Spring Eternal

Chapter 3
Running a Few Errands

Chapter Description: Cal unexpectedly finds himself alone with Iris while running a few errands

Patrice was going over their little group’s itinerary as she navigated the roads taking them over to the shopping area near the college. This morning’s plan was for Patrice to take her mother to the mall and then the grocery store for dinner items. Iris was almost out of her expensive face cream which could only be bought at a department store was the reason for the trip to the mall. Calvin had resolved himself to be a good sport and be as cooperative as possible so they could complete the morning tasks as quickly and smoothly as possible. After the grocery store, they were to return home to prepare lunch. Randall should be home by lunchtime. Cal would stay with Randall at the house while the women continued their search for the El Dorado of senior communities.

Patrice had taken two weeks off from her duties at the college to get her mother comfortably settled in and adjusted to her new life. She had arranged for her classes to be covered by her grad students, providing them a detailed no-fail teaching plan. Once a day, her grad students checked in with her apprising her of their status. Patrice had informed Calvin that her main objective for this time was to assist her mother in selecting an appropriate senior community located nearby. In fact, Iris and Patrice had already started canvassing a few of the senior complexes in the area.

Cal was sitting in his car seat, idly plucking at the latch on his restraints as he quietly listened to the women chatting in the front as they drove along. At last, they reached the mall. As Patrice pulled into the large mall parking lot, her phone rang.

Patrice pulled over to one side, stopped the car and picked up her phone. After a brief yet dramatic phone conversation, she hung up and turned to her mother with an apprehensive look.

“Mom, that was work. They called an emergency department funding meeting this morning. I have to be there.” Patrice explained as she looked at her mother’s face. “If I leave you the car, do you think you and Calvin can finish up the errands?”

“Won’t you need it?” Iris asked with a little tremulously, not wanting to be a bother.

“No, the campus is only a few blocks over from here. Randall has to stay for the meeting as well. I can ride home with him.” Patrice lifted her head so she could look in the mirror at the toddler in the back seat. “We won’t be back at the house until late this afternoon. You two can stay out as long as you want to. Is that okay with you, Calvin?

“Uh…mmm. Uh…” Calvin hesitated, clearly not thrilled about the situation, but also not wanting to increase the burden on Patrice. He capitulated with a sigh. “Shuwa.”

“Wonderful! Then it’s settled!” Patrice exclaimed as she removed her foot from the brake. As she turned the steering wheel, she announced with an ebullient smile. “This will be the perfect time for you two to get to know each other better!”

Patrice pulled up to a doorway of the mall and almost immediately found a parking spot where she smoothly pulled in. Turning off the engine, she gave her mother instructions about Calvin and his schedule. She also handed over the grocery list which her mother folded and slid into the pocket of her purse. Pointing to the rear of the car over her shoulder, she reminded her mother about the diaper bag and the stroller in the back. With that, she handed the car keys over to her mother. In another moment, she was gone, leaving the bewildered older woman and child sitting alone together in the car.

“Well, I guess we better get started.” Iris announced as she pulled the door latch on the passenger side door.

With almost tangible trepidation, Calvin watched the woman stand by the door, looking around, perplexed. He held his breath as she stood there, looking lost as she surveyed the surrounding area, not moving. He wondered if she would forget about him. Would he make the local news about a tot being left in a hot car strapped into his seat? Would he be the subject of just another one of those warnings that news shows love to use to frighten parents of young children? Looking uncertainly at the car, Iris finally started moving to the rear of the vehicle. Calvin released his breath when he heard the trunk open and minor rustling as Iris pulled the necessary items out of the back for their venture into the mall.

As he waited in his seat, he saw the edge of her back appear on the other side of car door’s window beside him. He couldn’t hear her, but from her motions, it appeared that she was having some difficulty opening the stroller. She disappeared from his line of sight for a moment and then suddenly, he heard the door pop open.

Twenty minutes later, Iris was signing the credit slip at the department store’s cosmetic counter. Calvin was staring straight ahead as he patiently waited for the transaction to be completed. Iris took the small bag and placed it inside the diaper bag hanging on the stroller’s handle. As Iris slid the slip back to the woman, she complimented Iris on the adorable baby grandson accompanying her. Iris looked uncomfortable for a moment as her eyes dashed over to Cal. Then looking back at the woman, she shyly thanked her and cleared her throat.

After saying goodbye to the overly made up woman behind the counter, Iris began to push Cal’s stroller out into the mall. They had gotten about thirty feet into the mall from the department store entrance, when a grating woman’s voice called Iris’ name.

