Many years ago I wrote a short serial about a caveman couple many thousand years ago. This chapter covers the birth of their first baby.
Each night Dum and Yum curled up together. She was big with the baby but still allowed Dum to be close to her and breathe her scent and nibble at her cheeks and lips. She liked him fussing over her and touching her bare flesh. He still drifted off to sleep first and she felt good and happy. Early one morning while it was still dark he woke up to hear her moaning and struggling to get up. He tried to help her to the entrance of the cave but she pushed him back indicating he mustn't follow her. It was a gentle gesture but he didn't want to leave her outside alone in danger from wild animals. She knew this but still showed him her fist and staggered away.
He let her go but followed quietly behind. Two women pushed him out the way and one asked "Where's Yum?", so he pointed where she'd gone. The other glared at him and pointed back to the cave's entrance for him.
So Dum sat there until the sun rose and the birds began to sing. He stood up and started to strip leaves from the bushes for the baby to lay on. Then, that done he started to make a basket like the fruit basket he had already made, but for the baby a bit bigger than his forearm. He touched the leaves and they were now limp and soft so he placed them in the basket.
Yum was very pleased when she came home with the baby seeing what he had done but didn't put the baby in. She cradled it in her arms, shielding its eyes from the light and sat with her back to the rocks nursing it. She looked up and saw Dum looking awkward so she patted the ground beside her, to sit down too. She took his hand and let him touch the baby then sat back and tried to get the baby to suckle. Yum smiled when she saw the look in Dum's eye.
Later that evening after the baby had been fed, she fussed over the basket Dum had made and gently placed the baby on the bed of leaves. Luckily it was almost dark and Yum couldn't see the tears in Dum's eye.
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An enchanting story. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLike J Cosmo, I enjoyed this rich (and I guess unexected topic-wise..) flight of imagination. It enhanced the pleasure of my coffee this Sunday morning - Thanks a lot...
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed this charming and tender tale. You are one story teller, Robin! :)
ReplyDeleteI really like their interactions. How you used small details to show us that regardless of what time period people are living in, some things remain the same. I can see the expressions on all of your characters, mostly because I've seen in many home-births: the women taking care of things, and the men trying not to get in the way.
ReplyDeleteYes, a lovely read. I hope we see more of your prose storytelling along with the poems. Would like to know more of this couple, for instance.
ReplyDeleteWhat a touching story, Robin. You succeeded in making the Yum and Dum come alive for us. I think, however, you should consider another than than Dum for this stalwart yet caring cave man! (And thank you for not reversing the names!)
ReplyDeleteThis seems like it would be a fun romp through prehistoric times. Jumping into a middle of a larger story begs the questions of where they were and where this tale goes.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness this is my first trip back to that time. How charming those nuances of caring and empathy.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by my sumie Sunday Robin
Much💜love