Peace in Panic | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Peace in Panic | Previous Challenge Entry
By Graham Insley
05/08/14
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"Peter, it's time!"

Without a second's hesitation the expectant father puts practice into action. He springs to his feet, reaches for the remote and trips over the coffee table. The cup and saucer become airborne, the remote slips from his fingers and bounces under the sofa and he falls full length into an ungraceful dive onto the floor.

"Peter, did you hear me?"

"Yes, Helen, I'm coming."

Ignoring the mess and following the carefully laid out procedure, Peter heads up the stairs to help his very pregnant wife down to the car. Stay calm, Pete my lad. The last thing you need now is to panic and fall up the stairs.

The young father to be is doing fine until the last step. His big toe hits the top edge of that step -- pain shoots down his foot, up his leg and out of his mouth, "Ouch!" Without thinking, he grabs his foot in both hands, loses balance and falls forwards in a heap on the landing.

"What's wrong, darling? What happened?"

"It's nothing sweetheart, just stubbed my toe is all."

"Ohh, don't rush Peter. You know we have to stay calm. Don't rush it they told us."

"Yeah, I know, but it's exciting Helen. Our first little un."

"Yes. Get my bag now and help me down the stairs."

Peter yanks the handle of the case and pulls if from the bed -- only Helen hasn't closed the clasps. Nightwear and underwear fly around the room. Toiletries, make up, magazines and a couple of books spread around the floor and a set of coming home clothes join the mess.

"Ohh, darling, slow down for heaven's sake."

Without missing a stride, Peter flips the offending container on the bed and starts ramming things back into place -- only what fitted into the space before no longer seems to agree to the same arrangement.

Placing her hand in the small of her back, Helen gives a small groan of pain which is quickly replaced by an uncontrollable giggle. "Slow down, Pete. It won't fit like that. Here let me help you."

Smiling and making fun of her husband, her huge belly making every movement difficult, Helen repacks the suitcase and, once finished, pats her husband's cheek, "Come on, darling, we can go now. But let's slow down a bit, hey."

They make it down the stairs and all the way to the car before the next disaster strikes. The car doesn't start.

"Peter, you knew that battery was playing up. Why didn't you replace it already?"

"Oh, darling, I didn't want to spend the money; you know, we're gonna need some new clothes for baby and I felt..."

"Come on, we'll worry about that later. Like, it's half ten, we need to get to Clair and the car won't go. What're we going to do?"

"I know! I'll knock on Adam's door. It's his day off and he'll be home. I'll borrow his wheels."

"Hurry up then."

The first few knocks bring no reply, so Peter knocks harder. The reply that does come is from an upstairs window across the road. "Shut thou bloomin' row. People tryin' to sleep over here, I's on niteshif'."

"Sorry Stan. I'm trying to get Adam. Helen's time isn't far off and we need to get over to the midwife, but battery's dead."

"Oh aye, wai' a minute lad. I'll bring down me keys, yous can take mine."

"Cheers Stan, you're a life saver."

"Here go, kid. Only don't go speedin' and having no bash up. Let's know how yer go."

Peter pulls up out the front of Clair's place without any more problems and they are soon sitting on Clair's lounge laughing about it all. "It's good you told us to practise this, Claire. It was a right shambles from start to finish."

"Well now, remember you'll be doing it for real in a week or two. Make sure you get that new battery. And best do some study on Mark 4:39; "and He said to the sea, Peace! Be still! And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."

"Yeah, I know, my panic turned it all into a shambles. I was just too excited."

"Come on, darling. We need to return Stan's car and clean up the mess in the lounge room."

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