| abstract
| - It was 6:06 A.M. On a gloomy Borovian morning, a man paced outside his bedroom door. An elderly couple sat patiently, occasionally looking up at the man. The man ran his fingers through his brown hair and his green eyes were red. Suddenly, there was a loud wail from inside the bedroom. Not wanting to wait for them to let him in, he threw open the door and entered. The elderly couple rose and followed him. The doctor, nurse, and his wife all looked tired. He didn't care. All he could do was stare at the bundle in the doctor's arms. The elderly couple smiled. “Is everyone all right,” asked the man nervously? “Yes, Professor Hamilton. Your wife and son are just fine,” smiled the doctor as he showed him the bundle. Professor Hamilton and the elderly woman breathed sighs of relief. The doctor handed the baby to the nurse, who cleaned him and wrapped him in a clean blanket. The nurse then handed him to his mother, who began to nurse him. “Isn't he perfect, Johan,” asked the new mother tiredly as the nurse washed her patient's face, brushing aside the blond hair? Her blue eyes looked strained. “Yes, Margret, perfect,” replied Professor Hamilton with a smile as he leaned in closer! “Mother, Father, come see my baby!” The elderly couple approached the bed hand in hand. Johan stepped back so they could get a better view. “He is handsome,” smiled the elderly man. ”What do you think Anne?" “Very handsome, Alexander,” agreed Anne. They basked in the glow of the miracle of birth, until the doctor interrupted suddenly. “If I could just have the baby's name for the birth certificate, my nurse and I can be on our way.” “Of course, Doctor. We have decided to name him Alexander Johan Hamilton,” Johan proudly stated. The elder Alexander smiled and squeezed his wife's hand. Anne returned the squeeze. The doctor filled out the birth certificate and said,”Very well, it is done." The doctor and nurse gathered their supplies and coats, left some last instructions, and exited the room. Alexander looked at his little namesake and said, ”Thank you for naming him after me. Since Margret is our only child, this is the only way at least part of my name would be passed on.” “You're welcome, General,” Johan nodded to Alexander. ”Hopefully he'll be as successful as you are.” Margret closed her eyes and Anne brushed the rest of her sweaty hair off her face. Margret smiled thankfully. “If you are tired, Margret, we can leave...,” said Anne softly. “Yes, please. The labor was more intense than I thought it would be,” She sighed. “I would like a drink now.” Anne poured her a glass of water from the pitcher by the bed and offered it to her. “Not THAT kind of drink, I want vodka, and now,” Margret shrilled weakly as she batted the glass away! The baby at her breast stopped suckling and started crying at the loud noise. “Margret, you're worthless! Tend to your baby,” snapped the Professor! “But Johan, I want a drink,” she wailed, ignoring the crying baby! The general and his wife exchanged glances that were a mix of anger and pity as the younger couple fought. “I can't take this crying, Hush your son and maybe I will bring you some vodka later,” Johan growled as he turned to leave! With Margret finally trying to calm her son, Johan led the rest of them downstairs to the parlor. He went to a locked cabinet and pulled out a bottle of Borovian wine. Then he relocked the cabinet with the key on a chain around his neck. He poured the wine into three glasses. They each took one. “To Alexander the Young's health,” toasted Johan jubilantly! “To Alexander the Young's health,” repeated Alexander and Anne! They all drank. Anne began awkwardly, “You should not be so harsh with Margret. She is our only child and has trouble...” “She's a drunk,” Johan shouted as he slammed his glass down hard on the table! “Unfortunately, Anne and I must head back to Russia. I am not retired yet,” Alexander stated sadly. “We just got here,” pleaded Anne, unable to mask the worry in her voice.”Can't we stay just one more day? The Motherland will not fall to ruin without you.” “Anne, you know how the Intelligence business is. Two weeks is long enough to be away, ” Alexander said with a slight frown. Johan led the pair to the door. Alexander and Anne put on their coats and Johan led them to the car. Johan waved until they were out of sight. He walked back into the house, his hands clenched into fists. When they Alexander and Anne were out of sight of the house, they both sighed. Anne sadly said, “I worry for young Alexander. Margret IS a drunk.” General Alexander said, equally sadly, “Johan tries to control her every move. Everything must be perfect, or he lashes out. How he held it in check while they were courting is beyond me. I am usually a better judge of character.” Anne rubbed her husband's back sypateticly as he hung his head. “He beats her,” the driver said quietly. “I do not believe she wears long sleeved, ankle length dresses in all weather for no reason.” Alexander's blue eyes gleamed angerily as he said, “Here is my phone number. Call me if he starts beating my namesake.” “I am staying out of this,” the driver said nervously. “Professor Hamilton is the Borovian Government's Treasurer, and holds great power here. I fear for my life if I say or do anything.” The General nodded sadly and thought to himself, “If I had him killed, it would come back on me. For all my power, his is greater. He will not cross me once I retire and move here, he will be too afraid I will show the world what king of man he really is.” Professor Johan entered his office and thought to himself, “At least that worthless woman calmed the baby!" He put on a happy face and practiced a joyful tone for a few minutes before he called everyone with the good news. He then looked at the Borovian accounting reports on his desk and filled out some paperwork. Finally, he checked on his wife and son. When he opened the door to the bedroom, he swore to himself. Alexander was on the table, and Margret was passed out, a flask on the floor obviously fallen from her hand. He put the baby in the crib and picked up the flask. He balled his other hand into a fist and struck his wife hard on the upper arm, yelling, “Wake up, you worthless slut!” Margret opened her eyes and slurred, “Have you brought the vodka?” He responded by striking her repeatedly as she cried. When the baby started crying, he shoved her out of bed. “Keep him quiet,” He yelled as he went to a spare bedroom to sleep! Margret stumbled her way to the crib and calmed the baby. She weaved back to the bed and collapsed on it.
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