Iris turned and was surprised to see Lancine, a woman she had met on one of this past weekend tours of the nearby senior centers she and her daughter had visited. Lancine and Iris had hit it off during the tour, and so, they were both delighted to see each other at the mall. They immediately began talking furiously about what a funny coincidence it was, and what they were doing there. It turned out that Lancine did a daily walk of the mall in the mornings for exercise. Iris explained that she was out running errands and introduced Calvin. Calvin looked up at the woman towering over him with her short fluffy silver hair and pale blue velveteen running suit.

“Well, aren’t you a little heartbreaker?” The older woman leaned down and spoke with a puckered mouth as she peered into Calvin’s face. “Is this your grandson?”

Iris nodded numbly since she could not think of another answer without spilling the beans about Calvin. That was something her daughter had instructed her to definitely not to do.

“He’s just a cutie pie! Yes, he is!” Lancine announced and then turned her face upward toward Iris. “What’s his name?”

“Um. Calvin.” Iris uttered, her eyes taking on a hunted look.

“Hello, Calvin. Hello, Calvin. Are you out shopping with Grandma, huh?” Lancine cooed at Cal, as she placed her hand on his chest, jostling him slightly for a smile.

Cal stared at the woman for a moment and then turned his head away, effectively dismissing her as he brought his hand up to his mouth to cover the look of irritation he knew was about to appear. Seeing that she was not going to be graced with a smile, Lancine straightened as she remarked to Iris.

“Calvin. That’s an old fashioned name. You don’t hear of too many little boys being called that anymore” Lancine pondered out loud.

“I think they named him after a family friend.” Iris answered quickly.

“Well, he is certainly well behaved. He must be an old soul.”

“He’s a good little boy. We’re very lucky.”

Calvin sighed and looked away from the woman hoping the interchange would summarily wind up and they could go on to the next errand. He rested his cheek on his hand as he waited for the women to stop talking, and waited, and waited.

The two women continued to carry on talking till Cal turned to look up at Iris with a perturbed look and a sound of annoyance. Noticing Cal, Iris began to push the stroller with Lancine walking with her. The women kept blathering, as Cal sat quietly in his stroller, his eyes watching the smattering of weekday mall patrons walk by. As they approached a restaurant storefront with a Colonial style façade, there was a sign in front, advertising a senior special which made Iris slow her momentum.

Looking at their watch, the women decided to go to lunch since it was after eleven. Lancine led Iris and Calvin in to the mall’s cafeteria and through the stalls that led to the food line. Calvin looked at the false brick décor as he was pushed through the line. From his location in the stroller, he could only see steam and hot lights beaming down as Lancine and Iris picked up trays.

Lancine recommended the senior platter. Iris picked up a few individual dishes to her tray while she and Lancine each got the senior platter. At the end of the line by the register, the cashier called for tray assistance when she spied the stroller. A stout young woman appeared and followed Iris and Cal with their tray. Lancine had gone ahead and picked out a booth and secured a high chair for Calvin. She waved at them. Once there, Iris moved Cal’s stroller to one side as she let the young woman set the tray on the table. The young woman stood back and smiled at Cal before turning back to the line.

Lancine took off the high chair’s tray which had an over wrap of plastic and set it on a neighboring empty table. Inside the plastic wrap, on the tray were a disposable plastic bib and two packs of saltine crackers whose purpose was to keep little ones entertained.

Calvin tried to catch Iris’ eye as she bent over to undo the belt of the stroller, but her attention was drawn to her conversation with Lancine. Calvin’s face took on a look of resignation as Iris released the clasp of the stroller’s restraints around him. He was summarily deposited into the seat of the high chair where he was strapped in once again. While Iris dug out the wet wipes and cleaned Calvin’s hands, Lancine removed the plastic wrap from the high chairs tray and handed the thin plastic bib over to Iris. Iris slid Calvin’s head through the opening of the bib and adjusted it over his chest. Iris then clipped on the tray to the high chair, wiping it down with the wipe used on Calvin’s hands. Lancine moved the food from the trays to the table and deposited the trays on the nearby collection stand.

“This looks good.” Iris announced as she finally sat down and pulled Cal’s high chair to the end of the booth.

“Yes. It is. I don’t know why young people stopped coming to cafeterias now days. It was always such a good bargain and you get to choose what you want.”

Cal’s face wrinkled as he looked at the spread of rather dull looking overcooked institutional grade food on the table between the two women.

