The conversation

-So, all this has happened, he said. -That`s quite a lot.
I studied my hands. One of my tumbs was scratching on the nail of the other forefinger.
-What do you want to do, now?
I watched up. On the table. It was a pot of water there. And a coffepot. Two glasses and two cups. I watched over to the wall, and a picture of a landscape.
-Well, I said. -Sometimes I think I need to make a choice. Between either one way or the other. Or maybe I might make the best out of both. I don`t know.
-No, he said.
We got silent. Both of us watched out in the air. It wasn`t much more to say. For so long.

Home

He was quiet when we were driving. He was sitting in a new and safe babyseat. My wife was also sitting behind. She continuously checked if everything was okay. She almost didn`t want to leave the hospital. At first she wanted to change the diaper. Then give him some more milk. Then change the diaper again. Then give him some more milk again.
But then we were heading back home. On the side of the road there was empty grain fields. Tired houses. Lawns with easter leaves. And a pale, cold light.
We came up against our house. It was smiling friendly. I stopped the engine.
-Wait with the car door, she said. -I need to dress him first.
-But it`s only five meters to the front door, I said.
-He can`t get cold, she said. -Wait a moment.
She dressed him. Put a blanket around him. Then she breathed. Opened the car door quickly. Held him close to her body. She hurried to the front door and inside. I started to carry the baby equipment and other stuff inside. The house was shaking a bit in excitement. Everything was ready for the new member.

Reward

-Could you get me some lemonade, she asked.
I went out to the kithen on the hospital and found it. Some yellow lemonade. And a cake.
-I think he has pooed. Could you change his diaper?
I went out to the tidy room with the tiny body. Removed some dark, green stuff. Dried him. New diaper. Back to the room where my wife drank the rest of the lemonade.
-How are you, I asked.
-I think I`m getting back some strength, she said.
I watched out of the window. It was some chilly, easter sunshine out there.
-Is it ok if I take a walk outside, I asked. -I need some fresh air.
-I guess that`s fine, she answered.
I breathed the sharp air down to my lunges. Went down a steep pavement. Some cars roared up and down the road beside me. Quite unnoticed of what just had happened to me.
I came inside a shopping centre. Maybe I could find it here. Probably not. But maybe.
I went by a jeweller. Yes, I should go inside. I watched over jewells and rings. This one was nice. And not so expensive. I pointed at it. A woman took it up and put it into a small package.
Happily I kept on. Into a shop with electronics.
-Do you got the new iphone, I asked.
-No, those disappeared the same day they came in, a man said. -But within a month I think we would receive some new. Do you want me to put you up on a list, he asked.
-No thank you I answered.
It wasn`t possible. The phone was very hard to get. Maybe the best was to get back to the hospital.
I passed a new shop with electronics. Went in.
-Do you got the new iphone, I asked.
-Yes, actually, we got one left, a man answered.
-Do you really, I stuttered.
He picked up a box from the desk. And there it was. A brand, new iphone.
I came in to the room in the hospital. The boss was sleeping. My wife was reading a magazine.
-Was it nice outside, she asked.
-Mm. I bought you a present, I said.
She beamed up. Unpacked the small box.
-A gift of love. It`s nice, she said and kissed me. She looked at the jewel and scraped a bit at it with her nail.
-I bought something for myself, too, I said. -I came over the new iphone.
-Oh, really, she said.
I carefully picked the box from the bag. I was so thrilled when I started to open it.

Repair

She was lying pale in bed. The boss was sleeping in a small bed with plastic walls. The light from the window was easter-winther pale too. I was sitting by the end of the bed at a small table, eating a slice of bread.
The nurse came in.
-I`d like to see how things are, she said. -You got a quite nasty cut yesterday, and lost a lot of blood.
The night before, in a mess of a child crying, blood and a placenta, a doctor came in and sewed her. As far as I could remember.
The nurse investigated the mother. Then she turned towards me. I was still sitting at the table chewing the slice of bread. I looked to see if it looked ok, and as far as I could see, it was ok. I nodded to the nurse. But I wasnt quite sure what she said with her look towards me.