by Judy Delton
Molly made a bright red card with a picture of two babies on it. The babies in the picture were in two cradles. One cradle said “Lee” on it and one said “Lani.”
Sonny drew himself with his two new babies. Tim drew a picture of his own house with a brown crayon. Kevin was the only one with a store-bought card.
“Oh, look at them smile!” said Lisa.
“Lani has a tooth!” said Rachel. “Just like Rhonda.”
“What a cute little itsy-bitsy baby,” cooed Tracy.
Molly couldn’t think of anything to say. She didn’t know how to talk to babies.
Mrs. Stone passed the babies from mother to mother. Then Patty and Kenny and Tim took turns holding one. She even let Rachel give Lani a bottle.
Rachel tested the milk on her wrist. “I do this all the time,” she said. “It can’t be too warm or too cold.”
When Lani had finished the milk, Rachel put a cotton towel over her shoulder.
“That’s in case she spits up,” said Kenny. “That’s what we do when we hold our baby.”
Rachel held the baby up and patted her back. The baby burped.
“Good for you!” cooed Rachel. “Babies have to burp,” she explained. “Otherwise they have gas and get a stomachache.”
There was no doubt about it, Rachel knew a lot about babies.
Everyone here knew a lot about babies. Even Molly’s own mom.
“Would you like to hold the baby, Molly?” asked Mrs. Stone.
Molly shook her head. She didn’t know how to hold a baby. What if Lani’s head fell off? It looked very wobbly. What if she dropped the baby and it broke its arm?
“No, thank you,” said Molly.
Mrs. Peters brought out little sandwiches in the shape of rattles. They ate them on plates that had pictures of storks on them. Then they had cake that said Welcome twins on the frosting. In the middle of Mrs. Peters’s dining room table was a big diaper filled with flowers.
Molly was glad when it was time to go home. Molly didn’t ride home with her mother. She walked home with Mary Beth.
On the way she kicked a soda can. Mary Beth knew what she was upset about.
“Maybe we should try to find you a baby,” she said.
“Where?” said Molly.
Mary Beth shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know, but we have to look. Remember when we looked for fire hazards?”
Molly sighed. “Babies aren’t just lying around like matches,” she said. But Mary Beth was right. It didn’t hurt to look.
“What we need to find is an orphan,” said Mary Beth. “An orphan could be your very own to feed and dress.”
That made sense to Molly. Parents wouldn’t give up a baby. But if a baby had no parents …
The girls looked up and down the streets. They looked in parks.
“There’s a baby!” shouted Molly.
The girls ran up to a toddler in a stroller. An older boy was pushing her.
“Is this your baby?” asked Molly.
“Does anyone own her?” asked Mary Beth.
The boy held tightly to the stroller.
“We own her,” the boy said. “She’s my little sister.”
“She’s too old anyway,” said Mary Beth, trying to make Molly feel better. “She’s probably walking. And she drinks out of a glass. You want a baby who takes a bottle.”
The girls walked around three more blocks. They walked by the library. The only babies they saw were with mothers and fathers.
“Let’s stop at the drugstore for a candy bar,” said Mary Beth.
The drugstore was around the corner. It had a Christmas tree in the window. The tree was decorated with little bars of soap and boxes of Band-Aids.
“I’d sure hate to get Band-Aids for Christmas,” said Molly.
“Look!” said Mary Beth. She pointed to a baby carriage in front of the drugstore. There was a baby in it, sleeping.
“That might be your baby,” said Mary Beth.
The girls walked up to the carriage. The baby had a little white snowsuit on. And a cap with a red tassel.
“It’s nobody’s,” said Mary Beth. “It needs a home, I’ll bet.”
Molly looked doubtful. “Orphans don’t have carriages and snowsuits,” she said. “They live in old buildings and they wear ragged clothes like Little Orphan Annie.”
“Finders keepers, losers weepers,” said Mary Beth. “First come, first served.”
Molly wanted that baby. She wished Mary Beth were right. It would be easy to wheel the baby off to her own home. But what would her mother say? She would be sure to ask her where she got it. And then she’d make her take it back.
Just then a lady stuck her head out of the door and smiled. She picked the baby up and took it inside with her.
“Darn!” said Mary Beth, stamping her foot.
“There are no orphans around here,” said Molly.
“You might be right,” said Mary Beth. “We’ll have to think of something else.”
But what? Molly didn’t have forever to get this badge. Some of the Pee Wees already had done everything on the list.
“I think,” said Mary Beth, “that you will have to rent a baby.”
CHAPTER
4
The Rented Baby
“My dad rented a car once,” said Mary Beth. “And my aunt rents an apartment. You can rent anything. People rent stuff they want for only a little while. Then they return it when they get tired of it.”
“Or when they can’t afford to buy it,” said Molly.
Both things were true for Molly. She couldn’t afford a baby. And she didn’t want it forever.
But Molly did not remember seeing any sign that said BABY FOR RENT. Not in the newspaper ads, or the yellow pages.
The important thing was, she needed a temporary baby. And if she couldn’t rent one, she would have to borrow one.