“It’s so economical too. That senior plate is a real deal!” Iris stated, as she plucked up a number of dull colored green beans and placed them on the tray in from of Calvin.

She then picked up a spoonful of the tired looking fruit cup and placed it beside the green beans. Taking her knife and fork, she proceeded to cut the larger piece of fruit into small pieces. Cal stared at the food for a moment before looking over at Iris with a stunned expression. By that time, Iris was busy removing the breading and skin from a piece of chicken. Tearing the chicken meat into little pieces, she soon added to the tray in front of him.

“Go on, honey. Eat up!” Iris instructed the little person behind the tray before turning back to continue her conversation with her new friend.

The women dug into their food with enthusiasm as Carl looked at his meal with disappointment. He looked back over at the women, as they continued to chatter while their cutlery flashed in the fluorescent light overhead.

Cal thought he should at least be allowed a spoon. Wait a minute, Patrice always packed in a few plastic sporks in his bag. He could at least try to obtain some level of propriety and not eat with his hands like an animal. Maybe he should try to ask for one…Cal kicked his legs as he leaned over and pointed at the bag hanging on the stroller.

“Supowuk” He announced as he open and closed his hand in a wanting gesture at the diaper bag. “Wuan Supowuk.”

Iris put down her utensils and blotted her mouth with a napkin before turning to the high chair. Looking over to the high chair, old memories flooded her mind of little ones who needed to be reminded that they were supposed to eat.

“No, honey. We’re eating right now.” She coaxed as she sat him straight in his chair. Iris picked up a green bean and deftly inserted an end in his mouth. “Here, make all gone.”

Cal reared back as he brought up his hand to pull the offending vegetable from of his mouth. Unfortunately, the bean was so over cooked that half of it was left behind in his mouth as he pulled it away. His face wrinkled as he closed his mouth with the part of the green bean inside. As the bland taste flooded his mouth, his revitalized taste buds began to be titillated by the surprisingly good taste. He could taste bacon, salt and pepper and maybe even a little Worcestershire sauce. He realized that Patrice had not come to cooking naturally and was only serving him the blandest of foods, sans even salt and pepper. He stared at the greasy green bean in his hand for a moment and then suddenly shoved the rest in his mouth.

“See. It’s gooood!” Iris coaxed as she rubbed his arm affectionately as he began to eat in earnest.

Resolving to get through lunch, he began to gingerly pick up the small pieces of food in front of him and place them in his mouth. One thing he noted was that the soft texture of this meal was easily macerated by his sparse number of teeth. Once he accustomed himself to the rather unexciting selection to his adult sensibilities, it wasn’t half bad. He had to admit that his standard old favorites like tuna sushi with wasabi, sausage with peppers and onions, or even buffalo wings would never appear on a plate in front of him again. Okay, this was not a totally miserable meal, he admitted to himself as he picked up a grape that Iris had cut in half. He was able to move quite smoothly from one item to another.

While Cal was engrossed in his meal, the women continued to carry on their conversation at the table. They went from the topics of weather, to good doctors, their friends experiences with doctors, what they’re doctors were prescribing now, the latest new drugs on the market and their friends’ experiences with the latest new drugs.

Cal picked up a larger piece of pear and put it into his mouth. It still had some body and slipped by his teeth, causing him to choke slightly. At the noise, Iris turned from the conversation and patted Cal on the back. She then reached behind the stroller and pulled out the diaper bag. She dug into it and pulled out a white plastic sippy cup with a purple top. She opened the small carton of milk on her tray and poured into the cup. Tightening the lid, she placed the cup on the tray in front of Cal.

“I’m sorry, baby. I forgot about your milk.” She apologized, as she gave his arm a quick pat.

Cal looked up sharply from the cup, when he heard that endearment. A sudden chill ran through him. Was Iris becoming confused? He was okay with portraying an infant in public for convenience sake, but he didn’t want her to actually believe he was one. He thought he better say something.

“Nua babee.” He announced with a piercing look at Iris.

“That’s right. You’re a big boy! Only big boys use a sippy cup!” Lancine joined in, as she nodded emphatically.

Cal sighed in disgust as he picked up the cup and brought it to his lips with both hands. He turned away slightly as he sat back with the cup in the chair

The women continued to visit as they finished up their meal. It was when they began to talk about mature women’s physical issues that Cal finally started to fuss. There was no way that he was going to listen to a conversation about that. Giving her new friend a small smile, Iris pulled a spoon over and dipped it into a small pot of what looked to be bumpy looking custard. She brought out a small amount on the end of the spoon. She pivoted her her seat and placed it into Cal’s mouth.

