Chapter 3 Chapter two

In 1939, New York City was the mecca of the theater world.The Great Depression is over.President Franklin D. Roosevelt promised that nothing to be feared but fear itself would make America the most prosperous nation on earth.The same is true of the actual situation.Everyone has money to spend.There are thirty kinds of plays on Broadway at once, and every play is a sensation. When Toby arrived in New York, he had only one hundred dollars in his pocket from his mother.But Toby firmly believed that he would make a fortune, he would become famous.Then he was going to take his mother and they would live together in a beautiful top-floor room.She can go to the theater every night to watch the audience applaud him.Right now, he had to find a job.He went to the stage doors of Broadway theaters and told people how he had won amateur competitions and what a talent he had.But everyone pushed him out and ignored him.During the period when Toby was looking for work, he often sneaked into theaters and nightclubs to watch the performances of first-class performers, especially those who performed by comedians.He saw performances by Ben Bloom, Jo Lewis and Frank Faye.Toby knew that one day, he would surpass all of them.

He ran out of money.He got a job washing dishes, and every Sunday morning, when phone bills were cheaper, he called his mother, who told him about the uproar caused by his escape. "You should see them," his mother said, "that policeman comes here every night in that police car of his. They come in in such a way that people think we are all bandits. He repeatedly Ask, where have you been?" "How did you answer?" Toby asked anxiously. "To tell you the truth, ran off that night like a thief. If I could catch you, I'd break your neck myself." Toby burst out laughing.

By summer, Toby managed to find a job as a magician's assistant.This magician has a pair of round eyes, and he can tell at a glance that he is a quack with no skills.When he performed magic tricks, the name he used was .They performed in some second-rate hotels in the Catskill Mountains. Toby's main job was to remove some heavy standing props from Merlin's car and put them back on, and take care of some live props-six white rabbits, Three canaries and two hamsters.Toby had to live with the props because Merlin was afraid they would be "eaten".The house I live in is as big as a cupboard.Moreover, in Toby's memory, the whole summer was spent in a foul smell.It is very difficult to lift the heavy cage, and the cage also has interlayers and bottom unloading for juggling, and those "living props" often take the opportunity to escape.At this time, Toby will keep chasing this and catching that, which makes him exhausted.He is often in a very tired, lonely and frustrated state.Sometimes he sat and stared at the filthy hut and wondered what the hell he was doing here.And how could this kind of life lead him to a career in acting.So he began to practice the imitated movements in front of the mirror, and his audience was Merlin's little smelly animals.

Summer passed quickly.One Sunday, he called home once a week.This time it was his father who picked it up. "I'm Toby, Daddy, how are you?" There was no answer for a long time. "Hi, are you there?" "I'm here, Toby." There was something unsettling in his father's voice. "Where's mother?" "They took her to the hospital last night." Toby gripped the receiver so tightly that it almost shattered in his fist. "What's the matter mom?" "The doctor said it was a heart attack." No, his mother wouldn't! "She'll be fine," Toby said expectantly, "won't she?" He shrieked into the receiver, "Tell me and she'll be fine, you goddammit!"

From thousands of miles away, he could hear his father crying. "She—had died a few hours ago." The words burned him like hot lava, burned him until he felt his whole body was on fire.His father is lying.She can't die.He and his mother had already made an appointment.He was about to come out, and she was about to come out and live with him.A beautiful penthouse was waiting for her, and there was a car, a chauffeur, a fur coat, a diamond ring... He was crying so hard that he couldn't breathe.Then he heard someone calling him in the distance: "Toby! Toby!" "I'm going home. When's the funeral?"

"Tomorrow," said his father, "but you mustn't come back. They're looking for you, Toby. Arryn is about to have a baby. Her father wants to kill you. They'll find you at the funeral." .” And so he could not even say goodbye to the only one he loved in the world, never to be seen again.That day, Toby lay in bed and missed his mother all day.The appearance of his mother seemed to be right in front of him, still so vivid.It was as if she was still in the kitchen, cooking, and telling him, "Toby, you're going to be somebody." It was as if she were still in the theater, sitting in the front row, exclaiming: "My God! What a gifted kid!"

