A Miraculous Event

THE FIRST SON

A MIRACULOUS EVENT
Together we walked through the night. And shining brightly the moon perfected her job. She spoke softly: “I am pregnant and just only engaged”. Jokko turned faded: “Dinkie, what will happen now, we still have three months to go at school and our final exams”. “Dear friend , I wouldn’t know”. In 1955 this was a disgrace, a huge disgrace, even when you were officially engaged. How do you tell your parents, who lived according their rules of class, rank and good education. The future father was safely at sea, far away. Jokko stayed with me and we talked in a whisper well into the night, putting together a scenario.
One loving moment, the first time,ending with this result. After Jokko left for Leiden, I waited until my grandmother, who was staying with us for the weekend, had arrived. Deep in my heart I didn’t think it was a problem, it was a miracle that took place. Then it was Saturday. Nervously, during happy hour, I blurted out the news. A bombshell hadn’t possibly given a worse reaction. My parents were furious, it was so bad, that my mother even used physical violence.
It became so bad, that I fled, not forgetting to take some money with me. By bus I went to my best friend Ginette, sobbing all the way. Her father, who was also at home said: “Dear child, you can stay with us for as long as you need to”. In their beautiful villa in Wassenaar, was enough space. Angela, her mother, said: ”you can even have the baby here, no problem”. I then cried from happiness and relief. I thought I had to sleep under a bridge without food, drink and money.
As I have been staying over there lots of time, I adjusted myself easily to their routine. Finally, after three days my mother called and told Angela that she wanted me to come home, promising that they would discuss the matter with me in peace. At home all was quiet and everything was arranged. I had to go back to college and prepare for the final exams. As soon as the father of my baby would be home again, we had to marry straight away. Everything was all planned with his parents as wel. So my little embryo went to school with me, which gave much hilarity, and also took part in the exams and passed it with me with flying colours.
Then after tree months the father was home and we got married, it was a beautiful wedding with hundreds of guests in the magnificent Townhall in Wassenaar. Afterwards we had a big party in our garden and my parents were very satisfied then. And so after nine months, the first miracle came into my life, my son. I was just overly nervous about the sudden total responsibility for such a small, helpless and dependent creature, day and night. That pressure was enormous, gigantic, but also very nice. And now on my 74th year it became a lifestyle.
Dinkie