“You know, when I was a child, we all loved tapioca pudding. It seems it is just not as popular anymore.” she sighed.

“It’s a shame, isn’t it?” Lancine commiserated.

Scowling about the intrusion of the spoon, Cal closed his lips after the tapioca had been deposited. As an adult, he had always leaned toward savory items rather than sweet. Patrice knew of his distaste for sweets, so she did not present him with anything even slightly sugary since he had come to live with them. As he sat there, the strong and heavily sweet vanilla taste flooded his mouth, activating the revitalized taste buds once again in his mouth but this time it was accompanied by the physical reaction of sugar. The rush of the sugar sang in his system. The texture of the small balls of tapioca smashed between his teeth providing a sense of destructive accomplishment. Although as an adult, he knew that he would found this item loathsome, but he now found it sublime and entirely delightful in his present state. It was absolutely addictive! He flung himself forward against the tray with his mouth open for another spoonful like a hungry baby bird. Iris and Lancine snickered at his reaction. Calvin bounced his legs and slapped his tray as he could not encourage them to deliver another spoonful quick enough.

“Oh, so you like that? Huh?” Iris asked as she held up the next spoonful of tapioca.

‘Yes! Yes, of course, I like it. Another spoon, now please!” was what Calvin intended to say as he reached out a hand that he opened and closed at the tapioca, willing it closer. His request was modified with the addition of the heady thrill of sugar and enticement of the tapioca allowed a more primitive side to come surging forward so all that came out of his mouth was “MHOOHWAH!”

Later, after the tapioca had been completely consumed and Cal had been cleaned up and redeposited back into his stroller, the three of them walked back into the mall. The women continued to gab as they window shopped as they strolled. Cal began to wonder if they would ever leave this mall. As the progressed through the mall, they came across the children’s play area. It is a depressed carpeted area several feet below the mall’s shopping area. There was a short wall on the edges with benches for adults to watch the young work off some energy. In the center, there was a brightly colored playscape and a series of tubes so the children could crawl through, Lancine suggested that they allow Cal work off his dessert on the equipment while they sit on the benches. To Cal’s amazement and horror, Iris agreed.

Once the women have located a bench, Calvin was taken out of his stroller. He stood there for a moment, frozen and then looked doubtfully over at Iris.

“Go on! Go play!” Iris said as she placed a hand on his bottom to scoot him toward the play equipment.

Cal stared back at Iris with confusion. Did she mean for him to play with these rug rats? He watched her face to see if there was any hidden message. She just smiled at him and made gestured to hurry him toward the children’s area. Iris watched Cal take a few timid steps away and turned back to her conversation with her friend. Cal meandered toward the playscape, eyeing it with dread until he was next to a brightly colored slide. It was bright red and triangular shaped. It was angled at a low degree, so little hands and feet could stop their slide. It was obviously meant for small children; but was it meant for someone as small as him? He stood there with his hands on it, pondering how to utilize such a piece of equipment in his present state.

A little girl, a few years older than him suddenly slid down to one side of him, surprising him with her sudden appearance. Stunned, he watched her scramble around him and scamper back up the slide. Her older teenage sister with her boyfriend stood on the other side of the slide, monitoring the little girl.

“Hey, Molly, slow down. Don’t hit anyone!” Her sister warned and rolled her eyes to the tall boy’s amusement.

As they stood there, they spied Cal standing there studying the little girl on the slide. Nudging his girlfriend, the friendly looking high school student athlete nodded over at the amazed toddler. Walking over, the young man in the high school jacket knelt down and spoke to Cal.

“Hey, little buddy. Did you want to go down the slide?” he asked the young toddler gently. Without saying a word, Cal slowly turned and looked uncomprehendingly at the young man next to him.

The teenage boy stood and looked around for the parents of the baby beside him for permission. He saw Iris watching him. He waved, pointing at the slide and then at Cal. Iris smiled and nodded in response.

“Here ya go!” The young man picked Cal up and placed him a few feet up on the slide and let him go. “Zoom!” the teenager added sound effects as Cal slid all of three feet with the young man’s hands just to the outside of his chest. The young man caught Cal before he was even close to the edge and lifted him into the air. Now, Cal had been on numerous rides at parks and fairs in his lifetime, he had even participated in extreme sports when he was adult sized ;but he could not remember a thrill even this close to that this small slide was providing him. His face broke out into an open grin as the older boy placed him again about three feet up the slide once again. His girlfriend joined in and applauded as Calvin slid again. Cal was having such a good time that he clumsily clapped his hands with her when he reached the bottom.

