Jimmyís Girl
Sandra Epperson

ìSee your daughter? I thought we could name her Molly after my mother. What do you think?î

Jim glanced at the infant with angry blue eyes and grumbled, ìMolly is fine.î

ìWhatís wrong with you?î Nola cried.

ìNothing.î Jimmy paced the hospital room.

ìThen why are you sulking around this room? You havenít held our baby, our daughter, yet.î

ìWhy should I? She will be held and doted on enough by you and your mum. She doesnít need me.î

ìOf course Molly needs you. You are her father!î

Leaning over her bed, Jim whispered, ìAre you sure I am?î He caught her hand mid-slap. ìWhat would I do with a girl? Can she hunt? Fish? Run dogs? No. I have no use for her.î

ìHow can you say that? Look at her ñ really look at her. Who knows what she will be one day. Hold her.î Nola held the baby out in hopes that Jimmy would take her. When Jimmy turned away, Nola nestled her daughter close again. Nola knew he wanted a son, but what could she do?

ìWhy? What difference does it make? You got what you wanted. You got your daughter. Leave me out of this.î Jim reached for his hat and coat. ìI need a son. Someone to carry on the family name. A boy to teach about the world, to do things with. Not this . . . this . . .î his voice trailed off.

ìYou could protect her. Teach her about the world,î Nola pleaded. ìShe could be the best thing that ever happened to you if you would only let her. Molly will need to learn about how men should treat her. Fathers teach that.î

He settled his hat on his head and strode out the door of the hospital room not bothering to shut it behind him. Looking through the tears in her eyes, Nola softly whispered to Molly, ìHow could he feel that way about you? Once he holds you and sees what a beautiful girl you are, heíll change his mind.î We are married after all, she thought; Iím stuck with him. Then, she realized, I have no choice. Mum always says itís the wifeís job to keep a happy home.

As Jim drove home through Chicago, he thought about the ride to the hospital. After taking Nola to the hospital, the nurses sent him home because the labor with the first child often takes a while. There was no point in waiting in the waiting room, besides he had worked all day. There was no telephone call to tell him that his child was born. There was no phone. Not everyone had one in their homes in the early thirties. The hospital had to send a police officer to Jimmyís home to tell him that his child was born.

Once he found out that his child was born he raced all the way to the hospital, bursting with dreams he had for his son. All Jim could think about was watching his boy, grow into a man. Jim dreamed of teaching him to clean pheasant and quail. His boy would learn how to train hunting dogs and would work them with Jim. He thought wryly, so much for that.

When Jim arrived home, he angrily paced his living room. He had a daughter; somehow, he would have to face that fact, he thought. He needed a drink. The refrigerator was empty. No beer. Nola wouldnít allow hard liquor in the house. So, he went for a walk ending up at his local pub.

ìGimme ënother pint,î slurred Jim as he pounded the bar. That was probably the last thing he needed. Jim had too many already. Staring into his pint, he was remembering how he and Nola first started dating. She worked in the diner near the docks. He had gone in for dinner after a tough day at work.

ìHallo, Jimmy, the usual?î asked Nola, with a hint of her Irish brogue, as she poured him a cup of coffee.

ìHallo, Nola; sure,î Jim slumped at the counter staring angrily into the filled cup. His dark hair was disheveled, and his blue eyes tired and angry.

ìWhatís the matter, Jimmy Boy?î Nola asked, with a flirtatious grin. Nola was like a ray of sunshine on a dreary day; her bright green eyes glowed when she smiled. All the men from the docks wanted to get to know Nola much better. A wisp of her curly red hair had gotten loose from the hair net she had to wear in the diner. What the young men Jim worked with would give to get their fingers in her hair and their lips on hers. Jimmy adored her and became annoyed when the other guys at work would make lewd comments about wanting her. If she only knew how much he loved her. ìWhatís the matter, Jimmy?î she asked again, more seriously.

He looked up and into her soft, caring eyes and smiled. ìAw, Nola, you know I canít stay angry when youíre around.î He smiled in his roguish way; his eyes now twinkling, ìMarry me.î

ìNow Jimmy, you know we havenít even gone out together.î

ìHow about tonight? What time do you finish here?î

Jarring Jimmy out of his memory and back to the pub, the bartender, Patrick, replied, ìJimmy, I think youíve had enough.î Jimmy became angry he wanted another pint of his favorite lager. Thinking it over, Patrick asked, ìYou driviní?î

ìNah, you know I juss live up the road. Know better than ta drive.î Patrick slid another pint in front of his friend.

ìSo whatís bothering you, Jimmy?î Patrick asked.

ìNothiní I can talk ëbout now,î Jimmy said as he gulped down the pint then tried to stand holding the bar for assistance. He weaved toward the door holding whatever he could reach to keep from falling. Once outside, Jimmy just about knocked down Mary Kate as she was walking past the pub.

ìWatch where youíre going! Whatís the matter with ya?î Mary Kate said angrily. Then, she took a second look; ìJimmy?î She had known Jimmy almost all of her life. They went to grammar school together and had always enjoyed each otherís company. With another look at him, she realized just how drunk Jimmy was. ìJimmy, what is the matter? Iíve never seen you like this.î

ìI dunno.î

ìWhereís Nola? Is she all right? Is the baby all right?î Mary Kate asked concerned about her friend. She and Nola had become fast friends when Nola and Jimmy began dating.

ìYeah, I guesso. Theyíre at the hospital.î

ìHospital? Jimmy, whatís going on? Why is Nola at the hospital? What happened?î

ìShe had . . .,î Jimmy held his head in his hands, ìshe had a girl. We named her Molly after Nolaís mother.î Jimmy said angrily.

ìThatís wonderful! When was she born? You know theyíll keep ëem in the hospital for quite a few days. Are they both all right? Jimmy, is the baby healthy? Thatís what really matters yíknow. Mother and baby being healthy and all.î

ìYeah, yeah so they say. Why did she have to go and have a girl? I need ënother drink. Letís find a place.î He said putting his arm around Mary Kateís shoulder. They walked. Mary Kate held him up for a few blocks as the headed toward Jimmyís house.

ìYa know, Iíve always liked ya, Mary Kate. Ever since we were lilí kids. Come on . . . we can finish what we started behind the shed that day fifteen years ago,î an impish grin came to his face. Mary Kate blushed. She knew the best thing for Jim was to get him to bed but not for what he was proposing. Mary Kate had no desire to come between Jimmy and Nola. Hopefully, he would just collapse and fall asleep. She guided him up the front walk to his house. They went in. Stumbling he pulled her toward the bedroom. Mary Kate helped him with his coat and shoes. Jimmy fell into bed and immediately to sleep. She carefully covered him, kissed his forehead, and let herself out of the house locking the door behind her.

At the hospital, Nola was still rocking and cooing to Molly. Her precious daughter would grow into a strong, smart woman. Nola wished Jim felt the connection to their daughter as she did. What a beautiful little girl they created. Since night had fallen, the nurse came to get Molly from Nolaís room. Racked with the hopelessness of her marriage, Nola sobbed finally falling to sleep.