I pleaded. "Please wait! The doctor will be here in just a few minutes."
"Honey," she gasped, "I can't wait. You oughta know that. Cripes, I wisht Rodney was here! That man ain't never around when I want him, only after the kids is born, and then all he does is git me that way again!"
"Can you wait just one minute?" I beseeched. "I'll get my medical book--I didn't think of it till just now--please, oh, please wait!"
I staggered out the door and along the sidewalk until I reached our door. I threw myself into the living room, tore open the door of the bookcase, and snatched out our heavy, important looking medical book.
I was starting back toward cabin 3 when I heard the anguished shriek of a very young human being. I froze in horror.
"Already?" I must have said it out loud because David, who had appeared from nowhere, said, "Huh? You better take care of Donna, Mama. She's sure crying--don't you hear her?"
"Oh, is that Donna?" I was so relieved I could have kissed him. I hurried into the children's bedroom, David jabbering about something loudly and excitedly behind me.
Donna was holding up one small fat hand. "Donna hurta finger!" she wailed. "Mama kiss it."
Apparently she had hit her finger with one of the blocks she was stacking into piles. David was still talking excitedly.