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Washington, DC: February 11, 1920:
Danny Barrell was a fifteen-year-old boy with five younger siblings. Therefore, in the grand scheme of his life babies were either seen as a nuisance, or ignored entirely.
February 11 was supposed to be just another wintry Wednesday in the nation's capital. Danny had another day of school ahead of him with the only bright spot being some light workouts in the gym after school. Coach Spangler had been teaching Danny the finer points of the high jump and pole vault. The latter was tough - it had, at first glance, looked fairly easy to Danny: stick pole in ground and lever yourself up and over. But it was a lot more technically challenging than it had looked.
Rufus was back in Georgia with the OSA still in off-season mode, though Thomas Potentas had recently held a meeting with Canadian millionaire Jack Connolly. Connolly was trying to start a new hockey league in the United States and thought the OSA might be able to help find players. Rufus recused himself from these discussions for "personal reasons" that Danny knew were related to the "automobile incident" with Rollie & Jimmy.
Just another fairly routine day - until the baby that Claudia Barrell was carrying upended everything.
It was just after three o'clock in the morning when Danny was shaken awake by a visibly distraught Thomas Potentas.
"Ugh... stop it Fred before I slug you," Danny muttered.
"It is I, Thomas Potentas," Danny heard in reply as he cracked open his right eye.
"What are you doing in here?" Danny asked as he sat up.
"It is time. The baby... the baby is coming."
That snapped Danny into full wakefulness. But awake or not, he sat there, frozen.
Potentas said, "The midwife. Claudia said you are to get her, yes."
"Right... that's right." Danny said and swung his feet to the floor.
The baby hadn't arrived by the time Danny left for school. Claudia - despite being in labor - had insisted Danny not miss school. "You are not needed here!" he heard her shout from behind the closed door of her room.
That had stung a bit, but he remembered enough of Harry and Betsy's births to know that women in labor could be a bit... snappish. Still, he was hurt that she didn't want him there.
By the time he exited the gym that evening just after six, with it already dark, he was surprised to see Potentas sitting in his Model T at the curb.
"I am here to take you home," Potentas said. Danny climbed into the Ford and thanked him.
"Claudia asked me to do this. She is sorry for her words this morning," Potentas explained.
Danny shrugged, "It's ok. I understand."
Potentas nodded and said, "Of course."
Danny gasped and then asked, "Claudia! She's ok? And the baby?"
Potentas smiled. "Yes, yes. They are doing well."
Danny waited for more, but Potentas had put the Ford in gear and they were now moving down the road.
"Well..." Danny prompted.
"I am sorry?" Potentas replied.
"The baby? Was it a boy... a girl..."
Potentas smiled, "Ah, yes, yes. My apologies. The baby, he is a boy."
Danny smiled. He was an uncle - and it was a boy. That was a relief. He had no earthly idea how to play with a girl. He had always been afraid he'd break Betsy. Harry? He and Freddy had put that little bugger through the wringer regularly. That kid was tough as nails and as rough and tumble as any of the other Barrell boys.
Potentas was smiling too. He said, "Claudia, she has named the child James Ferdinand Barrell Junior."
Danny's grin faded a bit as he remembered his brother and he said, "I think Jimmy would have liked that."
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