Baby

Baby throws its rattle out of the crib.

Uncle picks up the rattle, places it back in the crib. Coos at Baby.

Baby throws the rattle back onto the floor.

Uncle thinks, maybe Baby wants to be held. Uncle picks up Baby. Baby stiffens and pushes away from Uncle.

Baby’s parents had said Baby was no trouble, no trouble at all. Said Baby would probably sleep the entire afternoon. Uncle just had to make sure robbers didn’t break in or the house didn’t catch on fire. There’s really nothing to it, they had said.

It’s the first time Uncle has watched over Baby.

Uncle is not comfortable around babies. Around Baby.

Uncle is single. Looking for the one. Uncle had agreed to watch Baby because Uncle thought this would give him sweet Baby stories to tell dates so they would see him in a different light.

Uncle carries stiff Baby into the kitchen. Offers stiff Baby a cracker. Stiff Baby grimaces. Uncle tries a Cheeto. Stiff Baby curls its little lips. Uncle tickles stiff Baby under its chin, sings the only song he can think of, some country song about a cooler full of beers. Stiff Baby perks up. Smiles a toothless smile. Uncle sings louder as Baby giggles and relaxes in his arms. Uncle thinks he’s finally onto this parenting thing, even if a song about beer probably isn’t the most appropriate thing to sing to Baby.

Baby’s eyes start to droop shut. Baby’s body softens. Uncle sings softer as he walks Baby back to its crib. Places Baby on its thin mattress. Lays Baby’s blanket over its chubby little Baby belly.

Uncle gently shuts the door behind him. Looks at his watch. Uncle’s sister and brother-in-law should be back by now. Uncle thinks of texting sister, but he doesn’t. Uncle’s sister and brother-in-law get so little time to themselves since Baby came along. Let them enjoy themselves, even if it’s just running errands and having lunch.

Uncle turns the TV on, flips through the channels. Nothing captures Uncle’s attention.

Uncle closes his eyes, dozes a little.

When they were young, Uncle’s sister had a doll with red hair and glasses. Uncle’s sister carried the doll everywhere. Uncle’s sister loved her doll so much. Uncle would tease sister, would grab the doll and hold it over his head. Sister would cry and cry and jump and jump.

Uncle doesn’t like this memory. What it maybe says about him. Uncle doesn’t know why he was so mean to sister. Normal sibling rivalry, Uncle supposes.

But why does Uncle sometimes feel twinges of jealousy?

Uncle’s sister has a good life. Uncle wants to be happy for sister.

Uncle tries. He really does. Work could be better. Uncle feels unappreciated. Promotions always seem to go to someone else. And Uncle never seems to make it past the second or third date with a woman. He doesn’t know why. He has a lot going for him, Uncle thinks.

Uncle would never tell sister he gets so wrapped up in his thoughts he doesn’t always know how he gets from point A to point B. Uncle would never admit to sister he wanted the doll because sister loved the doll. Sister would not understand. Maybe would not trust him around Baby.

It’s getting dark out now. Uncle texts sister Everything OK?

Uncle hears Baby’s rattle hit the floor again.

Uncle pulls himself up off the couch. Uncle is a little lightheaded, a little woozy. He doesn’t understand why this happens to him more and more often.

Uncle holds onto furniture as he slowly walks to Baby’s room. Uncle wonders if he has it in him to sing more drinking songs to Baby when he feels so woozy.

Uncle pushes the door open. The rattle is on the floor. Baby is on the floor, its little fist wrapped around the rattle.

Uncle doesn’t understand what he is seeing. Uncle closes his eyes. Opens them again.

See? Baby is in its crib, sleeping.

All is well.

Headlights sweep across Baby’s room.

Uncle’s sister and brother-in-law open the front door. Uncle can hear bags rustling as sister and brother-in-law walk toward Baby’s room, as they call out for Uncle.

Sister and brother-in-law are in the doorway. They stare at Uncle. Stare above Uncle. Bags drop to the floor.

Uncle can’t figure out why sister and brother-in-law are silent, why they keep staring above Uncle’s head.

Uncle finally feels his arm high in the air. Feels the weight of something heavy in his hand.

Baby is held high above Uncle’s head.

Uncle’s sister loves Baby so much.