A beginning

A Beginning

Petrach paced backwards and forwards, then up and down, then in a
circle. This was all within five minutes. He was thinking which way to
pace next when a door opened and a nurse appeared.

"Already?" said Petrach.

The nurse nodded. "It was a fast birth. But?"

"But?"

"You'd better come."

Petrach didn't like the sound of that. He followed the nurse into the
room where Ninny was lying on a bed. She was holding something in her
arms.

"Oh Petrach," said Ninny.

"Oh Ninny," said Petrach.

And then Petrach saw and then Petrach ran. He ran all the way to the
helicopter repair shop. He knew no-one would be there. He was the only
employee.

That night Petrach slept in the jump seat of a Kiowa Warrior combat
helicopter. He slept badly. The next day he crept guiltily home. Ninny
was there.

"I'm sorry," said Petrach. "It's just that he's so?"

"I know," said Ninny. She put a hand on Petrach's forearm.

Petrach tried to smile. "Is he here?" he said.

"In the bedroom," said Ninny. "I lined an old Walls ice-cream tub.
Come and see."

So they went.

The baby was curled up asleep. He seemed oblivious to his
incongruity.

"I've thought of a name," said Ninny. "Psigor. We'll call him Psigor."
Then she added. "If you agree."

"We have to call him something," said Petrach.

So in this way it was decided. Their son had a name to match his
size.

In Cantonese Psigor meant small.