25.5.2009
ACT 10
ACT 10
http://www.netsaga.is/media/files/zoology3%281%29.mp3
It is often said that fathers dote more of their daughters than their sons. There is probably something in that. At least it was said of John that he was not himself for many days or weeks after little Steina was born. The birth happened somewhat unexpectedly. According to well-known indicators, the baby should have been born two weeks later than it actually was. This took John completely by surprise. He had gone to the Westman Islands to participate in an ocean fishing tournament. That evening when he landed at Fridarhofn smiling from ear to ear with the biggest cod for the round, a man stood on the pier and conveyed the news that John's wife had given birth to a child?a little girl. Instead of rejoicing over these tidings, as most fathers surely would have done, he got sick. He clasped his head and went pale. The messenger who brought him the news had to support John to keep him from falling flat on the pier. Hurriedly a doctor was called. John was rushed into an ambulance where an oxygen mask was put on his face, and then he was driven up to hospital. The next morning, he had recovered fully, and by about noon he had landed in Reykjavik. He rushed home, took a bath and changed clothes. He stopped by a flower store and, then, rushed up to the maternity ward. When got to his wife's room, he saw that Solla friend was there along with Didi Stina and Kalli Sandfeldt. John went to his wife's bed, looked at her for a moment, then leaned over her with tears in his eyes.
"Let's leave," said Didi Stina and pushed Kalli Sandfeldt out of the room. Solla friend whispered something into Violet's ear, then disappeared without looking toward John.
After a while John calmed down. He sat on a chair next to Violet, wrapped both arms around her and looked at her as if she were a magical being from another world. Happy and content, she smiled without being concerned much over his behavior.
"Have you seen the baby?" she asked smiling.
"No, where is she?" he asked.
"She was here just a moment ago," said Violet. "I was nursing her. She smiled so beautifully at Kalli Sandfeldt." Violet ought not to have said this. She saw that from the expression on John's face.
"What are they doing here ahead of all the others," said John, and the resentment in his voice was obvious.
"Come now, they're our best friends. You know that," said Violet and tried to calm John who had stood up. Later that day, John got to see his daughter. He even got to hold her. He sat on a chair next to Violet and looked variously at Violet and the baby with admiring eyes.
"Don't you think she's beautiful?" said Violet.
John was beside himself. "Beautiful," he said, "that is not the word. She's wonderful. She's a miracle."
He had to wipe occasional tears from his eyes. He handed the baby to Violet and watched her while she nursed her.
"She smiled at me," he said.
"Yes, she certainly is fond of her daddy." Then he started to cry.
"John, you're so sensitive," she said, "but it will be all right."
Mother and daughter came home two days later. John was calling from work at all times of the day to ask about the baby and to talk to Violet.
One day he said: "I was imagining: what if our little girl were dead."
"Why are you thinking about that," she said.
"I've written a poem about her," he said. "You must not get the wrong idea about the poem. I imagined that she had died."
She heard over the line that he had begun to sniffle. "How can it occur to you to think that," she said in a challenging tone.
"It's because I love her and us and also Paul."
He stopped talking and Violet listened. Then she said: "How does the poem go?"
"I've got it here," he said.
In the evening John came home and admired the little girl and played with her. Violet watched him and enjoyed seeing how this big, strong man could change into this humble, sweet person. When they had eaten and sat down in the living room, John took out the poem. Then he read it, and Violet watched him and listened.
Like a pearl
In my palm
Your life
Your smile
Your joy
Was snuffed out in the dark
In the dark
And I never saw you again
Vanished in the dark
Like the laughter of youth
Like joyous eyes
Like the heart in my breast
Your life
Was snuffed out in the dark
And still in the houses
People smile
Though your youth
Has stiffened in the dark
Though your eyes
Have failed
You who had
The sun in your eyes
People smile
In the houses
And no longer recall
That you existed
Why did you come
Into my palm
Like a little pearl
Into my life
Like a tiny prayer
Why?
He had finished the reading. Violet had watched him and sensed his feelings while he read.
"That was beautiful," she said. He dried his eyes, stood up and walked toward the window.
"Life is magnificent," he said. Then he went to her, sat down next to her, took her hand and said: "I love you Violet." Then she started to laugh. "What's so funny?" he asked.
She smiled at him and recalled something that happened the day they were married.