The Three of Us

Part 6 - The Hype

"Your canvas, Madame," Judy said to Lili. Little Valleri was lying on a small table in Sick Bay. There was a stack of diapers nearby, a tin of powder and other assorted baby goods.

"Okay, let's see," Lili said, "hmm." She began to take off the baby's diaper and sang a little,

"Arroz con leche
Me quiero casar
Con una señorita
que sepa bailar.

Que sepa coser
Que sepa planchar
Que sepa abrir la puerta
Para ir a jugar."

Deftly, Lili powdered the little bottom and pretended to bite the baby's toes. Valleri squealed a little, enjoying the attention as Lili re-diapered her.

"What's the song about?" Judy asked, taking the baby back from Lili.

"It's about rice and milk, but it's um, something like, I want to marry a pretty lady who can dance and can do things like keep a home and do the ironing."

"Ironing?"

"Yes, really, ironing! But she also has to be able to go out and play."

"I thought you were French. Isn't that song Spanish?"

"Yes, and yes. My mother's mother ran a day care for Starfleet. So she knew all sorts of lullabies in various Earth languages."

"It's pretty," Judy said, "oh, and I'm sure you realize you passed."

"Yes!"

=/\=

Ingrid Nyqvist was on a mission. It wasn't her usual star mapping activities. Rather, she was bound and determined to talk to Lucas Donnelly. She hit the door chime for the quarters that he shared with Mark Reilly. "Come in," said Lucas.

"I, uh, I wanted to see you," said Ingrid.

"Oh?" he shut off his PADD.

"I was wondering, you know, you and me."

"Huh?"

"I like an older guy," she said.

"Oh, er, um, Ingrid, nothing personal, but I'm not into girls."

"Oh."

"But you should talk to Mark."

"I didn't come here to talk to Mark."

"I know, but, uh, can I tell you something in confidence?"

"Sure," she said.

"I have seen, you know, and lemme tell ya, I really wish he wasn't straight."

"Oh, really?"

=/\=

Malcolm had a little less luck with Amanda Tiburón. She cried and fussed, but he finally got the diaper on her. "Uh, sorry about that," he said to Tracey.

"It's okay," Tracey said, "no harm, no foul. You passed. Almendra yells at pretty much everyone."

"Why do you, if I may ask, why do you call her that, when her name is really Amanda?"

"It's Spanish for almond. She just looked a little bit like an almond, the first time we saw her on a scan."

"Oh," Malcolm said, "motherhood, it seems to suit you."

"Thank you," Tracey said, "I just hope someone has a boy at some point. The idea of any of the guys waiting around until she turns eighteen is more than a little creepy."