Just About To Break

That Gig was present at the conception was a given. The child Laura would soon give birth to was his and no mistake. The young couple were inseparable for the first six months of their relationship, rarely being out of each other's sight. The intensity of their passion invited the belief they would be together forever. They had so much in common, clothes, music, films and a liking for the same pubs which is how they met and took up with each other. Before long, Gig had given up his one bedroom council flat and moved in to Laura's more spacious house, bought and paid for by her parents who had no desire to watch their only daughter struggle on the property ladder. Gig moved all his belongings, including Doobie, his labrador, into the house and made himself at home.

Laura had only recently lost her job and was claiming benefits, Gig hadn't worked for over a year, not legally at least and he too was on the dole.For the first month or so, the only reason they left the bedroom was to eat, wash or walk the dog. The rest of their time was spent discovering and rediscovering one another's bodies, they simply couldn't get enough; no one else mattered, to the point where Laura's mother stopped calling.However, the lady in question soon took to calling again as soon as the morning sickness started, clucking around like an old mother hen..

After six weeks or so, the couple started going out again, renewing their aquaintance with the pubs and clubs they enjoyed so much. The bedroom still had a major role to play in their lives but not quite to the same extent as before. Between them, they worked a scam with the dole whereby Gig was a lodger and Laura his landlady, allowing Gig to claim rent on top of his benefits. They went so far as to kit a bedroom out to look like he slept separately from Laura, in anticipation of the inevitable visit from the dole to check out his story.With the extra money coming in, they were able to afford some drugs for the weekend but both gave them up when they found out for sure about the pregnancy. At first, they still went to the pub on the weekend for drinks and to socialise, but the morning sickness could strike at any time and inevitably they would end up leaving early. That's when their friends, mainly Gig's, started bringing the party to them, calling at all hours of the day and night.

This suited them both for a good while but with Laura's mother making herself welcome once more, the odd crack began to appear in their relationship.First came the silent meals, then day after day of monosyllabic grunts in place of conversation.Gig took to going out on his own, he would take Doobie at first, staying away for hours on end. He wouldn't come right out and say he thought Laura's mum was there too much and was interfering. Neither would Laura, she had the good sense to realise her mother would be indispensable when baby made an appearance and kept her mouth shut tight.

Gig began taking Doobie for his constitutional,then letting him in the front door before disappearing for hours. By the time Laura was six months gone, they were more or less living apart. Gig would turn up for meals and to take the dog out. Not every meal, nowhere near every meal, Laura suspected he was being fed elsewhere since she couldn't see him losing any weight. She also suspected he was partaking of his more basic needs elsewhere too, since they no longer shared a bed.

Eventually, they decided to part. Laura agreed to keep Doobie until Gig could find somewhere suitable to live, as long as he called to exercise him, the pregnancy wasn't sitting too well with her.It was coming close to the time of the birth, Gig waited around the corner until Laura's mother drove off then called in for Doobie. Cynthia, a friend from across the road, was making Laura a cup of tea.

Gig greeted them both and was almost out of the door with the dog when Laura announced her waters were just about to break. Then, almost in the same breath she announced this had indeed taken place, she was about to go into labour.

Cynthia took immediate charge, Gig was ordered to provide hot water, clean towels, hold Laura's hand, mop her brow, talk to her and to get rid of that damned dog.This he did without question, buzzing around like a discontented wasp. Twenty minutes later he witnessed the birth of his son. Ten minutes after that, he was cradling the child in his arms and savouring the 'shit, I've missed it' look on the newly re-entered Laura's mother's face.

This day would live with him forever, no mistake.Now, Something else was just about to break, peace and goodwill to all men... and, begrudgingly, Laura's mum. He passed her grandson to her and turned to help Cynthia attend to his woman, feeling quite sure he wanted to call her that again.

- THE END -