Emily Mayfield, part 10: New Brother

Realizing that Suzanna will have to quit her job, both parents decide that it will be best to tell the kids right away. George is busy with his own life in college. What does he care?

Alex is self-absorbed and delighted to be so visible in high school. He is mortified that his parents, those old folks, have gotten pregnant, of all things! What will people say? What will his friends say? Besides that, why is Suzanna quitting her job, now? How is he going to get all the things he thinks he deserves?

Emily doesn’t feel much reaction one way or the other. Her mother will be home when she gets home from school, so that is a nice thing. Not until Suzanna begins to show does the whole issue of pregnancy become real to Emily.

The pregnancy goes rather well. Suzanna is surprised, and so is the doctor, that she has so little trouble. Alex is pretty testy during these months, but for the most part the family just ignores his ill temper. George, on the other hand, has a good sense of humor about the whole affair. He teases Suzanna about putting on weight, teases Robert by calling him the “old dog.”

Baby Jerry’s birth was easy for all. Quick, safe, simple, natural. Suzanna wakes Robert at 6:00 am, they go to the hospital in Gainesville, and the baby is born at 9:15. Even so, the requirements of the day keep Suzanna and the baby in the hospital for ten days. By the time Suzanna is allowed to come home, she’s weak and her leg muscles are atrophied. The baby is named Gerald Gregory (remember the movie?) Mayfield. Emily, seeing how weak her mother is, takes over the care of the baby. Robert does the house stuff, George does the laundry, and Alex mopes when he’s not at ball practice. But Emily takes little Jerry on as her own.

Emily’s freshman year in high school is also Alex’s freshman year in college and George’s senior year in college. George has decided to go to law school after his graduation, so is studying hard and getting ready for the LSAT. The Florida State system does not waive tuition for offspring of professors regarding law school. Money looms as a new crisis for the family.

(continued)