After about eight minutes, the older boy’s face took on a peculiar look as Cal was set once again on his feet at the end of the slide. The teenager then took the toddler’s hand and escorted him over to where Iris and Lancine were sitting. Cal toddled ahead, over to Iris, still buoyant on an adrenaline high and delight. Iris thanked the young man for his attention. The young man casually mentioned that Cal needs a little attention for a problem he was experiencing. Picking up the intimation, Iris picked up the diaper bag as she picked up Cal. Her hand went immediately to the seat of his pants, feeling the weight of his diaper. She stood up from the bench, turning her head, looking for a restroom.

“Do you know where the nearest ladies room is? He’s wet. I need to change him.” Iris turned back to Lancine, hoping her knowledge of the mall would be beneficial.

“Why don’t you just change him here? It’s only families in this area. Nothing, any one hasn’t seen before.” Lancine countered as she patted the bench next to her.

“Well….I don’t know…It wouldn’t be...” Iris begins to dispute but falters as she stared at the bench.

Cal didn’t like where this conversation was going. He could feel Iris giving in. He urgently reached over, taking a hold of her necklace to get her attention.

“Iwis, noa. Naut hewr. Baffuum!” he leaned over and whispered in her ear. Unfortunately, Iris’ decreased hearing had not improved and she didn’t pick up that he had said anything. She took hold his wrist of the hand wrapped around her necklace and pulled it away from her necklace. She looked over to see the large pleading eyes looking back at her which ignited the old maternal feelings.

“Oh come on! He’s an infant. You don’t have to traipse down to that old smelly restroom. This is the quickest, easiest way to get him into some dry pants before he starts to fuss.” Lancine scooted back down the bench, making room.

“You…think it is okay to change him out in the open?” Iris stammered as she had begun to waffle. She really did not want to go to some unsanitary public restroom.

“Oh, please! It’s not like he’s going to mind or be embarrassed. He’s a baby.” Lancine chuckled at the idea of the impropriety.

Iris was getting confused again. There was something she was supposed to remember about the baby. She was supposed to … what? It must have not been important, if she couldn’t remember. She looked over again at the baby in her arms. Cal stared back at her, willing her to decide to go to the restroom for the procedure to have some modicum of privacy. Seeing the baby look so trusting and innocent into her eyes, Iris made her decision. As she took a step toward the bench, the baby began to fuss and squirm in her arms.

“Shhh. Quiet down, now. We’ll get you out of that nasty diaper in just a second.” Iris said as pinned him against her shoulder as she sat down on the bench. She turned and laid him on his back on the bench a second later.

Cal began to yell in earnest as he kicked and writhed on the bench in his attempt to get away from these women. Unable to let him go, Iris asked her friend to pull out a clean diaper, powder and baby wipes from the diaper bag. Looking back over his shoulder in horror, Cal was acutely aware of what was about to happen. He looked up at Iris, shaking his head and pleading with her as his worst nightmare was about to come true.

“Noooa. Nooooa.” Cal plaintively begged as he saw the diaper being passed from Lancine to Iris. Escape, any escape would be preferable now. Where was Patrice? This indignity would never happen if she was here. He struggled to get up but a large hand across his chest kept him flat on the bench.

He looked up to see Lancine’s face leaning over him and making funny faces at him. He kicked out when he heard the popping sound of the snaps as they were opened while Iris’ friend tried to distract him.

“It’s alright. We’re going to get some new pants on you and you’re going to feel so much better.” She consoled the fretful toddler before her.

Cal could feel the cool air on his legs as the pants were pushed up to his waist and behind him. The next instant, he felt Iris’ large fingers latch on one side of his waist. He tried to stop her with his own hands, but Lancine caught them as she forced him into a game of patty cake. She held each one of his hands as she sang a nursery rhyme to him. While that was going on, he heard the rip of the diaper’s plastic to his dismay. With a soul crushing finality, it was soon followed by a repeat of the sound on the other side. He knew that he had lost now. It was all over. The diaper could not be refastened now. They were at a point of no return, he could now only hope that the change would quickly and draw no notice.

