This historic fiction piece was written by Kelly Geraci and is based on a story shared by Paul Hennessey.
April 6, 1948, was one of the happiest days of Marcus` life. That was the day that his brother Jim taught him how to fly a plane. For years, Marcus had been bugging his brother to teach him and finally he did. Marcus had been flying for about nine months when the great Blizzard of 1949 hit. The snow had pretty well closed everything down, so Jim and Marcus were sitting in the Hampton Cafe, drinking coffee and waiting for the storm to let up. Suddenly, Chris came rushing in.
``Jim! I need your help. Kathy is in labor and our car is stuck in the snow.`` Chris said as he was gasping for breath and trying to brush the snow off of him. ``I need you to fly us to Rapid City.``
``Sure. Get Kathy ready and meet us at the plane.`` Jim replied as he gulped the last of his coffee.
``Well, I am going to need some help getting her.`` Chris said. ``She is in the car still.``
``O.K. Marcus, you go get the plane ready to go, Chris and I will go and get Kathy.`` Jim said as he struggled to get his coat on.
``Is everyone ready to go?`` Marcus said. ``It should only take about a half an hour to get to Rapid City, but in this weather, I don`t know.``
``Yes, lets` get going, Marcus.`` Jim yelled from the back of the plane.
``Jim, I need your help up here!`` Marcus yelled.
``What is it?`` he answered as he quickly came up front.
``Look at it outside,`` Marcus said nervously. ``I don`t think I can do this. You take over and I`ll go in back and help them out. I don`t have the flying experience that you have.``
Marcus knew that he had to keep everyone calm. As he walked to the back he knew the baby was on its way. He felt the hair on his neck raise. So he took off his jacket and wrapped Kathy up. Suddenly she started to push and Marcus could see the head of the baby. He didn`t know what to do.
``You`re doing great, Marcus yelled. ``Keep it up we`re almost to the hospital.
``We`re almost there, keep it up!`` Marcus said.
Marcus felt the plane starting to descend. Thank goodness, we`re there.
``Jim, is someone going to waiting to take Kathy inside?`` Marcus asked.
``Yes, someone is going to help her.`` Jim replied. ``Do you think we should go in and make sure everything is O.K.?``
``Sure, we made it this far, why not go in and see if it`s a girl or a boy.`` Marcus answered as he wiped sweat from his face.
``It`s a boy!!`` Chris shouted as he ran down the hall of the hospital. ``It`s a boy!``
``Congratulations!`` Jim replied. ``How is Kathy doing?``
``She`s great!`` Chris answered.
``How can I repay the two of you?`` Chris asked Marcus and Jim.
``Don`t worry about it, I`m sure you would of done the same.`` Marcus replied.