The Ready List

            “Are you ready?” I asked Michelle.

            “Yes.” She looked at me and nodded.

            “What do we need to bring? Do you have it all laid out?”

            “Yes. The car seat is upstairs. Next to a bag full of necessities. And you’ll have to prepare some good food so we don’t have to eat that hospital crap.”

            I looked at Michelle in the eye, to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything. Satisfied, I changed the subject and we distracted ourselves while she had another cramp.

            Later, our good friend Siamak showed up unexpected. I'd called him in the morning to tell him the situation – Michelle having some cramps but not quite full labor pains yet. He’s going to help us with Celia during the birth, and after the call his mother said, “It’s a boy. Boys come quick. You should go now.”

            We were all buckled into our seats and just driving off to the grocery store when Michelle said, “Stop the car!”

            I stopped and looked around. There was Siamak, walking toward the house with a big backpack on. “Get in!” I called to him.

            Celia, who’d been preparing herself for a long car ride in the back alone, suddenly saw her best friend open the door and freaked out.

            “Sikamak!” she called out with a huge grin on her face.

            We all laughed at her newest version of his name. It was sure nice to have Siamak show up, even though he ended up sleeping on the couch with no newborn to show for it.

            Last night, the two of us sat on the porch sipping a good scotch and smoking Siamak’s pipe. Siamak asked me the same thing I’d asked Michelle earlier in the day. “Are you ready?”

            “Let’s see,” I gazed into the distance as I mentally came up with my list. “I’ve got a bottle of champagne in the fridge, and some Cuban cigars I’ve been saving.”

            “Good. Good.” Siamak nodded.

            Suddenly, I laughed.

            “What?” Siamak looked puzzled.

            I explained the difference between Michelle’s answer and mine, and Siamak bellowed in laughter. “Everything’s a party to you!” he patted me on the back.

            I smiled and shook my head. I can’t believe myself, sometimes. How ridiculous is that? Deep down I somehow think that being ready for another child means having champagne and cigars. Heck, just let that kid come out and we’ll be ready!