A laughing, blue-eyed baby sat splashing happily in a puddle of pee as the girls walked in the back door. She staggered to her knees and waddled crazily holding her hands up to Lynn. Her droopy diaper was barely hanging on.

“Oh Lynn.” I’m so glad you’re home. Can you please take that wet diaper off Connie and put her in the bathtub? The mop’s over there. You need to mop up that puddle before somebody slips in it. And DON’T wake the little baby up.” Lynn’s mother said.

Lynn’s face fell. “Mother, what if her diaper’s poopy?”

“You’d smell it if it was. If you’d rather peel these potatoes and put them on to boil, I’ll do it. Which will it be? Everyone has to help.” She said.

“I’ll do the bath.” said Lynn woefully. picking Connie up and holding her at arm’s length. “Lou, can you mop up that puddle?”

“Sure,” said Lou, making quick work of the puddle. She followed Lynn down the hall to the bathroom. The droopy diaper fell off in the hall, splatting as it hit.

“Thank goodness, no poop!” laughed Lynn. It’s my lucky day. I wouldn’t want to clean that up. She sat Connie in the tub and started running the water. Connie tried to stand and Lynn handed her a wash cloth. The baby sat and started splashing. Water went everywhere. She was so cute Lou couldn’t help laughing. “Lou, can you watch her while I get the diaper? Don’t let her stand up. She’ll fall.”

“Nooooo!” Said Lou. “I’ll get the diaper. I never took care of a baby.!” Before that, Lou would never have expected to mop up pee or volunteer to pick up a wet diaper. She trotted out of the bathroom and returned holding the wet diaper by the tiniest corner. She’d still gotten pee on her fingers. She rinsed them off in the bathtub, splashing Connie a little. Connie laughed out loud, slapping bath water back at Lou. She was adorable. It was fun bathing the baby.

Lynn’s mom appeared at the bathroom door. “Thanks , Lynn. I’ll finish. Can you girls run out to the chicken yard and gather eggs? I need a couple for the cornbread. Go ahead and feed the chickens while you’re out there.”

“Yes, ma’am.” answered Lynn., heading out the kitchen door. She picked up a bucket off the porch. Lou tagged along, following Lynn into a a wire enclosure full of squawking chickens. The chickens rushed at the girls. Lynn scooped up a bucket of corn from a barrel tossing it on the ground to the greedy chickens. A big rooster jumped on Lynn’s shoulder to eat out of her hand. “Hey Chicky! Here’s your supper. I raised Chicky in a box in my room. He thinks I’m his mama because I was there when he hatched out. I just love Chicky. Let’s get the eggs.” She reached into a row of nesting boxes and took an egg out of most. A hen sitting in one nest grumbled and pecked at her when Lynn reached under her”

”Did that hurt?” asked Lou.

”No. She didn’t peck hard. She’s just fussing. We better get these in. Mother’s waiting.” Answered Lynn.

”But you left an egg in every nest.” Lou noted.

”Those are china nest eggs… fake eggs. They fool the hens. If you take all the eggs, they’ll leave the nest.”

”Lynn!” her mother called from the kitchen door. I need those eggs!”

They raced for the house.

To be continued: