Paul was doubled over puffing heavily out of both his nose and mouth.

            “You are not in the active stage of labour, Paul,” Dr.Gonsalez replied with her normal low-key, matter-of-fact voice.  “I think you are afraid of discussing your mother and are regressing.”

            Paul only huffed like a s choo-choo train, his eyes bulging, then alternatively shut into slits.  He shook his head, moaned, and rocked.

            There was a small silence filled only by Paul’s imagined labour contractions.  “Are you feeling pain in your lower back?” Dr. Gonsalez asked.

            Paul nodded vigourously.

            “Perhaps you should eat more fiber,” she sighed.