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Never The Same Again
Part 9
By: Ashley

“Are you sure?!” Lenny asked in a frenzy.

            “Oh, I’m … pretty sure.”

            “Come on,” he said, grabbing keys off of the coffee table.  “I’ll drive you to the hospital.”

            “In the ice cream truck?”

            “Nah.  I bought a Studebaker.”  They both walked to the door.  “Come on, Laverne.”

            She crossed her arms.  “I ain’t comin’.”

            Lenny shook his head.  “Well, I ain’t leavin’ ya here.”

            “I said I’m not comin’!”

            He walked over to the sofa, picked her up, and threw her over his shoulder.  “You’re comin’.”

            At the hospital, they waited anxiously.  The doctors had taken Shirley back at least fifteen minutes ago.  The smells of must and either wafted about them in the harsh, fluorescent glow of the waiting room.  Finally, a doctor walked out.  “Family of Shirley Meeney?” 

            “Here!” Lenny said, raising his hand.

            The doctor, a dark haired man of about thirty-five, approached them.  “I’m Dr. Richwood.  Are you Mr. Meeney?”

            Lenny shook his head.  “Nah, I’m just a family friend.  Mr. Meeney is overseas.  How is she, Doctor?”

            “Well, she’s in labor alright,” he answered, matter-of-factly.  “She’s also a month early.”

            “A month?  Isn’t that dangerous?” Laverne asked.  Lenny was taken aback.  This was the first time tonight Laverne had shown any sign of compassion towards Shirley.       “Well, it’s not good, but it could be a lot worse.  We’re taking her back to delivery.  She’s already dilated to seven.”

            “Whaddya mean, like her pupils?”  Lenny asked.

            Laverne shook her head.  “Never mind, Len.  Look, Doc, can I go see her?”

            “Well, we only allow one person back there at a time – does she have a Lamaze coach coming?”

            Lenny and Laverne looked at each other. 

            “Don’t look at me, the only thing I ever coached were the little league bowlers,” Lenny said.

            “She ain’t got nobody comin’,” Laverne told the doctor.  “Can I go be with her?” 

            “If it’s alright with Mrs. Meeney, I certainly have no problem with it,” he said.  “Follow me.  You’ll have to put scrubs on.”

            “That’s all right, Doc.  I wear ‘em to all major events in Shirley’s life.”

            Shirley was damp with sweat and blanched with pain. 

            “Shirl?!” Laverne asked, rushing in.

            “Laverne?” Shirley asked.  “What are you doing back here?”

            “They said you’re allowed to have one person back here.  If you want ‘em.”  Laverne paused.  “But, if you don’t want me, I can leave…”

            “No, no, no,” Shirley said between breaths.  “I want you to stay.” 

            “You mean it?”

            “I don’t really know.  I’m in so much pain right now that a family of monkeys could be back here and I really wouldn’t care.”

            “Shirl, I’m sorry … about what I said.  You’re not a jerk and you’re not fat.”

            “Wrong.  I am fat.”

            “Yeah, but, you can’t help it.”  Laverne smiled.  “You’re havin’ a baby, Shirl.”

            “I feel like I’m havin’ a boulder.  And you’re right, Laverne.  I haven’t been the best friend.” 

            Laverne shook her head.  “Ya have, ya have.”

            “No, Laverne.  I haven’t.”

            “Look, Shirl, we don’t gotta talk about this now.”

            “No, we do, because, Laverne, there’s something you’ve gotta know.”

            “What’s that?”

            “I wasn’t ignoring you.  I wasn’t trying to hurt you.  It’s just, well, Walter and I have been … well, we’d been having problems and we decided it was best to call it quits and …”

            “What?!”

            “The divorce isn’t final until next month, though.”

            Laverne’s eyes grew large.  “You’re havin’ a baby, here!”

            Shirley began to cry.  Whether it was from immense physical pain or emotional trauma, Laverne couldn’t exactly figure out.  Maybe it was both.  “I know but, Laverne, things just weren’t right.   I can’t exactly explain…” her words were cut short by a piercing scream.

            “She’s in pain!” Laverne shouted.

            Three hours later, a disheveled Laverne, complete with dark bags under her eyes, appeared through the swinging doors.  Lenny looked up, smiling.  But Laverne wasn’t smiling.

            “Well?!” Lenny asked, jumping up from his seat.

            “It’s a girl,” Laverne said solemnly.

            “A girl?!  Hey, that’s great!  A girl!  What’d she name her?”

            “Nothin’ yet.”  

            “Laverne, what’s the matter with you?  They’re both okay, aren’t they?”

            She had started to cry. 

            “Hey, hey,” he said, leading her to a chair.  “Sit down.  Tell me, what’s the matter?”

            “Shirley’s runnin’ a fever.  Some kind of infection.  They put the baby in the ICU.  She’s so tiny, Len.  But she’s so pretty.  ‘Cept for the jaundice.  But she’s just beautiful.” 

            “Has Shirley seen her yet?”

            “Only for a few minutes.  They wouldn’t let her see her when they found out she was sick.”

            Lenny sighed.  “They’re gonna be okay, though.  Right?”

            Laverne stood up.  “I’m going to the chapel, Len.  I’m gonna pray.”

            He stood up as well.  “You mind if I join you?”

            She forced a smile.  “Nah.  They need all the prayers they can get.”