Yum's new baby

Yum was edgy as her second baby's time was due. Sometimes she'd sleep next to Dum sometimes apart. Early one morning Dum woke to find little Wah-Wah was snuggled up to him and Yum gone. 

Dum knew at once baby was on its way so took Wah-Wah to Dong and Grunt to care for him. Dong guessed Yum was having the baby and nodded knowing Dum was unlike any man she knew, questioning every rule. 

Dum went down to the wooded area that women used for birthing and could see a group of women round Yum as she puffed and panted delivering her new child. When she cried out in pain Dum could stand it no longer and knelt down and supported her brushing hair from her face. "I am never going to lose you Dum, am I?" she laughed "Baby's nearly here".

The women grumbled a bit but with baby's head emerging they had work to do. "One more push, Yum" the old woman in charge said. So Yum holding tight to Dum's arm brought a new baby girl into the world. The women wiped the baby clean and wrapped it in flax cloth and placed it in Yums arms. Dum wanted to touch the baby too but Yum shook her hear saying "She must smell me first and then get to know you later" as she checked babies breathing and one woman was tying some flax round the cord.

The old woman said to Dum "Go now and tell no-one what you have seen; this is women's business." Yum nodding, agreed that he should go.

"I'll go and check the fish trap " Dum said walking down to the beach crying from his one eye as the sun came up over the horizon. Later Grunt came up and said "There's talk that Yum has had her baby. Do you still want to collect the fish?"

Dum grinned, "Yes I think so, Grunt".

(318 words)

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