Prompt and Circumstance

There Ain't Nothin' Like a Nanny

'Diet' (April 29, 2016)

"Ohh babe, what are we going to do?" She cuddled him even closer as she looked lovingly into those huge brown eyes. Like melted chocolate, she thought, like my melting heart whenever I look deep inside those windows to the soul (as she'd heard them once described). Sarah found it impossible not to bend her head down and whisper sweet, soothing words into his ears. He always relaxed when her voice softened so lovingly and she kissed the top of his head. All was well in his world when she was near.

It had all been easy in the city. All the formula ingredients for his special milk diet were available from the local health food store... and then the chemist came on board. He would happily order in the rare ingredients no-one else would request, bringing them in exclusively for her. But now, in the small country town that had become their weekly shopping hub, the local chemist's supplies were limited, and not only were his ordering skills poor, but supplies were erratic. Sarah was desperate for a solution.

Any changes to the essential 3-4 hourly feeding routine resulted in dire consequences, as she'd found a few weeks ago. Disposable nappies. She shook her head regretfully. Although she didn't usually use them, they were essential in an emergency. And baby wet wipes. More items that had been so easy in the city... even after hours. That 24 hour chemist had been such a blessing, time after time. You never know what you've got... until you lose it. Too true!

Abruptly she sat up straight, causing sudden alarm in the babe as he came instantly wide awake, his eyes huge. Sarah's head lifted as the words blurted out...

"Goat's milk! That's what we need!"

"Goat's milk?" Dan looked confused, but only briefly. "Ahh, now hang on! That's what Mrs. Sanderson told us about for all kinds of allergies... and digestion problems... AND babies with special needs. You can put them on a diet of goat's milk."

"Yes-s-s... We nearly forgot that one." Now Sarah's face glowed as she thought of that amazing lady once again. Mrs. Sanderson wasn't a nutritionist, well not officially anyway, but her knowledge of baby formulas was awesome. After all her years raising those small unwanted souls, she had become an expert in her field. Sarah shook her head wonderingly. "What would we ever have done without her to guide us? AND give us the recipe along with a healthy portion of formula to get us started?"

Sarah's dreamy moment was abruptly cut short as her eyes drifted to Dan's face. As quickly as his face had lit up, his mouth now tightened, pulling it down at each end.

"... but where on earth can we get a goat out here?" Dan could only think of sheep farmers in their district. And he'd not seen any goats at the weekly stock market, either.

Undeterred, and with her usual optimism, Sarah shrugged and said, 'We'll find her. Just wait and see. I will not lose this baby." And eventually, with pleas that spread far and wide, they did. Just when they were despairing of success, and the fabulous formula was dwindling alarmingly, they found her.

She bore the strikingly original name of Nan, and due to her ease of milking, they added the Earth Nanny as a surname. They would learn to raise all their rescues on pure goat's milk, even from their first drink.

"... and not only all the 'roos. It didn't matter what you tried it on - animal OR human." Dan smiled, even chuckled some as he slipped his arm around Sarah and Snoopy, the baby kangaroo.