A Golden Opportunity

We’re sitting having supper and Mum is putting her foot down. This conversation has been going on for weeks and she’s had enough.

‘She’s four weeks old!’ she says to Alex. ‘She needs a name.’

‘Your mum’s right,’ says Finn, shovelling a forkful of peas into his mouth and earning himself a smile from Mum. ‘We can’t just keep on calling her “Baby” all the time.’

I say nothing. Bad-News and I have come to an understanding over the last few weeks. I’ll look out for her and keep her safe, and be there to rescue her when Mum and Alex are being grown-up and boring and won’t let her do anything cool – and she’ll make a real effort to stop being such a drama queen and screaming the place down just because she’s a bit bored or has a wet nappy. I think it’s going to work out for the two of us. And I’ve kind of got used to calling her ‘Bad-News’ too – I think it suits her. My mood ring has been brown for days now and I know that our home is the right place for Alex and Bad-News to be, safe here with us. There’s a lot to be said for brown: it’s safe and comforting.

‘You and Charlie have got to register her birth by the time she’s six weeks old anyway,’ Mum continues. ‘You need to choose a name, Alex. It’s not fair on the poor child.’

Alex groans and looks at Finn for support, but he just shrugs at her and keeps eating. He still spends most of his spare time at our house; it almost feels like Bad-News brought Finn back to us.

‘Fine,’ says Alex theatrically. ‘It’s just such a big responsibility. I want to get it right.’

‘Of course you do,’ says Mum, trying (and failing) to sound sympathetic. ‘But you’ve had a while to think about it. Didn’t you and Charlie talk about baby names when you were in Switzerland?’

Alex grimaces. ‘Seriously, Mum, you do NOT want to hear his suggestions! Poor kid will be a laughing stock if he gets to name her.’

‘All the same,’ says Mum, standing up, ‘he’s her dad and you need to make this decision together.’

Mum starts to stack up the supper plates and Finn gets up to help her. Bad-News is squawking in her chair so I go over and pick her up and bring her back to the table.

‘What do you want to be called?’ I ask her.

‘Why don’t we all make a list of suggestions?’ says Mum, turning to look at Alex. ‘Tell Charlie and invite him here for supper tomorrow night. Let’s have a naming party and get this sorted once and for all.’

Alex looks worried.

‘I suppose we could,’ she says. ‘But I’ve got very firm ideas about what I want her name to represent.’

‘I’m sure you have, darling,’ mutters Mum and I see Finn trying not to grin. ‘Well, tell us what you want and we’ll all get together tomorrow and choose her name.’

‘OK,’ says Alex, sitting up straight and ticking off each point she makes on her fingers. ‘Well, she’s definitely going to be creative so I want a name that represents imagination and creativity. And life isn’t always easy so I want her to be brave – she needs to have courage.’

‘That’s lovely,’ says Mum, looking a bit pale, but Alex hasn’t finished.

‘She’s unique, one of a kind, so we need to choose something that demonstrates those qualities. And she’ll definitely be independent: she knows her own mind already so her name must help her to always remember how strong she is and to trust in herself.’

‘This is reminding me of that bit in Sleeping Beauty when the fairies all give Princess Aurora different gifts like being beautiful and good at singing,’ I say. Alex scowls at me, but Finn bursts out laughing and Mum looks like it’s taking all her effort not to join in. I grin and hug Bad-News closer to me.

‘And lastly,’ says Alex loudly, making sure she has everyone’s attention, ‘her name must mean that she’s always loved and reaches her full potential in life. And she must always, always be happy!’

Alex sinks back into her chair. Mum wipes her hands on a tea towel and clears her throat.

‘You don’t think that’s quite a lot to ask from a name?’ she asks Alex gently. ‘Your name means “defender or protector” and I’ve always loved that, but you’re so much more than just the meaning of your name. Don’t you think you should choose a name that you and Charlie both like and that suits the baby?’

We all turn to look at Bad-News who chooses this moment to sneeze, screwing her face up hard and making herself look utterly ridiculous.

‘Oh, I don’t know!’ groans Alex. ‘Maybe you’re right. Just find some names and we’ll choose tomorrow. You’ll come, right?’ She says this last bit to Finn who looks startled but pleased.

‘If you want me to,’ he says.

‘Well, you’re virtually part of the family which means you’re part of her family – so you can come as long as you bring a list of names,’ Alex tells him.

‘No problem!’ says Finn, his eyes lighting up and, as soon as the washing up is done, he says goodbye and heads home, and I know he’s going to spend hours trying to think of the perfect name for Bad-News.

Alex goes to phone Charlie and tell him the plan and I cuddle the baby for a little while longer, wondering what name I would give her if I had the choice. I think about Alex’s crazy list of qualities and suddenly I know. I look at Bad-News and can see immediately that it would suit her completely brilliantly.

When Alex comes back into the kitchen, she takes the baby and I go upstairs to find a piece of paper and my old set of paints.