Date unknown

She was awake — her eyes open gazing at the ceiling which was stark disinfected hospital white. Of course, that’s right, it had all started in the morning when she had been leaning over the fence in the back yard talking to Mrs Hope when suddenly she came over giddy and something inside her jerked rather painfully, and she felt sick, as the baby inside her made its first strong move to enter the world. She remembered Jim had been simply wonderful — it was a real stroke of luck, that just that morning he didn’t have to be at the factory till 10.30am.

It was all going to be fine. That was until they got to the hospital and they told her that the kid wasn’t doing what it should and they would have to operate. It wasn’t as if she minded being cut open. But kids should be born as they were supposed to be.

Suddenly she realised what had happened. She had had a child her first her own child. Wonder whether its a boy or a girl, hope it’s a girl.

‘My baby where oh where is my baby.’ The nurse looked grave but produced an efficient smile — your baby will be coming soon its a girl.

‘Oh’ wonderful relief. ‘But why cant I see it now? Why isn’t it here?’

‘Your husband’ the efficient smile said firmly. ‘Your husband — he’s waiting outside. I’ll tell him to come in I’m sure you’d like to see him straight away.’

‘Bella’ he said taking both her hands. ‘Bella dear.’

‘Jim where’s our baby where is our little girl?’

A look of anxiety was visible in Jims eyes — but was replaced almost immediately by a look of strong determination.

‘Bella darling I want you to be very brave indeed.’

Hold on tight to his hands hold on tight so you cant fall, so you dont scream its dead as loud as you can.

‘No its not dead but our baby is not made quite as it ought to be. You see Bella its bodys all right, fine in fact, its just that, well you see it has two heads.’