Our Baby Clarabella

Clari

"Mr. Jennings said we had to take care of out baby together," I say as Ben nods in remembrance.

"So," Ben starts, "how are we supposed to do that?"

I shrug and try to focus, but it's really hard because everyone here is so noisy. For goodness sake, it's a frozen yogurt parlor, not a coffee shop!

"You wanna come over to my house? Maybe we can figure out something there," he suggests.

I nod my head. "Yeah."

"Cool."

We stare at each other awkwardly for a moment.

"Alright..." I start. "What kind of frozen yogurt would you like?"

----------------------------------------------

"What's her name again?" Ben asks, pointing to the plastic baby from a distance as if she's toxic.

"Clarabella," I say, feeling a pang of hurt for the baby. She's supposed to be our daughter for this entire time, and he doesn't even remember her name!

"Oh yeah," he says, remembering. "Does she have a nickname she can go by? Clarabella's kinda long..." he complains. I scowl. People these days are so lazy.

I think for a moment. "Clari," I finally announce.

He nods. "Cool."

We spend the day at Benjamin's house. After the sun sets, we try to come up with a way to take care of Clarabella together for the rest of these times.

"My mom wouldn't mind you sleeping over," I say, watching his unsure expression.

"Are you sure?" he asks. I nod. "Ok. I should probably take my stuff, then..."

"Yeah, and put your pajamas on right away," I say. He scrunches up his nose like a little puppy. Pretty adorable. "Well? Come on!" I insist. With his face still scrunched, Benjamin makes his way upstairs to his room while I wait on the sofa.

I finally hear footsteps. Ben stumbles downstairs, clad in plaid purple-and-orange pajama pants and a pink-and-white striped t-shirt.

"Love the colors," I say, "but ain't that one too many?"

He blinks sad puppy eyes at me. "Awe you makig fuw o' my oufit?" he pretends to cry in a baby voice.

I laugh. "I don' know what you'we tawin' 'bout," I demand, baby-talking him back. We both laugh.

After another twenty minutes, we finally leave to go to my house.

I guess Benny's sleeping over.