First Place

I had to wipe a baby’s bum the first time today. It was my first baby too. My first girlfriend gave birth to this beautiful boy. First time we’d made love had done it too. I never came first in anything at school. Looks like all that has changed now. And I’ve changed an’ aw: I’ve changed a baby’s nappy.

We have decided to call our boy, ‘Steven’. Steven’s my name. I am way proud of that; not proud of my name being ‘Steven’ but proud that Anna wants to call our wee boy ‘Steven’. Course that’s her dad’s name an’ aw but he spells it with a PH, I’m a V. That’s Roman for V. I mean, it’s Roman for five. I remember that from Mrs. Clarkson’s class. When I was six: VI.

Our wee boy Steven’s got his mammy’s eyes, but I think he’s got my chin. His eyes are beautiful. His chin’s no bad. Of course I’m glad he’s no got Anna’s chin, that’s a proper girl’s chin. She’s got a beautiful chin. Our wee boy Steven’s the apple of our eyes. Anna says she wouldn’t change him for all the world. I wouldnae either.

I wish I had a shop. If I had a shop or a trade or something then I’d have something to pass on to wee Steven when he’s grown up. We could work together, side by side, in my shop. I could show him the ropes. Teach him the tricks of the trade. Father and son. Man and boy. I’m glad he’s got my chin. That’s something I’ve passed on to my wee Steven. I’ll have to see what else he would benefit from. Stuff that I can pass on to him. I can tell him stuff like, “you’re my first son.” And I can be his only dad.