Thank the Lucky Stars

Nicole entered her apartment with grocery bags in one hand and a baby carrier in another. She closed the door with her foot before heading to the kitchen with both items still in her hands. She put the bags on the counter so she could unbuckle her six month old son. Nicole put her son in the high chair so he could eat. She went to the counter and took out a six ounce Gerber baby food jar.

"How about turkey and gravy?" She asked her son while popping the lid off.

Nicole sat down in front of him and started feeding him. About half way through the jar her phone started ringing, which startled the baby.

"It's ok sweetie." She said answering the phone. "Hello?" She asked and gave the baby boy another small spoon full.

"Hey Nikki."

"Oh, hey Ira. How are you doing?"

"I'm ok."

"What's wrong?" She asked with a giggle when her baby boy scrunched his face up at his messy fingers.

"The guys want to come over and play poker..."

"And you're calling me to invite me over?" She asked bluntly.

"Well, yeah. Please Nikki, you can bring Tyler and he can sleep in one of the beds."

"I don't know Ira." She said through the receiver as she wiped her son's mouth and fingers. "Look at that, you finished it. Pretty soon you'll be a big boy."

"Feeding Tyler?"

"Yeah. Ira I'd love to go but he's been fussy the last couple of days. And with you know who being there, he's going to get irritated and yell at me for bringing Tyler. Then I'll have to punch him in the face."

"I'll make sure he doesn't. Please Nikki." Ira begged.

She sighed.

"Alright Ira, I'll be over there in a couple of hours."

"Thank you. I've actually got to go shopping. If I'm not back by the time you get there you know where the spare is right?"

"Yes Ira."

"Ok. I'll see you in a while. Bye."

"Bye."

She hung up the phone and looked at her baby boy.

"Looks like you and me are going on a field trip." She said as she picked him up and went to their room.

She sat him by his stuffed animals as she started packing his diaper bag.

Diapers, bottled food, bottles, formula, blanket, toys, snacks and baby monitor just in case. Now I just have to pack the playpen.

She went to the living room and packed the playpen. She went back to their room and played with him for a while before they left. Nicole put Tyler in his carrier and put both the playpen bag and diaper bag on one shoulder. She walked down to the bus stop and waited. She hated taking the bus but she only had enough money for food, rent, utilities, and things that her and Tyler needed. Her parents were there for her until she got pregnant, when they found out her parents disowned her. They didn't want her to be like them and have a baby before she finished college and before she got married. The bus pulled up and she got on and sat in a vacant seat, putting Tyler by the window. She looked at Tyler before looking out the window.

Hopefully I get to Ira's house before it starts raining.

Thirty minutes later the bus pulled up to the closest stop to Ira's house. Nicole got up with Tyler plus the things and got off the bus. She walked about five minutes until she finally reached his house. Nicole knocked on the door, no answer. She turned the door knob and it was unlocked. She walked in and sat the bags down on the floor.