Golden Gooses

21

     Evan would continue to sit in his room, reading the assortment of books on his nightstand as he waited for his parents to notify him that dinner was ready. He was completely absorbed in his books, oblivious to the passing of time. It was only when he ran out of books to read did he realize how long it had been. He hopped off his bed and walked over to his window, where he drew back the curtains and saw the pitch-black night sky as the streetlights flickered on. He looked towards his door, thinking. Dinner's never taken this long, we've never had dinner this late either. He thought. With all the peculiar things happening and changing in his life, he worried something bad had happened. He cautiously crept to the door, hesitant to open it. He gathered up the courage and slowly creaked it open. He peered between the wedge in the door, still anxious about going outside. He could see all the lights off in the kitchen and living room, and his parents were nowhere to be seen. He sighed a breath of relief, assuming they had just gone to sleep and forgotten about dinner. If they didn't make dinner, I can eat those leftovers, he thought as he left his room. He headed over to the fridge and opened it when he heard groaning and crashing from their room. He quickly closed the fridge, his suspicions being correct. He approached their door, putting his ear to it to listen. It sounded like things in their room were being knocked over, as the muffled sounds of someone cursing obscenities filled the room. Evan backed away from the door, just about to open it when Timothy burst through. He was carrying Miranda princess-style as she gripped his shirt, mumbling in pain. He glanced to the floor, seeing Evan looking up at him dazedly. "No time to explain, just put your shoes on at the door and go!" He directed, already rushing out of the house. Evan quickly shook himself out of his shock, following his dad. He threw on some slides and quickly skittered down the steps to their house. Timothy had already opened the car door, placing Miranda in the passenger seat. Evan quickly hopped up and into the backseat. Timothy fiddled with the keys, his hands unsteady as his vision unfocused from the frenzy. He finally grunted as he jammed the key in, immediately stomping on the gas and speeding onto the freeway. 

     "Daddy, what's happening?!" Evan asked, frightened by the situation. "Y'know how Mommy told you she's baking a baby? Well, it's time for the baby to come out of the oven, and we need to go to the hospital where they can take the baby out with the right oven mitts." He explained calmly without looking at Evan, a complete contrast to his frantic and erratic driving as he swerved and weaved between cars. Miranda wailed in the front seat, doubled over in pain as she gripped her stomach. Timothy popped the glove box open, pulling out some tissues and handing them to Miranda to bite down on. "Can't have you cursing like a sailor now, you'll mess with Evan and the baby!" He chuckled before suddenly veering the wheel to the left and pulling into the hospital parking lot. The car lurched forward as he leaned on the brake and halted it. He leaped out of the car, opening Evan's door because of the child safety lock. He ran to the other side of the car, nearly tearing the car door off its hinges with how aggressively he opened it to get Miranda out. He dashed into the hospital with her in tow, still groaning as she clenched down on the tissues. Evan jogged behind, panting. He kicked the door in, his hands being occupied with Miranda, shouting. "I don't mean to be a bother but my wife's going into labor!" He exclaimed, catching the attention of multiple hospital staff. They rushed over as he lowered Miranda into their arms. One nurse held her as another came over with a stretcher. They lied her down and wheeled her into the labor ward. Evan could do nothing but watch as Timothy held his hand and whisked him away as they followed briskly behind the nurses.