Bridge to a Distant Star - Carolyn Williford [118]
It was the second week in May, another night when Michal slept fitfully, the nightmare visiting her repeatedly. But it was more, too, odd noises in the night just beyond waking—a sense that things were off somehow.
The sound of a baby’s cry awakened her.
She opened her eyes in the dim light of early morning, curious and confused. Looked over at Beth.
“Michal. Look what I found.” Beth held out a squirming, mewling—it was too tiny and pathetic to be called a cry—baby toward her, a look of pure awe on her face.
Immediately jolted into full wakefulness, Michal sat upright and leaned over the bundle. Peered down into the pinched, red face. Took in the tiny fists that waved precariously about in the air, appearing to be looking for someone—or something—to blame for its predicament. A wispy thatch of wet hair—dark brown? It was too wet to tell—curled around its tiny head.
“What do you mean you found it?”
“Outside our window—I found it there. Didn’t you hear it crying?”
Michal shook her head. As much to answer no as to shake off the sense she was still asleep and dreaming.
Beth hugged the baby against her chest, cradling it while she cooed, attempting to quiet its cries.
“We’ve got to call the resident advisor. What am I thinking?” Michal reached over to squeeze Beth’s arm. “We’ve got to call 911, Beth. The baby has to be examined. Make sure it’s okay. And they need to find its mother.”
Beth rocked the baby, its cries subsiding somewhat.
“Beth. Are you listening to me?”
She gave Michal a glance of annoyance. “I’m trying to get her calmed down. And warm.”
“Her? How do you know it’s a she?”
Beth grinned. “I checked, silly. How do you normally tell?”
“But … does she have a diaper on?”
“No. Not really.”
“Not really? What was she wearing when you found her? They might be able to tell who the mother is from those clues.”
Beth mumbled something, holding the baby out from her, peering intently into the tiny face.
“Beth. Stop a minute and talk to me. This is serious.”
Her head jerked up, the previous near ecstasy changed to irritation. “I know this is serious, Michal. But don’t yell or you’ll make her cry again. Can’t you see I’m just trying to soothe her, make her feel loved? Where’s your concern for her, anyway?”
Chastised, Michal was quiet a moment. “Sorry. But I’m going to use the phone in the lounge to call 911. And then the RA.” She put on her robe, taking time to tie it securely. Assuming they’d be overrun with emergency personnel—all too quickly. “Times like this I sure wish one of us had a cell phone. Now, what do I tell them? Maybe you should call?”
“No. I’m not putting her down right now. Not after everything that—”
“Okay, okay. I’ll do it. But come out in the lounge with me, just in case they ask something you need to answer, will you?”
But as Michal reached for the door, Beth still hadn’t moved.
“Beth?”
“Go ahead and call. I’ll be there in a sec.”
Frustrated, Michal rushed to the phone and punched in 911. She was relieved to hear a calm voice on the other end.
“You’ve reached 911. What’s the nature of your emergency?”
“My roommate—Beth Elliott’s her name—just … she just found a newborn baby outside our dorm room.”
“What’s your name, please?”
“Michal McHenry.”
“Michal McHenry? Did I hear that correctly? Michal?”
“Yes, it’s spelled M-I-C-H-A-L. But I’m a girl.”
“That’s fine, Michal. I just needed to get that straight. And what’s your phone number there?”
She repeated it carefully and gave their address.
“That’s McMaster’s Bible College? Peterson Dorm. Seven three one Mill Street? Correct?”
“Yes, and we’ve got a newborn baby here. Someone left the poor thing outside.”
“You said your roommate found the baby. Is the baby breathing normally?”
“She seems to be fine. I mean she’s fussing and waving her hands around.”
“What’s her coloring like, Michal?”
“Her coloring? Well, she’s kinda red. And pink.”
“And your