And she always laughed when he impersonated other people and made jokes...she packed his boxes. "When you become a star, you come and pick me up." Toby lay there, numb from the pain.I will never forget this day, he thought.As long as I live in this world, I will never forget it.August 14th, 1939, was the most important day of my life. He was right.It wasn't just his mother's death, but an event a hundred and fifty miles away, in Odessa, Texas, that day. This hospital is like a normal charity.A bare four-story building with no signs outside.Inside it was a hodgepodge.There are many rooms densely packed.Among them are outpatient clinics, various vaccinations, first aid, treatment, and operating rooms where surgical cutting or digging is simply performed.This is a medical supermarket with everything you need and everything you need.

At four o'clock in the morning, deathly silence.People are still sleeping.Medical staff are also taking a break to face new battles. Maternity Room Four is in trouble.At the beginning, it was normal production, but suddenly an abnormality occurred.In fact, Mrs. Karl Zinski's baby was normal until the birth.Mrs. Zinski was young and strong.Her age is the best age for childbearing.Especially her peasant woman's plump buttocks are really a dream for an obstetrician.The contractions have started and things are proceeding as normal. "Abnormal labor," the obstetrician Wilson announced.His words surprised no one, and while only three per cent of births were abnormal—the baby's lower body protruded first—these abnormalities were generally managed safely.There are three cases of abnormal birth: the mother can still give birth on her own; she must rely on the assistance of a midwife;

Dr. Wilson said with satisfaction that now it seems that the mother can give birth by herself, which is the simplest one.He saw the baby's feet first, then the lower legs.After another contraction, the baby's two thighs were exposed. "Okay, it's almost done," Dr. Wilson said encouragingly, "try harder." Mrs. Zinski complied.But it didn't work. The doctor frowned. "Press harder, push harder." Still no effect. Dr. Wilson took the baby's legs and gave them a very, very light jerk.No tics.At this time, he put one hand on the mother's abdomen; the other hand reached into the uterus and began to explore the fetal position.Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.The obstetric nurse approached the doctor and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Now there is a question," said Dr. Wilson, very quietly. Mrs. Zinski heard it, and asked, "What's the matter?" "Everything is fine," Wilson replied, slowly trying to push the baby down.The baby didn't move.He could feel the umbilical cord being squeezed between the baby's body and the mother's pelvis.The baby's oxygen supply was cut off. "Fetal Heart Stethoscope!" The obstetric nurse fetches the instrument and places it in the mother's abdomen to listen to the baby's heartbeat. "Thirty beats," she reported, "significantly slowed down."

