Chapter 12.3 - The Phoenix

“Morality is not properly the doctrine of how we may make ourselves happy, but how we may make ourselves worthy of happiness.”

Immanuel Kant

The Los Alamos Medical Center is built upon a high piece of ground along side Trinity drive.  The rooms inside the hospital overlook a town covered in a silent blanket of snow.  Mountains surround the town.  The stark white is exaggerated by the dark blue sky.  Margaret has checked into the hospital to deliver the Mahoney’s child.  Tom is on his way back from a nuclear test sight in Nevada.

Tom drove up to the security check point outside of town.  He recognized Sergeant Davis while slowing down to a stop.  The machine gun swung in his direction and the flood light on his car made him nervous.

“Hi Sarge.  Could you please hurry, my wife’s having a baby?”

Tom handed Sergeant Davis his drivers license and his security clearance card.  Sergeant Davis called over to the main building the identification of the driver.

“Come on Sarge, hurry!”

“Look, Tom, you know damned well how long this procedure takes.  We can’t rush it.  Do you want us to take our job seriously or not?”

The sergeants radio piped up, “Thomas Mahoney is clear for entry, over.”

“Here’s your license and security clearance cards. Good luck with that baby.”

Tom went directly to the emergency room.  They told Tom that Margaret had been taken up to room 216 for observation.  Tom entered the room and saw sweat beaded on Margaret’s forehead.  When Tom saw her tired smile he wished that he could have gotten here sooner.”

“Hi, honey.  Sorry I’m so late getting in.  How’re you doing?”

“Fine, Tom, just fine.  You can take that sorrowful look off your face.  I knew you couldn’t help being late.  Did you get any sleep at all this week?  I’m worried about you Tom.  Those bags under your eyes haven’t gone away in two weeks.”

Tom saw Margaret grimace with the next contraction.

“Could you get me some water.  The doctor says that everything looks all right.  I’m at 5 centimeters.”

“Here’s your water, honey.  I’ve been thinking about the babies name, Margaret.  If it’s a boy, what do you think of the name Leonard?  Art loved Leo Tolstoy. His favorite book was War and Peace.  I’d really like to do this for him if it’s a boy.”

“Leonard’s a beautiful name, Tom.”  Margaret began to groan and crushed Tom’s hand.

“I think this is it Tom, could you go get the nurse?”

Leonard Mahoney was born Friday November 19.  He weighed 8 pounds 7 ounces.  His hair was an extremely fine shade of red.  It was a clear crisp winter day.  The United States economy was stronger than it had ever been.  Americans were feeling the strength of their nation.  Everyone was hopeful towards the future.  Dwight D. Eisenhower is president of the United States.