RAISING SUMMER

THE RANCID DIAPER

Summer cried nonstop for hours. I checked her diaper but it was perfectly fine. I tried to feed and after that she continued to cry. I tried to burp her, nothing. I tried to get her to sleep and still nothing. I had tried everything and nothing seemed to soothe her bewildered state. I have been up for the past two days and Luke comes and goes when he can. I was running out of options. I began to cry in hopelessness, I begged the infant to stop her cries. I picked up my phone and dialed Luke's number.

"Hello?" He picked up.

"Luke?"

"Jane?"

"I'm so sorry but I need your help."

"Are you crying?" He asked.

"Summer has been crying all night and I can't get her to stop." I sighed exhaustively..

"I know I'm not a baby whisperer but did you try feeding her?" He said sarcastically

"Yes." I answered.

"Burping?" He suggested.

"Yes."

"Changing her diaper?"

"Yes, I tried everything." I reminded him.

"Okay I'm on my way."

I heard the door open and close 20 minutes later. Luke was here. I heard him walk towards the guest room where I was with Summer.

"Thank God you're here. I tried everything." I explained as he sat on the other side of the bed next to Summer and I.

"Can I?" He asked.

"Yeah." I handed Summer over to him. He held her and after a few minutes her crying ceased. A wave of relief and exhaustion rushed over me. I started to drift off while I watched Summer lay peacefully in Luke's arms. He was different and softer when it came to Summer. In the same way he was with Rachel it was bittersweet to watch.

"Ooo She's getting sick of you." He chuckled but before he could turn around for a reply I was already gone.

I opened my blurry sleepy eyes, I must have fallen asleep when Luke came over last night. I went to go check on Summer and see if she was sleeping but she wasn't in her crib.

"Luke?" I called out, hoping that he had the answer to where Summer was.

"In the kitchen." He replied. I followed the sound of his voice to the kitchen where it smelt like Luke was attempting to cook eggs.

"What-cha doing Luke?" I was a little concerned.

"Oh finally!" He replied and threw the cooked eggs on a plate beside the stove. He turned down the fire and dragged me towards the living room. A rancid smell emerged from the room where Summer played complacently waiting on the floor.

"What on Earth is that awful smell?" I asked as my eyes began to water and Summer started to cry.

"I think it's her diaper?" He replied as his T-shirt who he used to cover his nose muffled his reply.

"You didn't change her?" I asked.

"No!" He replied.

"Why not?"

"Because..........I don't know how to change a diaper." He whispered.

"Seriously?" I asked as he looked at me stupidly. "Seems like now is the perfect time to learn." I explained and he picked up Summer and started to gag on the smell. He carried her to the nursery where he set her down on the changing table.

"Do I have to?" He asked.

"Ugh yeah! I'm not always going to be here to help you whenever she makes a stinkie!" I explained.