Dr. Wilson's hand reached into the mother's womb again, his hand was like the antenna of his brain, detecting and searching. "I can't hear the heartbeat of the fetus—" the voice of the obstetric nurse was terrified, "Negative reaction!" The baby is dying in the womb.If they can get the baby out in time, there is a glimmer of hope that the baby will survive.But at the latest, the baby must be delivered within four minutes.After coming down, clear the fluid in the baby's mouth and nasal cavity immediately, so that the heart can resume beating.If four minutes have passed, the baby's brain damage will be so serious that it cannot be recovered due to insufficient oxygen supply for a long time. Everyone in the room instinctively looked up and looked at the electronic clock on the wall.The electronic clock is pointing at the twelve o'clock position, but the long red second hand has already started its first cycle. The midwifery team sprang into action.The oxygen cylinder is pushed against the table.At this time, Dr. Wilson was trying to rotate the fetal position. He began to push the baby's shoulders, trying to move the baby sideways so that the shoulders could pass through the birth canal.but no effect. A trainee nurse, this is her first midwifery job, suddenly felt dizzy and vomited, and hurried out of the delivery room. Outside the delivery room, stood Karl Zinski.His big callused hands were constantly rubbing his hat.It was the happiest day of his life.He is a carpenter.He believes in early marriage and is willing to start a large family.This baby is their firstborn.All he could do was restrain his agitation.He loves his wife very much.He knew he wouldn't know what to do without her.He is thinking about his wife.At this moment, he suddenly saw the young trainee nurse rushing out of the delivery room, and he stopped the nurse: "How is she?" The unhinged young nurse was still preoccupied with the fetus.Without thinking, she yelled "She's dead! She's dead!" and ran out in a panic to vomit. Mr. Zinski turned pale.He grabbed his chest and began to gasp for air.By the time someone took him to the emergency room, he was beyond treatment. In the delivery room, Dr. Wilson was still desperately trying to save the patient, racing against time.He touched the umbilical cord and felt it squeeze against the baby, but there was nothing he could do to relieve the situation.He hoped that he could forcefully pull out the half-born fetus, but he knew very well what consequences would result from giving birth to a baby in this way.Mrs. Zinski was moaning, and by this time she had lost her mind. "Hold on, Mrs. Zinski. Try harder. Come!" useless.Dr. Wilson glanced at the clock.Two precious minutes have passed without blood passing through the fetus's brain.Dr. Wilson faced another problem: What would it mean if, after four minutes, the baby was saved?Let him live, an idiot?Or let him die quickly without pain?He resolved not to think about such things any more.His movements quickened.He closed his eyes, continued to explore the fetal position, and carefully checked the woman for any abnormalities.He began experimenting with the Maurice-Smiley maintenance, a difficult delivery procedure: it is used to relax the pressure on the uterus and reduce the pressure on the fetus.A miracle happened suddenly, and the fetus started to move. "Forceps!" The obstetric nurse rushed to deliver it to him.After Dr. Wilson took it, he inserted it and clamped it on the fetus's head.After a while, the fetus' head was exposed. The baby is born. Generally speaking, this is a shining moment.Miraculously, a new life was created.The newborn's face is usually red, and it starts to cry as soon as it is born, as if complaining about the grievances it has suffered.You know, he was forced to come into this world from his mother's womb.Mother's belly is dark, but very peaceful; and the real world is bright but cold. This newborn baby was different.When he was born, his whole body was blue and white, and he remained motionless.It's a baby girl.Clock, only a minute and a half left.Now, the movements are all mechanical and quick, which is the doctor's long-term clinical experience.The gauze-wrapped fingers wiped the baby's throat area, and the baby's throat can be seen.Dr. Wilson then laid the baby flat on his back on the bed.The obstetric nurse handed him a small laryngoscope with an electric suction device attached to it.After he put the electric suction device in place, he nodded.The nurse clicked the knob.The rhythmic sucking sound of the instrument begins. Dr. Wilson looked up at the clock. With twenty seconds left, the heartbeat was negative. Fifteen seconds... Fourteen seconds... Negative heartbeat. The decisive moment has come.It may be too late to prevent brain damage.In fact, no one is sure about these things.Dr. Wilson had seen hospital wards filled with those poor vegetative people.They have the body of an adult but the heart of a child.or worse. Ten seconds.Still no pulse.Not even a glimmer of hope. It's five seconds.At this time, he made up his mind.He hoped that God would understand him and forgive him.He made up his mind to pull out the cannula of the electric aspirator, announcing that the child could no longer be kept.No one will question his behaviour.He touched the baby's body again.The whole body is cold and the skin is sticky. Three seconds. He looked down at the baby and couldn't help crying.How pitiful!A beautiful baby girl who will grow into a beautiful woman.He couldn't imagine what her life would be like.Will she also marry and give birth?Or, will she become an artist?a teacher?or a businessman?Will she be poor or rich?Happy or unhappy? With one second left, the heartbeat was still negative. zero seconds. He reached for the knob.At this moment, the baby's heart beats, a temporary, irregular throbbing; after a while, it settles down to a strong, regular beat.There was a burst of spontaneous cheers and congratulations in the room.Dr. Wilson acted as if he hadn't heard. He was looking up at the clock on the wall. The baby's mother named her Josephine, after her living grandmother.For the daughter of a seamstress in Odessa, Texas, there was no need for another. Dr. Wilson insisted that Josephine must be taken back to the hospital for re-examination every six weeks.The reason for the inspection Mrs Zinski did not understand.But the results were the same every time: she looked normal. Time will tell.

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