“I have to borrow a baby,” said Molly. “Just until I get my badge. But I want one of my own. I don’t want to share.” Molly remembered Jennifer and didn’t want a used baby. One that Mary Beth had already fed and dressed better than she could.
The girls sat down on Molly’s front steps and thought about where there was a leftover baby. A baby that no one was using to get a badge. While they were thinking, Rachel came by with her curls bouncing.
“I got a perm,” she said. “At the beauty parlor.”
“It’s nice,” said Mary Beth. “Molly needs a baby to get her badge.”
“I’ve already got a baby,” said Rachel. “One of my very own. No one else can use her for their badge.”
“I don’t want your old baby,” said Molly.
“Rhonda’s just like my little sister except I don’t have to share a room or anything,” Rachel added.
While the girls sat and thought, Roger and Kevin rode up on their bikes. Mary Beth asked if they knew of a spare baby.
Molly wished Mary Beth would stop asking everyone who came down the street to help her.
“Sonny doesn’t need two,” said Roger. “Why don’t you use one of the twins?”
“But they’re brand-new,” said Rachel doubtfully. “Mrs. Stone doesn’t want to give up a new baby.”
“It’s not like she’s giving it to her,” said Kevin. “All you need is to feed it a couple of times.”
“New mothers need all the help they can get,” said Mary Beth. “Those twins will probably drive Sonny’s family crazy until they get a schedule.”
“Let’s go ask her!” said Molly, jumping up.
The Scouts all rushed over to Sonny’s house. Before his mother even opened the door, they could hear loud sounds of babies crying.
Larry opened the door. Sonny was there with his fingers in his ears. He looked like he was crying too. His mother was heating two bottles of milk on the stove. Toys were everywhere. Boxes with bows, and little bibs, and car seats and baby swings were in the kitchen. It didn’t look like Sonny’s house at all.
“Your mama heating your bottle?
” whispered Roger to Sonny, giving him a poke.
Sonny gave Roger a hit on the arm.
“Of course you can tend one of the babies!” said Mrs. Stone when Molly asked her.
“Take them both,” said Larry, laughing.
Sonny looked mad. He gave the car seat a kick.
Mrs. Stone winked at the Scouts. “He’s a little bit j-e-a-l-o-u-s,” she spelled.
Molly wondered why she was spelling. Sonny wasn’t the smartest one in her class, but he was in second grade and he knew how to spell.
“I am not jealous!” shouted Sonny, running to his room and slamming his door.
“Now the Stones have three babies instead of one!” whispered Roger to Molly.
“Why don’t you come back in an hour or so,” said Mrs. Stone to Molly. “When things quiet down a little. Then you can help me, and I can help you get your badge.”
Molly wanted to hug Mrs. Stone! The Scouts left, and Molly ran home to tell her mother.
“What a good idea!” said Mrs. Duff. “I know Louise can use you. Be very careful to hold your arm under the baby’s head.”
“I will,” said Molly.
Her worries were over. In another hour she’d tend her own borrowed baby. And be able to get her badge with the others.
Molly watched the clock. As soon as the hour was up she started for the Stones’. She pictured herself rocking Lani. And cuddling her. Maybe putting her little sweater and coat on and taking her for a walk in the stroller. Lani would smile at her and coo and reach for her finger, the way she had at the baby shower.
Molly went up to the door. It was quiet. There was no baby crying.
She rang the bell. All of a sudden there was a lot of crying. Crying and screaming. Sonny came to the door.
“Hello, baby kidnapper,” he said.
“I’m not a kidnapper,” said Molly.
“Go get your own baby,” said Sonny, slamming the door in Molly’s face.
In a few minutes Larry came to the door.
“Excuse Sonny,” he said. “He’s having a hard time adjusting.”
“They’re my babies!” Sonny shouted. “For my badge.”
“You don’t need both of them,” said Molly.
Molly wondered how Sonny could even tend one of them, he was such a baby himself. A baby will hate him, thought Molly.
Sonny went over to Lani’s crib. He reached down and picked her up. Larry stood beside him. Molly wanted to shout, “That’s my baby! You take care of Lee.” But she didn’t. A full-time brother had more power than a part-time mother.
Instead of crying louder, Lani looked up and smiled at Sonny. She even said, “Goo goo.” He rocked her back and forth in his arms. She closed her eyes and went back to sleep. Then Sonny put her back in her crib and covered her with a little blanket with roses on it.
Mrs. Stone came in with a pile of clean diapers.
“Can I take care of Lee?” asked Molly.
Sonny walked over to Lee’s crib and patted him on the back. He pulled the blanket up over his little shoulders.
“Either one, dear,” said Mrs. Stone.
Molly wanted to shout out she needed her own baby. One Sonny didn’t take care of. But Mrs. Stone didn’t seem to understand that. It looked as if she would have to share with Sonny.
“They didn’t finish their bottles,” said Mrs. Stone. “When they wake up, we’ll let you feed them the rest.”
“Fine,” said Molly politely. It wouldn’t do to fight over which baby. Molly might be asked to leave and then she wouldn’t have any baby at all, or any badge.
