Inheritances

THE RED THREAD 

 

The baby is pushed out of its mother's womb into a strange new world. It makes piercing, squealing sounds that are ignored by the doctor, nurses who move quickly, practically by rote, to take care of the newborn. Thru her spread legs, her head moving side to side trying to clear her thinking, Kelley Bogovich manages to mumble, Where is my mother? I need her now! Is it over? Do we have a son?' and drifts off without hearing where her mama is or the 'yes.'

 

Her private room is waiting for her and so is her lover, her Douglas. As soon as the door knob clicks, he opens it all the way, waits only long enough for the dozing Kelley to be transferred to her slightly tilted bed before he kisses her forehead and sits beside her, waiting for their son to come in. Kelley stirs, feels the hard bed with her hand and wants to get up. 'Get my mama. I promised her.' 'Lie still, Kell. Everything is fine. Our son should be with us in a few minutes. Close your eyes. I'll wake you when he gets here.'

 

'Get up, get up, Kelley. Here's Edward.' The nurse holds him so mother and father can get a good look. Doug gasps when he sees a thin red line going from the baby's almost bald head down to his chin. Silent question marks move from his eyes to the nurse who puts her index finger over her lips to tell him to shut up. The nurse raises the bed high enough for Kelley to sit almost normally, puts the baby in her arms and says, I'll be back in a few minutes,' and leaves the three of them alone. Douglas cootchy coos him, doesn't mention the red line, nor does Kelley. He feels the tiny feet, smooths his forehead, touches his little belly button that protrudes maybe more than it should. 'Douglas, call my mother. I promised her.' 'Kelley. You must still be drugged. Your mama passed away about ten years ago. Don't you remember? Tears form and Kelley us sobbing when there is a light tap on the door that doesn't wait for a 'come in.' Dr. Mansfield, the pediatrician, lifts Edward, puts him back in Kelley's arms and asks, 'Are you having him circumcised, Mr. Bogovich?' The question startles the new parents. Doug asks first, 'Why? We hadn't thought about it.' 'No particular reason but your name sounds perhaps Hungarian or Russian and I thought you may be Jewish.' The Bogoviches don't bother giving an answer. Instead they ask questions. 'Is our son okay, is he healthy? Does he have the right number of toes and fingers?' Kelley wants to know why her mother isn't here. ' How long do we have to stay in the hospital?' There is some hesitancy in the doctor's reply. 'We will check your signs tomorrow morning, Kelley and if all is as good as I expect it to be, you may leave after lunch.' The baby has to stay for a few days while I consult with a specialist about the red line on his face. I am not worried but want it checked.' Kelley forgets for a moment she just had a baby and sits up straight in bed, with fear in her voice, she asks Dr. Mansfield, 'What red line? I don't see a red line.' Doug keeps his mouth shut and waits for an answer.

 

'Look, carefully, Kelley. Don't you see it? Doug, do you see it? Sit up straight, watch my finger.' He traces it while Kelley stares at his every movement. 'No, I don't see a red line. I see hair on your knuckles. It is not a pretty sight. And you have a brown spot on the sleeve of your white coat. Maybe you need glasses.' Doug can't restrain himself and agrees with the doctor. He sees the thin red line.

 

'Doug, darling. Is my mother really gone? I dream of her so often I swear she is alive. Tomorrow when I get home, open the safe Mama had in her room. She told me not to open it until I have a baby. We have one now. The code is in a small white box in my father's old closet, in his straw hat box. Could she possibly have left her first grand child a million dollars?' They both laugh but inside wonder if that is what is in the box. It feels empty. Kelley takes off the scotch tape that is crunchy, has no stickum left. The box holds one thing, a letter from her mom.
'To our darling daughter, Kelley,

 

You are only six as I write to you but will be a grown, married woman, with a child of your own, when I explain why I never mentioned my secret. You know your grandparents, great and great, great grand- parents  were from Russia. A family trait has followed us for generations. Almost every boy baby is born with a thin red line on his face from his scalp to his chin. Each parent fears the mark of our family. Crazy Russian words are said, candles are lit but the trait goes on. If you have a son, do not despair. It will lighten and by the time he is three or four and it will be gone..

 

You may never see it. Kelley never does. Doug does and his family is from Scotland.