CHAPTER 44

“I just don’t know how I feel about this.” Unis waved her hand in the air as if to brush away an upsetting thought. 

Mort sighed again. “But EmT’s come such a long way, and Ethyl Esther says she thinks he could handle at least chopping onions.”  

“Mort, do you remember what happened last year when you gave him that whittling set?  Ten stitches, Mort: ten.”    

“But this is different, Unis, really.” 

“And who told you to give him that knife?” Unis continued as if he had said nothing at all. “Honestly, Mort, sometimes I think you only use half your brain,” her voice softened a bit, “I know you want him to be challenged, but use a little sense for goodness sakes.”  

Mort hung his head and pinched the bridge of his nose; the memory of the emergency waiting room was unforgettable. Sometimes just thinking about about the smell left him struggling to breathe. It was not an experience he wanted to repeat. But he felt sure about his son.

“Now Mamma Eagle,” he said wrapping his arms around her. “It’s time to let your baby leave the nest. You mustn’t get so upset about every little setback, Sweetheart. It will be different this time, I promise.”

Unis rested her face against Mort’s shoulder for a moment and he stroked her hair. “Don’t cry, Honey, EmT’s ready, I know it.” But Unis raised an amazingly dry-eyed face to look at him.

“And that’s another thing,” Unis said, tapping her forefinger on his breast bone. For a moment Mort held his breath.

 “My son’s name is Emmet Tyler, and I think you should stop calling him that stupid nickname. You keep saying that I’m the one who has to let him change, but you need to change that.”

Mort pulled her into another hug. “Yeah,, you’re right.” he sighed. “It’s just gotten to be a habit.” Unis kissed him softly on the lips. 

“Well stop it,” she said