What Dreams are Made of

By Edna McCabe

Part 11 - “But You Couldn't Be”

Life was taking its course and the girls were growing up and going to dances at the weekends. By now they had lots of friends and, apart from school, they were always on the go with activities such as the Girl Guides - even young Martin was now a boy scout.

One day around this time I felt a bit off and Martin told me I should have a check-up. Neither of us was prepared for the shock we got. After all the usual questions and examination the doctor asked me could I be pregnant. My answer was a firm "No". "Well," he said, "You are four-and-a-half months pregnant and threatened with a miscarriage." I was shocked as up to then I had functioned normally and I had no hint that I might be pregnant. The doctor could see how unprepared I was for this news. He inserted a ring and told me to go straight to casualty at the first sign of discomfort.

Despite all the fuss I was discharged a few days later and this is when I broke the new to Martin for the first time. I remember he was cleaning fishing rods and when I spoke he dropped the lot. His first reaction was, "But you couldn't be". Then he hugged me and said, "We are getting a consolation prize." I could see the pleasure in his eyes. Our age didn't bother him at all; he was now 50 and I was 44. He said we'd see this baby grow.

At this time the Irish Army were about to become involved in peacekeeping in Cyprus and, despite our previous experience of being separated, Martin had put his name down. He was encouraged to do this for three reasons. One, he was now at the 50-years age, the upper limit for overseas service. Two, he would have a chance to see the Holy Land and Jerusalem. Three, there was a rumour that wives and children would now be facilitated if they wished to visit the soldiers.

Despite having visions of the family visiting Jerusalem, Martin had second thoughts and he decided to take his name off the list of volunteers. However, after much discussion we all felt he should go as soon as the new baby was born. We were hopeful that we'd all go out to Cyprus to see him. However, this didn't happen as it was another year before army families had the opportunity to visit serving soldiers.

In any event, after one week in hospital, our second 10-pound baby boy was born and we called him Declan. We choose the name Declan because the girls loved it and we choose John after Pope John Paul. This was the only time I considered myself lucky to have a boy rather than a girl, as I was happy that young Martin would now have a brother.

Martin held the baby and me and then he was gone. In a flash, I was husbandless once more, this time with a babe-in-arms and a grown up family. I kept a brave face until Martin was out of sight and then as usual my emotions got the better of me.

This was to be Martin's last journey overseas and during it he got to the Holy Land, which was one of his lifetime ambitions. He was surprised how many of the men serving in Cyprus did not avail of the excursion to the Holy Land which at the time cost just £20. As Martin put it, "They didn't avail of the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Christ."

Six months went by and there were all the usual emotional ups and downs. Then the time came when Martin was due to come home again. There was great rejoicing when he arrived and of course he was thrilled to see the latest arrival, now six months, sitting up in his pram; it didn't take him long to get to know Declan John.

Like Grace Declan slept night and day, and the children took care of him when they came in from school. They were forever changing his clothes and taking him for walks. I didn't know whose baby he was. Martin junior was thrilled we had another boy and he couldn't wait for him to walk and learn to kick ball with him. So one day as we were all watching Declan crawling around the floor young Martin said, "He can walk." And, standing him against the wall he said, "Walk, Declan!" and like that he suddenly walked all around the room. We all fell around laughing.

I had no trouble toilet training him as young Martin did that for me. Declan used to follow his brother everywhere and he loved to see the two Martins occupying themselves with their birds. The problem was that he had eczema and asthma and he was allergic to the feathers. Because of this Martin senior made a pond at the bottom of the garden and in no time Declan had a magnifying glass examining frogs and the worms and asking questions like, "Who made the trees?" and "Why is the grass green?" I left the answers to these questions to Martin as I was brought up in the city, in a house without a garden.

As time went on we realised that Declan had eczema and it took twenty minutes every morning to cover the spots with Betnovate cream before he went to school. He used to look at books while we were applying the cream and I think he developed his love of books at this time. Young Martin used to read comics for him and then one day he said, "Declan you are well able to read yourself." Declan replied, "I am"; and then he read out loud, while everyone looking on in amazement.

Martin and the boys loved the river and they used to go fishing for hours on end. I remember on one occasion Martin Junior brought a Spanish student we had staying with us off in the boat. When they hadn't returned by nightfall Martin Senior went to where we kept our boat and puffed hard on his cigarettes. Eventually he could hear the boat making for shore; it seems the boys hadn't noticed the evening drawing in. Later on when Declan came of age he often gave us a similar fright as he used to spend all day catching fish and returning them to the water; then he'd stroll home casually after dark.

The boys were growing up fast Martin Junior shared a mutual interest in birds with his Dad and Declan seemed to live in a world of his own. His favourite word was "Why" as he questioned everything. He was the most laid back and easy going of the six children and he had a great sense of humour.