Big Daddy D -slow updates

Born Under a Bad Sign

Thunder and lightning raced across the sky as torrential rain pelted the city. The ambulance wove in and out of traffic trying to get to the hospital. In the back, a pregnant mother gripped the side rails and screamed with the contractions.

They were too intense. Too fast. Too close together. This child was nothing like the others. Her heart rate climbed higher and higher causing the machine to flash a warning. The frenzied voice of the paramedic sounded like he was wearing a gas mask instead of a surgical mask. His words were beyond muffled. Tiredness came over the mother and she felt the need to bear down.

The paramedic squeezed her hand. "Hold on. We're almost there."

"I gotta get it out." Ignoring his words, she pushed again. There was a sharp pain but she kept going. Inhale...hold....exhale and push. Unable to stop her, the paramedic began cutting away her clothing. He undid the strap across her thighs and removed her soaked leggins. He let out a low curse as he took a look and saw crowning.

"We've got no choice now. Looks like you're gonna have this baby in the ambulance," he gave her a reassuring smile. 

She didn't care. The pain with this kid was the worst. She just wanted it out. Her hands gripped the cold metal of the side rail as she sat up. The veins bulged in her neck as she pushed. 

The paramedic didn't even get a chance to grab a clean blanket before a very angry baby made its way out into the world with a loud cry. He shook his head and smiled. "Just couldn't wait." Reaching in the cabinet he suctioned the baby's mouth and nose and wrapped him in a blanket. "It's a boy."

She lay panting against the gurney, eyes rolling in the back of her head. "Anotha one." 

Without warning, something slammed into the side of the ambulance. The cabinets burst open as the bus tumbled, once, twice before coming to a full stop. Glass showered the road as the lights flickered on and off inside. The paramedic that had been driving was thrown from the bus. The mother was half hanging on the gurney with two straps holding her still in place. The paramedic that had been with her was curled into a ball with the new life in his hands.

The scene became chaotic like something out of a movie. Police, firetrucks, and ambulances were all over the scene. A semi-truck lost control and rammed into several cars including the ambulance. The driver of the semi was unconscious.

*****

Dayquan couldn't stop the feeling something bad was going to happen. There was blood on the sheet when his momma got off the bed when the ambulance came. His nana wasn't answering the phone. There was no one else to call.

He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. "Donnell, watch Deedree and Dazia."

Only eight years old, Donnell grabbed four-year-old Dazia's hand. "Where are you goin?"

"I'm goin' to find Jace."

Seven-year-old Deedree crossed her arms over her chest. "But momma said he was gone. And you know we not sposed to leave the house."

Dayquan rolled his eyes and grabbed the busted umbrella. "I'll be right back. Lock the door and don't let anyone in until I get back."

Donnell nodded to his brother. "Okay."

Dayquan ran down the stairs and out the building. His little heart pounded in his chest. He'd never been out at night. His mother told him it was dangerous. There were some men on the corner smoking. Not waiting to see what they were about, he ran as fast as he could to the shop Jace worked at.

Jace hadn't been around but he remembered the repair shop three blocks away where Jace worked. He ran by a bodega and a Jamaican restaurant. There was an overpriced thrift store and a hair salon. Across the street was a boarded up house that had caught fire a week ago and a shoe store that had been there since he could remember. Glass and paper littered the ground and in one alley he passed, someone had turned over the entire dumpster.