Under the Oaks, Beside the Bayou

Heading Home

Zen crouched next to the sleeping Yon, his heart torn as he observed the child's shattered innocence. Armand had always been a strongly independent man and they had been friendly in all their interactions. He should have pressed harder to make the man and his family stay the night. Zen felt a huge sense of self-blame. With it came responsibility. Making sure these two were safe and then finding them the perfect home was first in his order of things. And that meant bringing them to his home first. The Lord works in mysterious ways, and having invited Grand-mere to stay was an example. Someone who knew what to do with the infant was going to be invaluable. He did not know the first damned thing of what to do. He did know that changing her swaddling would be needed before he left the battered homestead. Mon Dieu, he had not even thought of diapers! He assumed that they would be available here, but nothing was salvageable.

He let them both sleep and turned to the task of shrouding the bodies and then wrapping them together in one another's arms, then the leather travois. He strapped them securely on the left side of Aubert's gelding, then counterbalanced the weight on the right side with the gear he had brought between the two animals. As he led the other horse down the trail later, he would be shielding the boy from having to see the covered bodies strapped on like cargo the entire way. Not the type of return to town he had imagined. When all felt tight and unmovable, he pulled out thick sandwiches of wheat bread, cheese, and beef and had them ready. The nine-year-old would need nourishment before they left. He also removed several sets of pants and flannel shirts he had pulled from the store's shelves, guessing at Yon's size. After all was ready to go, he gently woke the sleeping child. Yon came to slowly, as if reluctant to open his gray eyes and face his ugly reality. He sat up and asked. "Where are my parents? Are they still down there?"

"No, Yon. I have them covered and tied to your horse."

"Oh." He moved cautiously around the tethered horse, and Zen looked the other way to afford him some privacy. The small hands patted the shrouded couple for a few moments, and he heard him whisper, "I am safe. So is Sister. Zen found us, so don't worry." His hands then moved to test the straps, making sure they were secure. He returned to the blanket and checked his sleeping sister. By then, Zen had unwrapped the food and Yon involuntarily licked his lips.

"Dig in and wash it down with plenty of water. It's a long ride back, and you need the energy to hold the baby all the way. Can you do that?"

Yon looked at him solemnly. "I am skinny, but I am strong."

I have watched you today. You are the strongest boy I think I know."

The boy bit down and chewed, and that was all it took. He gobbled it rapidly.

"There is more, but you must wait an hour before you get another. Your stomach has shrunken, and you must go easy on it. More water, please. Now, there are some things I have to ask before we go. May I?"

"About the storm?"

"Yes. Just some stuff. You need not tell me everything unless you wish."

"Okay."

"How did you and the baby stay safe in the storm?"

"When Maman was hurting and yelling Papa took me up to my fort. The wind was howling like big, angry wolves. He tied me tight around my waist to the tree up the middle. 'Stay here. Maman cannot climb the ladder in her condition right now. As soon as the baby comes, we will join you.' I was alone for a long time. The wind was so strong I could no longer hear Maman cry out. Then, suddenly, he came back with my sister in the sling. He looped it over my head and wrapped my arms around her. He left his knife. 'I will bring Maman now. If we do not return, ride the storm out, cut yourselves free, and come find us at the cabin. If something goes wrong, get her back to town.' I was so scared, but I stayed there until the rain stopped. . I cut the ropes and we climbed down, and I found them in...the water." By this time, Zen had moved close and embraced the boy, letting him cry it out a little more.

When he calmed, Zen asked, "Did your Papa leave any diapers and swaddling in the tree house?"

Yon looked at in, puzzled. "No. Just my sister. Why..." His eyes became wide with understanding.

'Ooooo! Oh, that's nasty. Did she...?"

"I am afraid so. It smells like it anyway."

"What do we do with her now?" The boy looked panic-stricken. For that matter, Zen didn't look much better. He thought for a moment as Yon sat as far away from his suddenly-flawed little sister as he could.

"Alright. Chose the set of clothes over there that fits. Then hand the others to me." Using his pocket knife, he laid the extra flannel shirt and jeans flat. Using the sharp blade, he carefully ripped the cloth into four lengths, straight down, about 8 inches apart.. He proceeded to make smaller squares from one sleeve to fit in between the folded lengths, and fashioned four crude diapers to be held around the baby's waist. After that, he sliced the leg off of the pants and cut it in quarters.

"See. We change the baby, then we slide her down into this tube of cloth, and it will add another layer between you and her as you carry her. He went to his saddlebag and removed a sweater. "We wrap her in this and Voila! She is warm until we get there!"

Yon stared at him like he was a god and Zen began to feel embarrassed. "That Is amazing, Monsieur Zen. You are brilliant."

"Not really. Brilliant would have been to remember diapers...now we need to...clean her up." He gingerly removed her from the sling and Yon recoiled, his hand over his nose, his eyes wide and pleading. "Oh gosh !!!"

"Better get over here, Kid. I am not doing this myself."  He removed one of several pocket handkerchiefs Grand-mere has pressed on him before he left. 'Take these! You always forget to carry them!'  He had thought she was crazy, thinking of handkerchiefs in the middle of a crisis. Now he swore he would kiss her cheek when he saw her again. He suddenly wanted one of her cookies in the worst way. He shook it off and turned to business.

"Take this and wet it good. Use water from one of the skins." When Yon handed it back he began to peel away the swaddling. They both recoiled in horror. She lay there, tiny arms and legs flailing in her newfound freedom, cooing happily and her little bottom covered in a noxious brown paste of poo. Yon gagged and then suddenly noticed something else, something strange and terrifying, He pointed.

"Is she ...okay? She looks ...different!" He screamed.

"Calm down. Calm down. Girls are...are....built differently from us."

"How...do they...they...pee?"

"This one is doing just fine right now." They watched helplessly as a small puddle was added to the mess.

"Girls and boys, well...they do things differently. But we will discuss that later."

Zen carefully wrapped a large hand around two tiny ankles, lifted and used the swaddling to wipe up the feces as best he could. Still holding, he wiped her bottom clean then removed the filthy wrapping and tossed it away. Using another damp handkerchief, he wiped her front thoroughly, then tied the flannel diaper in place. He laid her down carefully. She smiled at nothing, cooing, but both big, strong males were sweating bullets.

Yon whispered, "Does it get any better from here?"

Zen sighed. "I doubt it. It may get worse as she grows up. We just better get used to it."