TwoyearsaftertheendoftheSECOND WORLD WAR. AtThree, Providence PlaceLeicester, onMarchthe17th, amotherwasgettinghersonreadyforhis bath. Thetimewasaroundfouro‘ clockintheafternoon. Thedailybathtook placeinthefrontroom oftheoldterracedhouseinfrontofanopencoalfire. The babywasapproximately14monthsold.
Afterwashingthebaby, shelaidhim onadrytowel, andwentintothekitchento gettalctodryhim off. Now thislittleladhadalreadybeenwalkingandwasvery activeforhisage. So, heroledoverontohisfrontsideandcrawledtothefire. He thenstoodupandtumbledintoitfacefirst, alsotrappinghisrighthandinthefire. Hismotherreturnedtotheroom tofindhersonlyinghelplessonthefire, she rushedtohisaidscreamingandpuledhim offthefire.“ Brian!” shescreamedseveral times. Brianwashereldestsonbyapreviousmarriageandhe’ dheardherthefirst timeashewasalreadyonhiswaydownthestairs. Hegaspedinhorroratthesight thatgreetedhim.
“ Fetchyourdadfrom thepub! Quick!” hismum shoutedasshewipedtearsfrom hereyes. ThepubwasacrossthestreetandBrianwasbackinaflashwithhisdad andhalfthepub. Whenhisdadsaw thebaby, hecouldn’ tbelievehiseyes. A friend askedinashout,“ Ishedead?” ithtearsstreamingdownherface, thebaby’ smother screamed,“ No, he’ snotdead!”“ Iwilgetthecar. Putablanketaroundhim! Wehave togethim totheRoyalhospitalasquickaspossible!” saidthebaby’ sfather. Thecar puledupandmotherandbabygotin. Thebaby’ sfatherjumpedoutandhadafriend drive. Awaytheywentathighspeedwithheadlightsflashing. From thebackseat, the fatheraskedhow hadhadithappened. Thenearlyhystericalmotherexplained,“ Iwent inthekitchen,” shethenbrokedown, clutchingherson.“ Can’ tyoudriveanyfaster please!” shescreamedthroughhertears. Shekeptrepeatingtoherbaby,“ We’ re nearlythere. We’ renearlythere.” A crowdhadgatheredattheentrancetothe emergencyroom asthecarpuledupandthedoctors, nursesandporterswerealready waiting. Insecondstheladwasonarespirator. Themotherandfathersatinthewaiting room andafterwhatseemedlikeanhour, adoctorfinalyappeared.“ Ishegoingtobe alright, please?” themotherbegged. Thedoctortookholdofherhandandsortof caressedit. Heasked,“ Mrs. Jackson, hasyoursonbeenbaptized?”“ No! Ohplease, no!” hismothercried.“ Canweseehim?” shetheninquired. The doctornoddedandtookhertoherbaby.
Thereshesaw herson’ sheadwascompletelybandagedwithonlyholesforhis eyesandmouth. Hishandwascompletelycoveredandthereweretubeseverywhere. Hisdadwentoutsideandsatdownshakinghisheadandforthefirsttimesomeone saw tearsfalfrom hiseyes, althoughhewasnotcrying. A priestwasfoundandthemotherandfatherwatchedasthepriestsaidthewords themotherwouldneverforget:“ Ibaptizeyouinthenameofthefather, theson, and theholyghost. Thepriestthenmadethesignofthecrossonthechild’ sforehead. Hismothercolapsedonthefloor. Thedoctorhadsaidthattheycouldn’ tdo anymoreandthebabywasnow inthelord’ shands. Bybeingbaptizedhecould enterthekingdom ofheaven. Withoutbaptism itisofcourseChristianbeliefthat thiscannothappen. Afterthreemorehoursthefatherkissedhiswifeonthe foreheadandwhispered.“ Hewilbeok,” andlefthertheresohecouldgohometo lookaftertheotherchildrenofthefamily. Themotherstayedatthebaby’ ssidefor sixdaysandeventualythedoctorstoldherthatthebabywouldsurvive, buthe wouldbescarredforalongtime.
Thebabywasreturnedtohisparentsafteraboutthreemonthsinhospital. Hewas takenhometobewithhisbrothersandsister. Yousee, thatbabywasme, Robert GeorgeJackson, andIwouldliketotelyoumystory...