Never again

Marie needed to get to the hospital, and fast!

Oh dear! cried Marie, clutching her middle and looking around desperately

Marie clutched her middle. She felt absolutely awful.

She made her way out of the department-store restaurant as quickly as she could and hurried towards the lift, trying to ignore the pain. But, as always, there was a queue.

Oh!' she moaned quietly, as she waited.

But not quietly enough. The man in front turned to her.

`Are you all right?' he asked anxiously.

I just¼ I just need to get to the hospital quickly,' she said, as the lift arrived and the doors opened.

Let this woman through!' he cried. We' ve got to get her to hospital quick!'

Everyone around looked really concerned and the people who' d just arrived in the lift rushed out.

The man quickly led Marie into it and pressed the button for the ground floor. Then they stood there. The lift door seemed to take an age to close. Marie glanced at her watch, unbuttoned her coat and groaned again.

What is it?' the man asked. What' s wrong?'

I' ve got to get there before the baby comes,' Marie said.

I' m not sure I' m going to make it.'

Panic was written all over his face.

Oh my God, of course¼ Your coat, I couldn' t tell,' he said. Do you want to sit on the floor?'

Marie shook her head.

In my condition, I might not get up again,' she told him.

Of course¼ he pressed the lift buttons again and again.

Marie leant against the wall of the lift. As it started to descend, she felt terrible.

Never again,' she muttered with real feeling.

Oh, don' t worry, it' ll be fine, I' m sure,' the man said, trying to reassure her. When' s the baby due?'

Marie groaned and looked at her watch again. It had only been 60 seconds since the

last time she' d looked.

`Any time now,' she said. He went pale. Wait there, I' ll get you an ambulance,' he said, as the lift doors opened. He ran out, hesitated, then turned, almost bumping into her.

No, you' d better come, it' ll be quicker. Whatever you do, hold on!'

I think a taxi might be faster than calling for an ambulance to come all this way and pick me up,' said Marie, following after him as quickly as she could.

They rushed out on to the pavement. But just when she needed one, there were no taxis to be seen.

Oh dear!' cried Marie, clutching her middle and looking around desperately.

Don' t worry,' the man said. I' ll get you there, I promise. Just hold on.'

And with that, he stepped right out into the traffic, waving his arms about frantically. There was a loud screech of brakes, honking of horns and he nearly got run over. But not quite.

An irate driver wound down his window as the man rushed round to the driver' s side of the car.

It' s an emergency!' Marie' s saviour cried. This poor woman has to get to hospital. Fast! Her baby' s due any minute.'

The driver gazed across at Marie. She stood there, clasping her coat to her, looking worried. Then he waved for her to get in.

Marie gratefully opened the passenger door and climbed in.

Which hospital?' he asked. St Mary' s!' Marie cried. Please hurry, I haven' t got much time.'

With a squeal of brakes, the car pulled away and weaved its way through the traffic, its horn blaring. And then there was another sound a siren. Marie looked around.

Oh no! she thought. The police!

A motorbike overtook them, blue light flashing, and pulled them over.

The young policeman glared at the driver as he walked slowly up to his door.

Are you aware of the speed limit round here, sir?' he asked, bending down as the flustered driver quickly wound down his window.

It' s an emergency!' the driver told him. This poor woman' s expecting a baby. I' ve got to get her to St

Mary' s hospital without delay.'

It' s going to arrive any minute,' Marie added.

Ohhh¼'

The policeman' s frown changed to a smile.

Don' t worry, I' ll get you there in time,' he said. I' ve always longed to do something like this. Just stick with me.'

He ran back to his motorcycle, jumped on, started his siren and roared off into the traffic, blue light flashing.

Marie and her driver followed in his car. It was wonderful. Vans and lorries cleared before their eyes, cars steered over to the side of the road, only too eager to get out of their way.

Can I use your mobile?' Marie asked, seeing his phone on the dashboard. I could warn them at the hospital that I' m on my way.' Of course,' he said. She dialled the hospital and got through to maternity.

It' s Marie Briggs,' she said. I' m on my way in, I should be there any minute.'

In fact she was there in less than two minutes. The police escort left them at the entrance to the hospital car park.

Maternity' s round the side,' said Marie, pointing the sign out to her driver.

The man drove to the doorway, parked on double yellow lines and rushed round to open the passenger door for her.

Thank you so much,' said Marie, climbing awkwardly out.

Are you going to be all right?' he asked, anxiously.

Yes, thanks to you,' Marie said. You' re so very kind.'

Not at all,' he grinned. Helping you in your hour of need and having a police escort has made my day. Do you want a hand going in?'

No, I can manage, thanks,' Marie replied with a smile. OK. Good luck,' he said. Thanks,' Marie called over her shoulder, as she hurried through the hospital entrance.

It was quite a walk down the long corridor to the maternity reception, and Marie was panting when she arrived.

The nurse on the desk looked up at her and smiled.

Oh, Marie. You made it in time!' she cried.

Just,' Marie said.

The nurse followed her into the side room.

You were certainly cutting it a bit fine,' she remarked, glancing at her watch.

Never again,' Marie said. What?' asked the nurse. Never again am I going to do this. I' ve learnt my lesson this time.'

You said that last time.'

But this time I mean it,' said Marie, taking off her coat and hanging it up, before grabbing her bag from a locker and disappearing off to the ladies to quickly get changed.

You' re here!' exclaimed Dr Kelsey, as he walked into the side room just as Marie re-emerged. I just don' t know how you manage it. This is beginning to be a bit of a ritual with you, isn' t it? Yet again you' ve been all the way into town, shopped and had a three-course lunch in your favourite restaurant all within your lunch break, and even managed to get back just before the first baby is due at your postnatal clinic at two. Why on earth do you do it, Nurse

Briggs?'

Marie winked at him. Because I love the special lunch deal at the Roof Top Terrace Restaurant so much,' she said, smiling and easing her belt out a notch or two so that it wouldn' t hurt. As always, I' ve eaten far too much, but the food was delicious and so worth the slight touch of indigestion! Who was it who said that big girls don' t have fun?'

And then there was another sound a siren. Marie looked around. Oh no! she thought. T he police!