We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
By GALE STORM
as told to Jim Cooper
"My Baby's Four Fathers"
When Susanna Jo was born to Gale, her three big brothers were so elated that they practically took over raising her
IrS SMALL WONDER that my two-and-a-half year old daughter, Susan, thinks she has four fathers. In a way, she has.
There was a nine-year interval between Susan's arrival and the birth of Peter, the youngest of ray three boys. My husband, Lee Bonnell, and I simply were exultant about having another baby after all that time. The only thing that gave us even momentary pause was the natural anxiety about how the three boys would react to the belated addition to the family.
We realized that resentment and jealousy were all too common under such circumstances. But we were hopeful that somehow we might spare the older children such emotional turmoil — or at least soften it.
I'd heard them talk about friends of theirs whose parents were going to have children, and it seemed to me that boys that age are sometimes embarrassed by this situation. They find it awkward. They consider themselves so big and grownup, and suddenly they're going to have a baby in the family!
I'm hardly taking credit for any amazing new formula, but our situation did work out almost magically. The battle — if it can be called anything that dramatic — was won, I am thoroughly convinced, during the time of my pregnancy.
continued on page 72
Naturally, I had my apprehensions. We had no way of knowing how the boys would react to the news, and we delayed telling them. For one thing. I'd just started my new television series, and I didn't want my sponsor to worry about whether I'd be able to perform in my condition. I was supposed to keep it a deep, dark secret, and Lee and I were just bursting to shout it from the rooftops.
So it was quite a dilemma. On the one hand. I hesitated to tell the boys because they might talk about it, and word would get out: On the other hand, I was afraid the report of our impending blessed event might leak from another source, and if the boys didn't learn it from us they'd feel left out and hurt. Added to that, we had a certain amount of selfish qualms about telling them.
We finally decided that the reality couldn't be as bad as uncertainty, and we met the situation head-on at dinner. I casually made the announcement, and steeled myself for the reaction.
Phillip, our oldest, who's now 16 but was 13 at the time, was stunned. But in a nice way. Pete, who usually is less demonstrative than the others, had tears pouring down his face. You can't imagine how touching this was unless you realize that ordinarily you have to put your knees on his chest
SUSANNA and her elders: front row, Pete 13, Gale and Paul, 12 ; rear row, Susanna, 3, Lee and Phillip, 16. Boys were wowed by a little sister.
5^