Read On Loving Josiah for Free Online

Eve, he’s feeding from you in his sleep.’
    ‘But he can’t be hungry again!’ exclaimed Eve, suddenly looking weary.
    ‘It’s OK, love, I’ve given him my finger, he likes that.’
    ‘Bless you, Gibson!’ and she took hold of his other hand and held it in hers. ‘I can tell, you’ll be a much better father than I will a mother. Perhaps we should bottle-feed him.’
    ‘No, no, that won’t do, you feed him yourself, Eve. Little Jo, he’s a dear’un. He’s sucking so hard, Eve.’
    But even Gibson’s little finger was a large, alien object; a lined, dirt-filled, unsterilized, frightening thing which made a nurse cry out in horror.
    ‘No! No! Take that out! That’s a new-born baby!’ she cried. And when Eve looked indignant she went on, ‘Your husband’s hands are filthy!’
    ‘My husband is a gardener, thank you very much,’ declared Eve, quite calm, ‘and Josiah is a gardener’s son. Earth was coursing through his veins in utero , so a little in his mouth certainly won’t harm him.’
    The other mothers in the ward momentarily looked up in shock or admiration; but the poor nurse blushed angrily and left. She went to see the ward sister, and the ward sister wrote a note down in Eve’s file.
    ‘Now, about Josiah’s baptism, darling. We must really try to get it right. The first thing we must establish is whom we should pray to, and the second, what we should pray for. Does that seem about right, Gibson?’
    Eve began to think, smiling benevolently at anyone who had overheard her. She didn’t notice her husband who was stirring uneasily.‘Now, you’ve already said “no” to Judaism, which I respect, Gibson, I respect! But you can’t go wrong with the Holy Spirit, can you? He should be dedicated absolutely and one hundred percent to the Holy Spirit! Hand him over, Gib. Now, where’s that vodka? We’ll baptise him in Spirit itself.’
    ‘But we don’t have a priest,’ said Gibson, plaintively.
    ‘A priest?’ Eve was contemptuous.
    ‘You need a priest for baptism rites. I know you do.’
    ‘A priest is the archetypal middleman, creaming off a disproportionate amount of the profits. We certainly don’t need a priest. Even Luther would back me on that point.’
    ‘He’s so hungry, Eve. Don’t you think you’d best feed him?’
    ‘Oh, hand him over then, goddammit.’
    It was the second feed of Josiah’s short life, and Eve grudgingly gave him her breast.
    ‘It’s not natural at all,’ she said. ‘If it didn’t have milk in it, I’d think it was a male conspiracy to make us women behave like this. I feel like a cow.’
    ‘A cow’s a noble creature,’ said Gibson, ‘and Jo’s happy.’
    ‘You, Gibson, are a noble creature,’ and Eve leant over and kissed him on the forehead. ‘So you won’t mind taking over from me quite soon, will you darling?’
    Gibson looked anxious.
    ‘Now,’ continued Eve, ‘We have to think of three virtues to give Josiah at his baptism. Or do we want him to have any virtues at all? Gibson, do we want him to be good?’
    ‘He’s good already,’ said Gibson, stroking Josiah’s head.
    ‘A good, solid romantic, that’s why I love you. The goodness of the innocent, versus the corrupting forces of our so called civilization . I do so think you’re right. So, allowing that he’s good, we must pray for three special gifts. I suggest beauty. What do you think?’
    ‘He’s beautiful already,’ said Gibson.
    ‘Beautiful, do you think?’ Eve promptly removed Josiah from her breast so she could take a good look at him. ‘You’re right again, Gibson, we made him beautifully, didn’t we, you and I?’
    ‘You go on feeding him, Eve,’ said Gibson, and Eve did as she was told.
    ‘Well, if he’s good and beautiful in his fourth hour of life, what has he got to strive for? Now, Gibson, should we have him as the object or subject of sexual desire?’
    ‘Poor little mite,’ said Gibson.
    ‘Or do you think it’s preferable to be neither?