TwoyearsaftertheendoftheSECOND WORLD WAR . AtThree , Providence PlaceLeicester , onMarchthe17th , amotherwasgettinghersonreadyforhis bath . Thetimewasaroundfouro ‘ clockintheafternoon . Thedailybathtook placeinthefrontroom oftheoldterracedhouseinfrontofanopencoalfire . The babywasapproximately14monthsold .
Afterwashingthebaby , shelaidhim onadrytowel , andwentintothekitchento gettalctodryhim off . Now thislittleladhadalreadybeenwalkingandwasvery activeforhisage . So , heroledoverontohisfrontsideandcrawledtothefire . He thenstoodupandtumbledintoitfacefirst , alsotrappinghisrighthandinthefire . Hismotherreturnedtotheroom tofindhersonlyinghelplessonthefire , she rushedtohisaidscreamingandpuledhim offthefire .“ Brian !” shescreamedseveral times . Brianwashereldestsonbyapreviousmarriageandhe ’ dheardherthefirst timeashewasalreadyonhiswaydownthestairs . Hegaspedinhorroratthesight thatgreetedhim .
“ Fetchyourdadfrom thepub ! Quick !” hismum shoutedasshewipedtearsfrom hereyes . ThepubwasacrossthestreetandBrianwasbackinaflashwithhisdad andhalfthepub . Whenhisdadsaw thebaby , hecouldn ’ tbelievehiseyes . A friend askedinashout ,“ Ishedead ?” ithtearsstreamingdownherface , thebaby ’ smother screamed ,“ No , he ’ snotdead !”“ Iwilgetthecar . Putablanketaroundhim ! Wehave togethim totheRoyalhospitalasquickaspossible !” saidthebaby ’ sfather . Thecar puledupandmotherandbabygotin . Thebaby ’ sfatherjumpedoutandhadafriend drive . Awaytheywentathighspeedwithheadlightsflashing . From thebackseat , the fatheraskedhow hadhadithappened . Thenearlyhystericalmotherexplained ,“ Iwent inthekitchen ,” shethenbrokedown , clutchingherson .“ Can ’ tyoudriveanyfaster please !” shescreamedthroughhertears . Shekeptrepeatingtoherbaby ,“ We ’ re nearlythere . We ’ renearlythere .” A crowdhadgatheredattheentrancetothe emergencyroom asthecarpuledupandthedoctors , nursesandporterswerealready waiting . Insecondstheladwasonarespirator . Themotherandfathersatinthewaiting room andafterwhatseemedlikeanhour , adoctorfinalyappeared .“ Ishegoingtobe alright , please ?” themotherbegged . Thedoctortookholdofherhandandsortof caressedit . Heasked ,“ Mrs . Jackson , hasyoursonbeenbaptized ?” “ No ! Ohplease , no !” hismothercried .“ Canweseehim ?” shetheninquired . The doctornoddedandtookhertoherbaby .
Thereshesaw herson ’ sheadwascompletelybandagedwithonlyholesforhis eyesandmouth . Hishandwascompletelycoveredandthereweretubeseverywhere . Hisdadwentoutsideandsatdownshakinghisheadandforthefirsttimesomeone saw tearsfalfrom hiseyes , althoughhewasnotcrying . A priestwasfoundandthemotherandfatherwatchedasthepriestsaidthewords themotherwouldneverforget :“ Ibaptizeyouinthenameofthefather , theson , and theholyghost . Thepriestthenmadethesignofthecrossonthechild ’ sforehead . Hismothercolapsedonthefloor . Thedoctorhadsaidthattheycouldn ’ tdo anymoreandthebabywasnow inthelord ’ shands . Bybeingbaptizedhecould enterthekingdom ofheaven . Withoutbaptism itisofcourseChristianbeliefthat thiscannothappen . Afterthreemorehoursthefatherkissedhiswifeonthe foreheadandwhispered .“ Hewilbeok ,” andlefthertheresohecouldgohometo lookaftertheotherchildrenofthefamily . Themotherstayedatthebaby ’ ssidefor sixdaysandeventualythedoctorstoldherthatthebabywouldsurvive , buthe wouldbescarredforalongtime .
Thebabywasreturnedtohisparentsafteraboutthreemonthsinhospital . Hewas takenhometobewithhisbrothersandsister . Yousee , thatbabywasme , Robert GeorgeJackson , andIwouldliketotelyoumystory ...