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Sleepwalker

It’s a hot night and tomorroe move from the house with the blue door that I’ve co about Blu a word or phrase now and then, wondering if eventually he will talk, but fearing he will never be noret so Dipper, Orion’s Belt, and the Seven Sisters Those are the only constellations I know in an infinite universe with stars that go on forever The wind in the big oak rattles dry leaves, and I forget about the chiggers and lie down in the grass

I have always been humbled when I look up at the heavens We think our probleer and everyone on this planet has proble alive

A few minutes later, I hear the creak of the screen door and watch as Dr Blu johns, steps out of the house Maybe he’s co and I’ school, never wake a sleepwalker The patient can get violent if disturbed (David Myers, my late husband, would be a case in point When I woke hihost, the doctor shuffles right towardup at the sky Is he conscious enough to wonder about the stars, like I do? When he’s only a few feet away, I shrink into the ground, pretending to be a log, afraid he will step on host plunks down next to n

I’ what I should do, lie still or try to creep ahen he reaches both arht up toward the sky and opens his hands, like he’s harvesting stars, plucking theer yet, he cups the stars and washes his face with theht on his face and runs his hands through his hair Then he takes a deep breath and, still in his sleep, holds the stars out totime, maybe hours, until a sliver of ins to snore and I reen quilt and co a

20

The Midwife’s Instructions

"Just tellbraver than I really feel, "what I’o to a birth I’ll write it all down and memorize each step"

We’ve been installed in the Hesters’ house forin bed, as she should Dr Blu pictures for Danny in a sketchbook that Daniel gave hi serious "Mrs Kelly always told me that most mothers could deliver their own babies if they had to, so try not to worry so ht have trouble"

"Two out of ten!"

"Well, roughly So, here’s what you do First thing, check the baby’s heartbeat After that, make sure of the baby’s position I always keep the wo as she can stand it The pain will be less and the contractions stronger Do vaginal exa if you aren’t sure about the presenting part and maybe another if the labor seeloves should be sterile, but you know that"

"Okay, okay," I interject "Letas fast as I canSo after I assess that everything is normal, what happens next? Do I just sit in the corner and wait? Do I boil water? Do I go to sleep?" I say this as a joke, knowing Patience would never go to sleep

"No You give her support Walk with her, be sure she is well hydrated and has nourish heavy like bread or pork and beans, but fruit, broth, tea with honey, things like that And get your instruments laid out well in advance Sometimes women will surprise you"

"I learned that with Dahlila"

"And while you’re waiting, be calh"