An awesome colored sketch by Aimee of Lydia, a mother and patient of Kyle Waltman. Lydia's very expecting with her first child, a son her husband and her had named Bruce.
-- Start Story Snippet --
Lydia yawned softly, waddling toward the teacher's lounge. Valentine's Day was yesterday, which felt strange - even though her husband pampered her, preparing a very romantic evening. Truth be told, he had a way to make her feel even more beautiful in her current condition then she had felt in the last couple of months - and it was nice. Candlelight dinner... watching a romantic movie on the couch, unmentionable fun after the movie... The pygmy hippo blushed a little at the thoughts, pushing the door to the lounge open. Her kindergarten class would be in a few hours, and she always liked to have a little time to get herself hyped up enough as well as prepare through Mrs. Ketterman's lesson plan.
"Lydia?! OH MY GOODNESS MOMMA!" a familiar voice shrieked from the lounge as a small ringtail cat came running up to Lydia, blocking the doorway as she immediately put her hands on Lydia's large belly with a rapidly growing grin. Lydia recognized her friend Kate, who was a fellow substitute teacher - though their paths crossed occasionally, it had been a while since they had talked face to face. Long enough for there to be certain details to get missed... like a rather big baby hippo nearly in launch position.
Lydia blushed, letting the small ringtail cat fawn over her for a moment before she said, "Kate! It apparently has been a while... surprise?" She watched the ringtail cat look up at her, mouthing the words the hippo stated as if she lacked comprehension of their meaning before returning to her baby fan-boyish behavior.
"Honey, last time we talked - I know you were thinking of....I can't believe it! Look at YOU!" Kate exclaimed with a wide grin, "...when...you?" she managed before Lydia guided them out of the doorway, to a nearby set of chairs. An older lady bear came in, looking at Lydia for a moment as she heads to the fridge - putting her lunch away in the staff fridge.
"When...will the fun begin?" Lydia eases down onto a chair. Her hips tended to hurt these days, and her morning was - so far - pain free. She was not eager to get it started, but it felt good to sit - if only for her knees' sake, "My official due date is March 16th... weekend of Parent-Teach conferences and start of Spring Break"
"Teacher, through and through" the older bear lady stated, getting a cup of coffee from the coffee maker. She smiled back to the two. The older teacher came over, "I've seen you around, deary. Filling in for Mrs. Ketterman. When I was younger, I worked on my family through my early career. In my day, they usually wanted you at home when you lost your waistline... no burgeoning bellies."
Lydia blushed a little, "...I am glad to be working up to when little Bruce shows up... I'd go nuts at home." rubbing her hands over her belly.
Kate pet Lydia's belly, "Its soooo close... what hospital will it go down at? That way, I can swing by with some chocolate and contraband for ya. See the little guy, congratulate ya?"
Lydia blinked, looking a touch unsure what to say. Her exact birth plans weren't really stuff she talked with anyone about, and she knew that it wasn't something everyone understood. It was a lot to explain, and she wasn't exactly sure how to explain it.
The older teacher stated, "I know in the old days, you have a baby - you went to St. Paul... or HCMC. There is that new hospital in Burnsville, what is it... MeadowBridge?" sipping her coffee.
Kate says, "Yeah, I've seen it, so are you gonna have the baby there?"
Lydia thought for a moment before she sighed, "...n...not really. I...." as she fought for the words, the others unknowingly cut her off.
"What about St. Francis? They are a nice clinic out there, I think they deliver babies too" Kate offered. Kate lived in the inner city, so she was more familiar with Richfield, Bloomington, and the big inner city hospitals. Great facilities, but Lydia had no intention of going to them either, Mr. Waltman could only practice at MeadowBridge - and that was only if things went pear shaped for her....
Lydia shook her head, shifting in her seat as her baby kicked her in the ribs. Things were crowded in there, and the pressure from her colleagues and friends weren't helping. She finally stated, "No... I..am not having my baby AT a hospital... I'm seeing a midwife..."
The older teacher groaned, "Oh Lydia... I've had babies... it hurts, you'll want the drugs. It's not an iron man competition... take the drugs, flirt with the cute guy who makes your pain go bye-bye... it's an American Tradition"
Lydia sighs, rubbing her belly frustratedly as Kate says, "Never pegged you or Brent as at home hippy parents, don't you live in a condo? That's gonna make a mess, not that I'd know..." The pygmy hippo looked at the older bear teacher lady before looking over at Kate.
"Honey, that shit is dangerous... having babies is hard...and dangerous... doctors are good at delivering babies, they an make it so you don't even feel any pain, why would you want to risk things?" the older bear teacher asked.
"I'm not having Bruce at home... my gods... that would be a horrible mess. Brent would puke. My neighbors would have me evicted! There is a clinic, the Burrows...where my midwife delivers babies... I've seen it, its like a block from MeadowBridge and it felt right" Lydia explained, a bright blush showed in her face. Her plans, her thoughts, laid out for the casual person to pick apart.
The older teacher just shook her head, looking beyond words, muttering to herself, "...I guess people just have to be different?" before taking a large sip of her coffee - as if only to keep her opinions to herself.
"So... not at home....a clinic near the hospital. Does this midwife deliver there? Made a pretty awesome impression?" Kate asked.
"....Yes, he did." Lydia nodded, her blushing still quiet fiercely.
-- End of Story Snippet --
© 2012-2023 R.J. Dobbs as registered with the US Copyright Office. Duplication or use of this material without express permission is prohibited except as permitted by law
Keywords
female
1,079,832,
commission
104,049,
pregnancy
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teacher
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kate
815,
conversation
326,
lydia
155,
pygmy hippo
128,
midwife
33,
aimee-lesley-sim
30,
waltmans women
20
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1 year, 8 months ago
25 May 2023 09:50 CEST
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