Murphy - A Wise Child

For Ted and all our family, with love.

Foghorns boomed eerily from the ships in the River Mersey and the November fog swirled around the tiny terraced houses close to the Liverpool docks. In the bedroom of the end house of a terrace a girl lying on the bed suddenly cried out and an old woman turned up the wick of the oil lamp.

The light fell on the girls white face and large terrified eyes and when the old woman bent over her she gasped, Oh Janey, Im so frightened.

No need. It wont be long now, Janey said and the girl began, I dont mean but she was interrupted by the pain. She closed her eyes and clenched her teeth, pulling hard on the roller towel tied to the bedrail at the foot of the bed.

When the pain receded she opened her eyes and whispered timidly, I mean it coming early. If only I was sure it was Sams baby.

The old woman shrugged. Wont make no difference, Nellie. Could be Sams early or Leadbetters late but whos to know? Sam hasnt got no mother or sisters to be counting up the months for him and the other fellow doesnt know nothing about it.

I wish I wish Id told Sam about Mr Leadbetter, Nellie murmured and Janey said sharply, Now dont start that again. Keep your mouth shut and dont spoil all I done for you.

I know, Janey, Nellie said weakly. It must be Sams though, mustnt it? Its nearly ten months since since Mr Leadbetter did that to me.

Aye and only eight months since you was married to Sam, Janey said grimly. And dont you forget it was me fixed that for you. Youdve been in Queer Street without me, with your ma dead and your da jumped ship in America. No bloody money coming and the state you was in an now youre whingeing wanting open your bloody mouth to Sam. I shoulda let you get took to Ann Fowlers Home for Fallen Women.

Nellie had turned her head on the pillow, tears trickling from her eyes as the old woman ranted at her. Shes talking as though she thinks the babys Leadbetters, Nellie thought, but she felt too weak to argue with the old woman.

The pain came again and again and with each bout she grew weaker, yet the birth seemed as far off as ever. Suddenly there was a clatter of boots on the stairs and when Janey opened the bedroom door a young boy said breathlessly, Mrs Nolan told me to go for the nurse and she said shed be here in a minute. Is our Nellie all right?

Yes. Maggie Nolan wants to mind her own business, Janey snapped. Sadie McCann cant tell me nothing for all she calls herself a midwife. Have you seen Sam?

Hes in the Volunteer with Charlie West and some mates off an Elder Dempster just docked. He told me to tell him when its been born and he can come home, the boy said. Janey thrust her face close to his. Dont you go for him until I tell you. Dyou hear me now, Bobby?

All right, Bobby muttered, trying to peer past her to see his sister but she shut the door firmly and went back to the bed.

Bobby says Sams in the Volley with some mates. Ill make sure hes too fuddled to do any counting before I send for him, she sniggered.

Nellie said nothing. She seemed to have drifted too far even to hear Janey, but the next moment there was a commotion downstairs, and a buxom midwife bounced upstairs and into the bedroom.

She seemed to take in the situation at a glance and her face grew red with anger as she examined the exhausted girl. Why wasnt I sent for before this? she demanded, as she stood with one hand on Nellies swollen stomach and the other on her pulse.

She turned away from the bed to whisper angrily to Janey, Shes very weak. How long has she been in labour?

A while off and on, Janey said evasively. Shes so little and thin and she hasnt been able to keep nothing down for months, thats the trouble.

Theres something wrong, the midwife said. I might have to get the doctor. She turned back to the bed as another contraction convulsed the girls body and gently wiped her face. Its all right, Nellie love, she soothed her. Dont worry. Ill look after you.

Mention of the doctor seemed to have alarmed Janey and she began to sidle towards the door.

Where are you going? the midwife asked sharply.

She doesnt need me now youre here. Its got nothing to do with me. Im only the lodger, Janey muttered.

Stay where you are, the nurse snapped. The doctor might want to talk to you.

Nellie moaned weakly as another contraction began and the midwife said in a different tone, Come on now, love. Dont fight the pain, Nellie. Go with it. Its a big one. Now, Nellie, now, love. Push hard, bear down hard, love.

Nellie tried to obey and as she cried out the babys head appeared. The umbilical cord which should have been his lifeline was around his tiny neck, huge and engorged, throttling him as he was thrust into the world.

The midwife slipped her finger beneath it and with an expert flick jerked it over his head. The child emerged blue and apparently lifeless but the midwifes care was chiefly for the mother. Janey lifted the tiny body and placed him on the cold top of the rickety washstand, pushing aside the basin and ewer, as the nurse worked swiftly with Nellie.

The midwife glanced round at the child then said urgently to Janey, Here, you finish clearing up, and going to the door she yelled, Bobby, bring me hot water in the panmug, quick. Swiftly she poured cold water from the ewer into the basin, then plunged the babys body into it.

The boy stumbled upstairs with the panmug, steam rising from it, and the nurse indicated the space beside the bowl. She tested the hot water with her elbow then plunged the childs body into it then back into the cold water. Over and over again she repeated the process, only pausing at intervals to smack the tiny body.

Dont, dont, Nellie whimpered, but the old woman watched silently. The nurse seemed to be tiring, her movements becoming slower, then she held the child up by his heels and gave him a last hard despairing smack.

A thin reedy cry broke from the little boy and Janey exclaimed, Bloody hell, its alive!

Nellie held out her arms eagerly, but the midwife slapped the child again then laid him down on the bed and rubbed strongly at his body.

Only when the childs breathing had become regular and some pink colour had crept into his skin did she wrap him in a blanket and place him in his mothers arms.

Isnt he lovely, Nellie said, a smile on her tired face as she cuddled her son. She looked up at the midwife. Thanks Nurse. Thanks very much, she said fervently.

A pleased smile spread over the midwifes face as she pulled down her sleeves and buttoned her cuffs. Well, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesnt, she said. He should be all right now, but he must be kept warm.

A drawer had been made ready as a makeshift cradle and the midwife took the baby from Nellie. Ill put him in this while I have another look at you and make you comfortable, she said, but then youd better keep him in bed with you. He needs the warmth of your body.

Janey was grumbling to herself as she pottered about collecting the soiled bedding. The nurse winked at Nellie but only said, Another boy! My word, 1920 has been the year for boys. Ive hardly delivered any girls. Dr Wilson says its to make up for all the lads killed on the Western Front.