The diaper was pulled down and the next sensation of the cool baby wipe across his private region in public made it all too real what was happening. It made his eyes water in humiliation as his face became red with mortification. He just wanted to cover his face, but his hands were still trapped by Lancine’s silly game. He began to blubber as he looked up to see the strange woman’s overly exaggerated compassionate expression.

“It’s okay, sweetie. We’re almost done. Then, you can go back and play some more.” Lancine attempted to console the upset toddler.

Suddenly, a new voice interrupted Lancine’s exaggerated stream of sympathy.

“That’s boy. I can see his penis.” The little girl Molly from the slide proudly stated the facts as she saw them, literally.

“That’s not a nice word. Good little girls should say pee-pee.” Lancine primly corrected as she looked down her nose at the obtuse little girl.

“No, it’s called a penis. That’s what boys got. His is really little. Will it get bigger?” The little girl queried she intently stared at the diaper change and pointed at the interesting facet.

Cal groaned as he shut his eyes and wished he was dead as he lay there. He prayed for the diaper to be immediately slapped up so the size of his organs would cease to be the topic of discussion in the mall.

“Of course. He’s just a baby, so he has a baby size pee–pee.” The woman in the track suit responded as Iris looked up from her diaper changing activity.

Her older sister rushed over and grabbed her little sister to lead her away. She stopped long enough to apologize to the older ladies for anything improper that might have been said.

It felt like forever before Cal felt his legs being lifted as the old diaper was pulled away and fresh one was set under him. A sprinkling of cool powder was showered on the exposed bottom and on the crotch of the diaper. Finally, the diaper was pulled up and fastened at his waist. Iris pulled down his shorts, quickly snapping the crotch closed. Letting out a huge breath, he stared up into Lancine’s face as she bopped a finger on his nose to get a smile. He closed his eyes in surrender. All he wanted to do was to leave this place of torment and lick the psychic wounds in peace.

Iris pulled in up into her arms and straightened his shirt. He shrank against her defeated and placed his head on her shoulder. This day had overwhelmed him and he just wanted to be back in the safety of his home again. To his surprise, he found he was put down on the ground by Iris. She actually expected him to go back to the playscape. He became indignant. After that gut wrenching episode, he was supposed to act like nothing had happened? He was fed up. He wheeled around to Iris, pulling at her.

“Wauan g’hum” He tried to convey to Iris, but it came across as a mumbled whine. The morning with the unexpected events had taken an expensive toll on him. He was sick of the mall and more than anything, wanted to leave.

To his surprise, Iris turned him back toward the slide, patting him on the butt. The motion made him involuntarily take a step, but he tripped and fell flat on the floor of the play area. Luckily, his arms were up, so he was able to keep from performing a full face plant on the filthy industrial carpeting. It was too much! He lifted his head and began to scream at the top of his lungs. He didn’t care who or what heard him. He began to call down curses on malls, old women and little girls who should mind their own business. He kicked his legs as all the emotional turmoil poured out of him. With such intensity, his diction flew out the window, so all anyone in the surrounding area heard were the cries of a distressed toddler.

With a knowing smile at her friend, Iris mouthed the word ‘tired’. Iris moved swiftly over and firmly picked him up. Sitting back down on the bench, she placed him in her lap. He shoved his face into her shirt at the humiliation, seeking some retreat from the mall which had witnessed his humiliation. Looking at the miserable infant, Lancine suggested that he might need his binkie. Iris thought for a minute...why wouldn’t the baby not have a binkie. Feeling the little body’s breathing hitch in her arms, she thought Cal certainly looked like he could use one. Shrugging, she dug in the bag, but could not find one. Pointing at the storefronts near the playarea, Lancine volunteered to go get one from a baby store nearby.

Seeing Lancine race-walk away, Cal used the opportunity to whisper to Iris. “Naa Babee. Wezza goa homm!”

Again, her hearing did not allow Iris to realize that Cal was talking while she bounced and shushed him. In another minute, Lancine appeared with a packaged pacifier. Taking the item, Iris quickly unwrapped it as Cal shook his head in denial. Holding his head by the chin, Iris deftly inserted the pacifier into Cal’s mouth. Cal tried to spit it out, but Iris did not take her hand away from it and held it there. It had effectively silenced him. He slumped against her in defeat. He was exhausted, tired and just a little filthy from the encounter with the floor. Iris cradled him against her as she swayed him slowly as she continued to visit with her friend. Cal’s breathing slowed, as he unconsciously started to suck slightly on the pacifier in his mouth. In a few moments, he had fallen asleep.