Bishop's Song by Joe Nobody Page A

wanted to work something out gave her a little time. At minimum, there would be talk before war.
    As word got around, all of the citizens of the Alliance exhaled, the burden of war lifted from their shoulders, at least for a while. Bishop wasn’t so sure, but kept quiet, not wanting to spoil the bonus to what had already been their best time together.
    The couple spent those heady days getting to know the newest member of their family, relaxing in the gardens and shopping in the market.
    On the second day of their hiatus, the doctor stopped in to check on mother and child. After a quick examination of both, he commented, “Time to complete an official birth certificate, that is, as official as any paperwork is these days. Have you two decided what are you going to name the baby?”
    It wasn’t a new topic, but a subject both mom and dad had discussed numerous times before the infant made his debut. They had reached an agreement – if the baby were a girl, Terri would choose the name. Dad would choose if the child were a boy.
    Despite that understanding, neither parent wanted to risk offending the other. Terri had helped Bishop narrow down the choices – two names she would willingly embrace.
    “Hunter,” replied Bishop, looking at his wife to judge her reaction. “I’ve always liked that name.”
    The doctor, wise to the intricacies of domestic relationships, didn’t write it down until Terri had nodded her acceptance. Hunter it was.
    The child didn’t seem to care what he was called, as long as Terri provided timely meals.
    “He’s just like his father,” she noted, cradling little Hunter while he nursed for the fourth time that day. “Fascinated with boobs.”
    “That’s my boy.”
    On the third day, Terri announced she was suffering from cabin fever. “Walking the hotel halls allows me to stretch my legs a bit, but I need fresh air and a real walk. I’ll be a little slow, but I’m going to get mean if I don’t get out of this building.”
    Bishop wasn’t sure Terri’s strolling outside was such a good idea, having witnessed the amount of blood and pain involved in childbirth and mindful of the natural twists and turns to the paths in The Manor’s gardens. Terri, as usual, prevailed. Betty served as babysitter while Bishop stayed close to his mate, still unsure of his wife’s equilibrium.
    The next day, she declared “retail therapy” was in order.
    “Okay, I’ll stay here with Hunter.”
    “Why?” the new mother had inquired.
    Bishop was nervous about the step. “Don’t you think it’s a little early to be taking him outside?”
    “He’s got to go out eventually. He seems healthy enough. Go find a stroller if you don’t want to carry him.”
    Shaking his head, Bishop replied, “He doesn’t weigh anything. That’s not my point. I worry about… about germs and such. You know, it is not like we can just head down to the corner drugstore if he gets sick these days.”
    Terri took her husband’s hand and squeezed lovingly. “He’ll be fine, Bishop. We’ll keep the sun off of him, and he’ll love it.”
    And so it was decided. The trio ventured forth on their first excursion as a family.
    Hunter was an immediate celebrity. When the family exited the front doors of The Manor, a wave of silence swept the market, all heads pivoting to see what the fuss was about. Moments later, a single soul started clapping, and the applause spread up and down the busy street. Bishop turned to his wife and whispered, “I know it’s been a while since they’ve seen me, but this is a little over the top.”
    Terri, despite having recently given birth, proved she could still punch with considerable force, her husband’s arm receiving the impact.
    Then there was what Bishop later coined, “ The press of flesh.” People, anxious to see the baby, began approaching from every direction, eventually forming a tight ring around the proud parents. Terri lost count of the hugs, cheek kisses and well wishes