This is a story told at a Private Club in New York City one Christmas about a young pregnant woman determined to deliver her baby, regardless of what has happened to her.
Character Dr Emlyn McCarron tells about a patient of his, Sandra Stansfield, who paid for his help in delivering her baby in the pre-WWII era. He introduced her to what he called the Breathing Method to help control the pain and help her concentrate on the birth - what we now call Lamaze.
Sarah was beheaded in a terrible accident outside the hospital as she was arriving by taxi to deliver the baby. As Dr McCarron arrived at the hospital to deliver the baby he bears witness to Sarah's headless body continuing to perform the Breathing Method and aids it in delivering the baby. Once the baby is safely delivered Sarah's body finally dies just as the eyes on her severed head close.
When I first read this story it really made me pause and think about a parent's dedication to their child. You know, there have been a lot of strange, and sometimes unexplainable, things that have happen in the world and this story isn't too far out of the realm of probability - in my opinion anyway.
As horrible this story is in it's description of the birth it is equally pleasing to the reader because the baby lives due to it's mother's dedication to it. Stephen King has given the reader the feeling of feeling sadness and satisfaction at the same time, kind of a reader's version of speed.
This has not yet been made into a movie, but I have heard that there is a screen play out htere that is being shopped around. We'll just have to wait and see if this is indeed the case.
For you teachers out there this story is available as a level 4 intermediate reader from Penguin Publishers. There are fact sheets/teacher notes available on line as well.
A Winter's Tale
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