My
Journal
By
Harriman Nelson
31
Finally!
It’s been a week since I wrote my last entry. Just that little bit of
handwriting and bam! Emmie took me back to the Med Center to have my hand
looked at again, it was so hard to use it, even to zip up my pants!
I’d
‘aggravated the bruising’, as Dr. White had warned and this time put my entire
hand, including the fingers into a soft ‘cast’. Even Will, when Seaview arrived
back home, thought that had been a good idea.
I’m
afraid I gave everyone some grief, as I don’t feel complete unless I write, and
I certainly didn’t want anyone to take down my personal sentiments about
everything again, not that
Ames had written more than a kind of bare bones diary for me. My journal is a
‘me’ thing. Period.
White
and Will did prescribe a stronger pain killer. And as much as it was a blessed
relief, it made me so groggy that I wasn’t good for much at the office. So I
took a week off. Ames and Angie could certainly handle running things as they
already had before and after Lee’s wedding.
Emmie
and I had had Chip over for dinner the day after Seaview had returned, and we
spent a great deal of the time discussing what to get for the baby
shower, something Emmie insisted we help out with, especially as we’d be going
back to Washington for the birth anyway.
In addition,
some of the institute women were planning to take their vacations once we knew
a little more regarding the due date. It was still too early to tell.
Emmie
and I were enjoying coffee in the living room when we got bored with the
old movie on TV and switched the cannel to CNN, just to get updated on the day’s
news.
And we
hit the jackpot…
“….The
First Lady opened a hospital today, visited an orphanage, and attended a
luncheon with a branch of the DAR. It is unknown if she actually consumed of
any of the fare, as her alien predisposition against many Earth foods, plus her
delicate condition could make any such consumption difficult or possibly harmful. It
is known that she took along a Green Bean
Casserole courtesy of the White House, something she cannot eat, and some of
the alien food disks that she and Ambassador Numbers have in quantity…”
“She’s
looking very happy,” one of the reporters said as the montage played behind the
anchor desk.
“And
already showing," the other reporter said, "have there been any more specifics as to the happy day?”
“Not
yet….also today, the president announced that the previous scheduled talks with
representatives of various nations seeking recognition by the United States to
end animosities were cancelled by those nations. No explanation was given,
though it is believed that the departure of the aliens, along with
their technologies was a factor…”
“Also
today, amongst several of the cards and baby gifts that have been arriving at
the White House, all subjected to strict security inspections, there was one at
first believed to have been misplaced. A can of dog food. But before the can
could be deposited with the other gifts to the presidential pets, a note was
discovered on the bottom of the can addressed to Aurora Nelson-Crane. The
president and First Lady were understandably upset….”
“Oh
Gawd,” I groaned, as the broadcast went to commercials, “when will these idiots
quit harping on what they look like?”
I
reached for my cell phone and punched in Lee’s very personal and private
number, but he must have been busy as it was routed to the White House
switchboard.
“I’m
sorry, Admiral Nelson,” the operator said. “The president is unavailable at the
moment…may I take a message?”
“Er,
no. Yes. Just let him know we’re thinking about him and that Melody is looking
very well.”
“Certainly,
sir.”
Emmie
patted my arm as I hung up and watched a commercial about diapers. I was about
to ask her if it was a good brand
when the news returned….
“….Ambassador
Numbers, accompanied by one of the former SEA committee members and a Secret
Service agent, toured the Museum of Natural History today, and commented that
he was impressed with the variety of life our world had maintained for such a
long time and that it saddened him that some had become extinct. It is unknown if
any words had been exchanged between himself and Ronald Nelson, who had been
visiting the same place and had had to
answer the call of nature at about the same time as the ambassador needed to. But
neither said anything when they returned to the lobby, completely ignoring each
other….when asked what he, Mr. Nelson, thought about the dog food gift to the
unborn baby, he replied, and I quote, “Damned good gift. Wish I’d thought of
it.”
“Harry,”
Emmie grabbed my arm, “your blood pressure. Slow breaths, relax…”
“He
makes me so sick!”
“Yes,
and he’ll probably continue to do so. Just try to ignore him. He’s not worth
it.”
“I’m
so ashamed of him!”
“Most
of us are…”
“I
wish to hell I could have sued him. Made him lose my name. He’s an insult to
it.”
“Sweetheart,
there’s nothing you can do about it. Just remember you have another son. One we’re
both so very proud of. The new painting is going to be completed tomorrow. We
have that to look forward to.”
“Painting?”
“The official
presidential portrait, remember?”
“Ah,
yes, yes, of course, I’d forgotten about it.”
“Well,
real life can get in the way of such things.”
“Lee didn’t
want one,” I said. “He thought it was vain. But the West Wing said it was
traditional for all presidents to have one. He told Simpson just to snap a
picture. But Joe convinced him otherwise. So at least posterity will be pleased.”
“They
will, you know. He’s a good president, Harry.”
“You’re
right about that.”
Indeed
we're right about that.
He
called tonight. Wanted to make sure I wasn’t flustered about what Ronald had
said. And also told me that Melody was handling the insults better than he was.
Numbers had filled him in on what to expect as the pregnancy continued.
Apparently aliens have morning sickness as well. And cravings. Only there is nothing like the 'GumGum' from their world. Melody
was making do with
sweet and sour pickle juice on top of ice cream. Pickles and ice cream. The same type of weird food combination pregnant humans
enjoy. So our ladies aren't all that dissimilar after all.
.
I asked him what he might
want us to send for the baby, diapers, a pink dress, booties, or a saving’s
account, etc.
He laughed
and said to just write down the options, then jumble them up and pick one out
of the pile.
He
added that he was pleased that the cast on my hand had been removed after Dr.
White had seen it earlier this morning.
He knows just how much I value being able to keep a personal journal
now. I certainly wasn’t thrilled to begin with not too long ago.
And
so, I’m finishing up my journal for today. Oh, and I picked out booties
from the pile. So grandpa is going shopping tomorrow, online or at a store, I don't know yet. The thing is, what size? Extra
small, extra big, in between,etc.?I think I’ll buy all the sizes, just to be
sure. At least I know to choose pink, the traditional color for girls. It will go well with her hair as well.
