Chapter 14

The squalling stopped and the nurse stepped out of the birthing room.

"You can see your wife now," she said. "Just a few minutes, the baby was difficult."

"My kid for sure," I agreed. I stepped into the room, ducking as I opened the door.

"Oh ... it's you," Wendy said. "I suppose ... greet your son. I'll tell you one thing for sure ... it'll be a cold day in Hell before I'll go through that again. You better find yourself a girlfriend."

"A boy," I reached down and waved my hand in front of his face, "He latched on to the white bandage and squeezed. Shit! that hurt. "Strong boy."

"What happened to your hand?" Wendy asked.

"What do you remember of the ambulance ride?" I asked.

She thought for a moment; a lightbulb moment, "Oh, David ... I did that?"

"Yes ... two fingers ... the doc says I might get the use of them back."

"Two?"

"Yup," I said. "Broke four knuckles and two finger bones ... and don't look so smug. I can't help with the baby until they heal." I was pretty happy about that. No dirty diapers for this guy.

"What name for the records?" asked the nurse.

"With that grip there's only name that fits ... Artturi, the strong man."

"David?"

"Art ... we'll call him Art."

"I guess, I wanted to name him David." Wendy looked disappointed.

"Absolutely not ... no Juniors."

Six months of doing without, one afternoon Wendy crawled up in my lap, "It's really cold out. Can I cuddle?"

So much for never doing that ever again. Inkeri was born ten months later. I wasn't home ... Upseerikokelas (cadet officer) military training took my time ... Wendy had no problems this time.

We threw the Russians out while I was in basic training. The war was short and fast. After officers school, I was a liuutnanti (Lieutenant). After flight school I was a yliluutnanti (First Lieutenant). About this time, we had trouble with the Russians. The Czar finally realized that the Finns weren't cooperating and his army staged a massive attack. Our spy network gave us plenty of warning. Finland triumphed again. I flew a low wing all metal Valmaat fighter with retractable under cart. The Russians were flying fixed gear biplanes. After 78 victories I was given a desk job at the flying school.

The war over, I retired and Wendy and I decided to see the USA.