Mipby

47. Eileen

In the winter of 1954, Margurita and Alphy were expecting their eighth child. On January 9th, Margurita told Alphy that “It was time.” The older children saw their father leave the house to get Memé. They knew what was happening, and tried to comfort their mother as much as possible. The older children looked after the younger ones, while waiting in anticipation for the arrival of the new baby.

The baby arrived shortly before midnight. Another daughter, small and ‘wiry’, and quite loud for a wee one. The older children stayed just outside the bedroom door, while waiting for Memé to clean up the baby. They couldn’t wait to see her. Finally, Memé said they could come in. LeRoy, Edna, Velda and Ida came in to peer at their baby sister. It was difficult to get a good look at her, in the dimly lit room. Memé held the kerosene lamp closer, so_ that everyone could see the baby. The older children expressed that she was adorable.

Margurita and Alphy were not sure what name they would give the baby. Margurita expressed that she still liked the name Eileen (the name she had chosen when her first daughter was born). Alphy responded, “That’s a fine name.” (either Alphy had warmed up to the name, or he had grown indifferent to names, by the time the eighth child had arrived). So it was, the child was named Eileen.

Eileen would grow up to have a mild, gentle personality but as a child, she was the most sensitive and the most difficult of the Doucette children. She was very strong willed and stubborn. The older sisters enjoyed playing house with Eileen. They would constantly pick her up. Eileen often cried to get picked up, or just to get her way. When she cried, it was without letup. She was spoiled. Margurita was thirty-seven years old and Alphy was forty-

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