BEA Story Project

June 13, 2007 By Rob

It’s A Boy!

It is Thursday evening five PM. Just sixteen hours before the show is starting. The hall is hot. I am sweating profusely. This is my first Book Expo and my booth is an absolute mess. Half of it was lost in transit. How am I going to put this booth together? As if that’s not enough pressure, I get call from Grace, my wife. “Hi Ray, I am having contractions and they really hurt. My mom is bringing me to the hospital. Meet me at NYU in an hour and half!” Aaaahhhh! What do I do? I know, we’re in for a long night at the hospital.  I can’t leave the booth unfinished and my wife comes first.” O.K, calm down,” I tell myself. “You’ve got an hour to make something work.”  Suddenly, heaven sent, an idea comes to mind. I use the pieces I have, complete a makeshift booth and catch a cab just in time to meet Grace.  Three hours later we were blessed with a beautiful baby boy!