It Can Always Get Worse

Chapter 1

      Mr. Cobb tossed and turned as the wooden framed bed creaked beneath him. He reached for his watch and strained to make out the time through the dim moonlight that filled the room. It was three in the morning and for the third night in a row, he couldn't sleep. He slowly removed the sheets and sat up trying to be as quiet as possible. The cold, damp wooden floor was uninviting and he wished he could get back into the warm sheets but he couldn't. He had a lot to think about and time was running out. He glanced at his wife soundly sleeping on her side, his eyes fixed on her swollen belly that was now very visible through her nightgown. His mind went back three days ago...

      It had been a long day at the shop; his pompous, stingy boss pushed him around all day while he sat legs across on a stool reading the paper. His customers were demanding, constantly finding fault and always looking for a bargain. He sat quietly in his workroom trying not to explode, counting the hours before he would be free. The clock struck five, he hurriedly gathered his worn out leather bag, dusted his hat and started making his way home. The sun was a bright orange hue in the horizon when he finally saw the small cottage he had made from scratch in a distance, smoke coming from its chimney. This was the time of the day he loved the most. He couldn't wait to sit by the fire on the rocking chair he was so proud of and read a few more chapters of the Bible as Deb sat beside him knitting the rainbow sweater he dreaded to be forced to wear come winter.

       He sensed something in Debbie's voice as she greeted him, her face soft, eyes puffy, like she had been crying. He hadn't seen this face often in their fifteen years together. Once it was because she found their hen killed by a neighbors' dog, the other time, some romance novel had her depressed for days. Unlike him, she had a sensitive soul. He wondered what was wrong this time but decided to wait until she said something. Dinner was silent but he didn't mind until she blurted out two words that changed everything: "I'm pregnant".

       They spent hours talking about kids during the first year of marriage and both agreed that they couldn't afford any. Too few of his pieces of furniture got sold and the next year, he had to find employment. Since then, he felt like a caged animal not able to create from his heart, always having to yield to the demands of his employer. The land their house was on was leased and he barely had enough to pay for rent and put food on the table. Deb tried to help, digging out a vegetable garden in the tiny backyard but she wasn't much of a green thumb and wasn't used to such work. It simply wasn't the kind of life they wanted to raise a child in.

       Mr. Cobb got out of bed and made his way outside through the back door where Kobe lay fast asleep on the step. The night was so calm and peaceful; he wondered when he would feel such peace. Only two months to go and he would be a father and all he could think about was "How? How would he provide for his family? How about doctors' fees, the baby's clothes, the rent?" And then came all the "what ifs'...what if the baby got sick, what if Deb got sick". Lost in these thoughts, he felt so helpless and lost, he looked to the heavens desperately and said a silent prayer. He promised God to work hard, to be a good father and husband and he begged for His blessing. He asked for wisdom, for strength and for peace. A unique calmness came over him and he smiled. He knew God would take care of them as He always had.