“How about I help you?Would you like that?”asked Hazel.
He opened the screen door and let her inside.“I gave the baby a cookie and Harry some cereal, but I can’t take care of Lucinda.I need you to help me.”
Unsure what was needed, Hazel stepped inside.
The living room was a mess, with toys strewn about, an open cereal box on the coffee table, a half-full glass of juice nearby.In a crib in the corner, Lucinda lay on her back, staring up at her.It was obvious that she had a dirty diaper.The smell was awful.
Hazel gulped at the sight.“Jed, you need to show me where to find new diapers and lotion for Lucinda.In the meantime, let’s get Harry in his highchair and see if we can put the baby in his bouncer seat.First, I’ll let Lisa know I’m here.”
He nodded and placed the baby in his seat, and stood by as Hazel found her way to Lisa’s bedroom.
She stopped at the doorway and peered inside.Lisa was lying in bed on her back.
“Hi, Lisa.Do you remember me?I’m Hazel from the Sports Center,” she said, walking over to her.Lisa’s face was flushed, and Hazel noticed beads of sweat on her forehead.
“Yes, I know you.I’m sick with some kind of flu.I’m burning up.My husband is coming home as soon as he can, but it won’t be for a while.”
“I’m going to help Jed see that the other children are fed and taken care of,” said Hazel.“Lucinda needs to have her diaper changed.Tell me what to do with her.”
“She’s usually very compliant, but when you change her diaper, you need to sing to her to calm her.You can give her a bottle of special formula until I can get up and feed her more food myself.Jed knows I keep an emergency bottle for her in the refrigerator.Heat it until it’s lukewarm.”
“Harry.What does he get?Cereal and what else?”asked Hazel.
“I cut up some fruit for him or scramble an egg,” said Lisa, her voice growing weaker.“The baby can get by with formula and some teething cookies.”
Hazel noticed a bathroom nearby and went to it.She soaked a washcloth with cold water, wrung it out, and brought it to Lisa.“See if this feels better.Can I bring you a glass of water?Aspirin?”
“Yes, to both.Thanks.I’ve never been this sick.I’ll get up in a while.In the meantime, please go ask my neighbor to come help.She’s a nurse, and she and I have an arrangement to help out one another from time to time.”
“Okay.If you need anything, please call out.”Hazel took care of the water and aspirin, which she easily found in the bathroom, then backed out of the room and turned to face the disaster awaiting her.
“Okay, let’s give the baby a bottle and Harry more cereal and some fruit,” said Hazel.“Then I’m going to change Lucinda and give her a bottle.”
Jed went to the refrigerator to get out two different bottles.“This one is for Lucinda.”He pointed to one and ran the other bottle under warm water in the sink.“This is for Baby Simon.”
“This is a lot of work for you,” said Hazel, amazed at how calm and capable Jed was.
“Living with Lisa is a lot better than the other foster homes I had,” said Jed.“Is Lisa going to be all right?”
“I think so.I need you to run to your neighbor’s house and ask her to come.”
Jed handed her the bottle for the baby and took off.
Hazel had just settled Baby Simon in his playpen eagerly sucking on his bottle, when a gray-haired, energetic woman followed Jed into the house.
“Hi.I’m Hazel Belmont, Jed’s tennis teacher from the Sports Center.Are you the nurse?”
“Yes, I’m Janis Tolland.”She tied the sash on her robe.“Jed tells me Lisa’s sick.”
“She’s in bed with the flu.A moment ago, she was burning up.I’ve given her water and aspirin.”
“Okay, let me check her, and then I can help you with Lucinda.She’s used to me, and she can be a handful,” said Janis.
Hazel felt a rush of relief.She’d always pictured herself with perfectly behaved, easy-going children one day.Seeing the reality of everyday life for Lisa, she knew she wasn’t ready for them.
Still, Hazel went to work straightening the living room and then tackling the mess in the kitchen.
Harry spoke and offered her a Cheerio.
