The Protocol: A Prescription to Die (26 page)

Spooncake didn’t acknowledge the question. Instead he found himself having to squint from the pulsating light emanating from the kid, preventing him from looking directly at him.

“That’s wonderful news, Andy. Congrats,” he said as he stood up and shook the kid’s hand then gave him a warm, brotherly hug.

“Thanks, sir.”

“This news deserves a drink,” he said as he passed the gin to the kid. “What are Kristy Rae Franklin’s stats?”

“Stats? Well, she’s a girl.”

McAllister laughed.

“No. When was she born?”

“Oh. June 17
th
.”

“Height? Weight?”

“Gee. I don’t know.”

“Well, you better find out because all of the nurses will ask you, and when you don’t know, they’ll make your life a living hell.”

“How do you know? Do you have kids?”

“No. I’ve just seen what others have done wrong. The nurses hate it when guys think this is no big deal. Just have the info. Makes life so much easier. Trust me.”

McAllister returned his attention to the pictures and studied each one. He didn’t fake interest—it was genuine. He longed to be a father; he just didn’t want to potentially pass on his cursed genes, so he assumed his desire for fatherhood would always have to be lived vicariously through others. He stopped at one picture with the mother cradling her new daughter, looked up at Franklin, then back to the picture.

“She has your nose.”

“My wife said the same thing in her letter.”

“I know these are black and white, but I can still see that hair! Is that your red mop?”

“Yup!”

“I suppose I’m destined to be Uncle Spooncake?”

Franklin took another swig of gin, nodded, and smiled like every new, proud father was supposed to smile.

Franklin nodded. “I’d like that, sir. That would be great.”

The color around Franklin pulsated with the pride of fatherhood.

Spooncake preferred white, but right at this moment, he decided he liked yellow, too.

Doorway to Your Dreams

By John P. Goetz

Available June 2015

At Amazon.com