THE THIRD ARRIVAL

25 January, 2016.   Houston

One Long Journey Ends — Another Begins

It was a long, long journey, lasting nearly a year, starting we know not where, and ending in yet another strange, new place. The dim reddish glow that illuminated the here-and-now since the beginning of time began to change, and change quickly. There now shone forth a light which grew brighter and brighter, until it seemed that the whole world was bathed in it. Sounds that were heard before in low, muffled tones now became loud and shrill. Then came a wave of freezing cold air that set the body to tremble. There was also a strange, unpleasant sensation that would later be called pain. And now he lay there on his back, on a table top - alone in the bright, loud, new world he had just entered minutes before.

Baby David had just been born!

Meanwhile, In the Waiting Room…

Early one mid-Spring morning, a young man walked into the waiting room of a local hospital. He looked around, and then sat down noisily. He then got out a deck of cards and spread them out, and began to play solitaire on a coffee table in the center of the room. He fidgeted in his seat, looking frequently at the door, and at the clock overhead, and back at the door, and then glanced at his watch. His knee bounced up and down.

Also in the room in a chair opposite was another young man. Unlike the new arrival, this man was the epitome of coolness. He had a calm demeanor, and was slowly paging through the sports section of a two-day old newspaper. It was just something to read. He was, in his mind, "Mister Cool." His persona alluded to confidence... Or was it apathy?

The nervous young fellow looked around again, shuffled the cards a few times, and seeing "Mr. Cool," told him hello, his voice shaking noticeably. 

Mr. Cool couldn't help himself, and asked:"Your first, right??"

"Oh, no!" Mr. Nervous replied, "Not at all. This will be our third child!"

"Mine, too!" came a ready agreement. "But, if you don't mind me saying so." He continued,"you seem a bit nervous."

"Yep! Sure am! I, I can hardly wait!" 

"Wow!"said Mr. Cool, smirking slightly in a sort of disbelieving way. "And you're STILL antsy? Why?"

"Well," the young man explained, "It's like this: We all have relatives who for one reason or another go away and we don't see for a long time. When they come back, even for a short visit, it's a big affair, right? I mean, we're all so very happy to see them and we make a big deal over it and all. Well, this is just about the same thing. See, this little one I'm waiting for is a family member — my own flesh and blood — that we have NEVER met; if we are delighted when relatives return after a long trip, how much happier the occasion is it when we meet for the very FIRST time?!"

"We are waiting for a MIRACLE... For a new LIFE... For our child. There is nothing routine or mundane about this. It's one of the major events in our lives, and certainly of paramount importance in his. I take NOTHING for granted in life... Not even the sunrise.

The world owes me nothing, and I am about to be entrusted with the love, care, education, and protection of the greatest miracle of all... the miracle of a child! The very thought of meeting someone of my own flesh and blood for the very first time makes me happy beyond words!"

Mr. Cool suddenly changed: his face showed a pathos remarkable for one who was just a few seconds ago so blasé. It was clear he was thinking about his own pending arrival.There was complete quiet now in the room as the two regarded each other. The silence was abruptly broken by the arrival of the nervous young man's mother and some half-dozen in-laws. There was quite a bit of talking and laughing, and the somber mood of the room lightened as a field lights up with the sun at daybreak. The mother broke out a camera, and began taking pictures to her heart's content.

Soon enough, though, the group simmered down, as much as such people could simmer down. The solitaire game continued unhindered until, at last, the door burst open, a figure in green emerged, and a familiar, happy face smiled forth from beneath a surgical mask. The mask came down, the surgical gloves came off, and a hand was extended in congratulations. The nervous, young man just became a father for the third time...

It was a son!