Nicole laughed, “You’re their mom!"
“I’m pretty sure that’s most of the problem,” Zaina said.
“Zaina!” Nicole exclaimed.
“No, I’m with her on this one. I think I’m the last person these two scamps will listen to,” Devin grumbled. “Honestly Nic, you’re my best friend, I just need you here.” Her eyes pleaded with Nicole.
“Of cour—"
“Hey, Nic!” yelled Devin’s son, Liam.
“Hey, buddy.” Nicole said, “Whatcha doing back there?”
“Lost my hat.”
“You lost your hat?”
“Fwanklin rew it.
“Franklin threw your hat?”
Liam nodded furiously. Franklin was wedged under one of the fermenters with his head down and his arms wrapped around his knees.
Nicole looked at Devin and Zaina, “Do you two see a hat anywhere?” They both pointed up. On top of one of the stainless steel ten foot tall fermenters lay a blue baseball hat.
Nicole said, “Well, I guess that explains what happened. Jeez, Franklin can really throw.”
“Once we get out of this mess and I tell Ben what happened, he’ll sign both of them up for T-ball for sure,” Devin said wryly.
Zaina gathered her dress and pulled it off, leaving her in a black shirt and black yoga pants. She handed the voluminous dress to Nicole. “Here, hold on to this. Maybe I can fit through the slats in this gate.”
Nicole took the dress and Zaina attempted to wedge herself between the slats. She was able to get halfway through the space in between but no matter which way she tried, her head was just a little too big.
Devin looked ready to pull out her hair, “Girl, your head’s too big.”
“Damnit!” Zaina shouted and pulled herself out from the two slats.
Nicole looked at the bottom of the grate. There were a few inches between it and the floor.
“Zaina, what if you tried to squeeze under the grate? I would do it myself, but there isn’t any way my butt is going to fit under it.”
Zaina, rolled her eyes. “Is now really the time to remind me that you have a great ass and mine is flat?”
Nicole flashed a smile. “Sorry.”
Devin stood holding the bars on the gate as if was willing herself to become She Hulk so she could pull the bars apart and retrieve her children via brute strength.
“Do you think you can fit?” she asked, her voice rising an octave.
Nicole handed Zaina her windbreaker. “Here, put this on so you don’t get scraped by the metal.”
Zaina zipped up the jacket and then walked over to the gate. “I think I should try going feet first, then you can push me?”
Nicole shrugged. “It’s worth a shot.”
Devin remained at the gate, her knuckles white as she held on. Zaina tucked the jacket into her pants then got down on her stomach and began scooching back under the gate. Nicole kneeled down and put her hands on Zaina’s shoulders and began pushing. Things were going great until she tried to get her thighs through.
“Looks like your runner’s thighs have done us in.” Devin said.