Larry brought in a can of soda pop for Molly. When she finished it, Lee began to fuss. Mrs. Stone showed Molly how to heat his bottle. Molly tested it on her arm. What if it was too warm? What if it burned Lee’s mouth? Mrs. Stone seemed to trust her! She didn’t check it herself. Now Molly was really worried.
“You just sit down and I’ll hand you Lee,” she said.
Molly began to get nervous. What if she dropped him? What if his head rolled away?
Mrs. Stone put the baby in Molly’s arms. He did not look up at Molly and smile. He did not coo. He did not fall asleep. What he did was scream. He screamed as if Molly were sticking a pin into him!
Mrs. Stone had gone into the kitchen.
“Give me that baby,” demanded Sonny. “He doesn’t like you.”
It was true. Lee did not seem to like Molly. Not at all. But Molly was not about to give him to Sonny. She rocked him in her arms. He didn’t feel soft and cuddly. He felt stiff and nervous. She sang “Rockaby Baby” to him. He screamed louder.
Sonny tried to get him out of her arms. Molly held on. Sonny pulled at his legs.
“He’s mine!” Sonny shouted. “You’re making him cry.”
Mrs. Stone came in and said, “You’ll have your turn later,” to Sonny.
She’s too nice to Sonny, thought Molly. She should give him a whack. Tell him to stop being a spoiled brat.
“Here, Molly, this may help,” said Mrs. Stone, giving Molly the bottle of warm milk.
Molly put the nipple in Lee’s mouth. Lee spit it out. She put it in. He spit it out. Then he got red in the face and yelled.
Finally Mrs. Stone had to take the baby and feed him herself.
“See,” whispered Sonny. “He hates you.”
“He’s just not used to you yet,” said Mrs. Stone. “It takes time. Come by tomorrow afternoon and we’ll try again. Sonny dear, will you let Molly out?”
Sonny gave Molly a push through the front door. “Don’t come back,” he snapped.
Molly felt awful. She had found a baby, and she’d failed. It would be a long time before she took one for a walk in the stroller. Or dressed it. She couldn’t even get near one!
And she and Sonny used to be friends. Molly always defended him when the others laughed at him. She used to feel sorry for Sonny. Not anymore. Now it was each Scout for himself.
CHAPTER
5
Molly Tries Again
“Did you tend the babies?” asked Mrs. Duff when Molly got home. “Did you feed them and dress them?”
“The babies don’t like me,” said Molly. “They like Sonny.”
Mrs. Duff looked surprised.
“Of course they like you,” said her mother. “Little babies don’t dislike people.”
“They hate me,” said Molly.
She ran to her room and slammed the door. It was good she knew that babies were allergic to her. Now she would not make the mistake of having her own babies.
Her mother and father would never have grandchildren. Molly felt sad thinking of her parents without grandchildren to love. Her own grandma loved to visit with Molly. And take her places and buy her new clothes.
At suppertime Molly’s dad said, “I hear you frighten small children.”
He said it to cheer her up, but Molly’s throat tightened and suddenly she was crying. Because it was true.
“Honey, you don’t really frighten them,” her father said quickly. “Babies just cry to strengthen their lungs. It’s nothing you did.”
Molly looked doubtful.
“They didn’t strengthen their lungs when Sonny held them,” she said.
“They know Sonny better,” said Molly’s mother. “By tomorrow they will know you too.”
“Really?” said Molly, wiping her eyes.
“I’m sure of it,” said her mom.
“I have an idea,” said Mr. Duff. “Why don’t you take one of your toys to share with the babies?”
What good ideas her dad had. He was right. Babies liked new toys. They would like it if she shared hers with them. And by tomorrow they would know her better. How silly it was to give up after only one day. Maybe she would have children after all.
The next day Molly looked through her old toybox for her favorite childhood toy. A special toy. One that the babies would be sure to love.
Nothing in the box seemed to be special. There was a ball with no air in it. And a doll
with her hair missing. The twins were too young for a puzzle. They were too young for a coloring book.
Then Molly saw the perfect thing to share. It was so perfect that it was not even in the toybox. It was on Molly’s bed. It was her teddy bear.
She picked it up and hugged it. Her grandma had given it to Molly on her first Christmas.
But what if the babies spit up on Bosco? What if one put Bosco’s ear into his or her mouth?
It was worth the risk. Getting these babies to like her meant she had to go all out. And that included Bosco.
At four o’clock Molly tucked Bosco under her arm and started for the Stones’.
Sonny was at the window looking at her.
Molly felt her muscles tighten up. She had been so sure of herself—until she saw Sonny. He was pressing his face up against the window and making an ugly face at her.
When Molly rang the doorbell, no one answered. Maybe it wasn’t just Sonny and the twins who didn’t like Molly. Maybe none of the Stones wanted her there!
“Answer the door, Sonny!” Molly could hear his mother shout.
But Sonny wasn’t going to let her in.
“Sonny?” called Mrs. Stone again.
But Sonny still stood at the window making faces.
Finally Mrs. Stone came to the door.
“Where in the world is Sonny?” she said as she opened it. “He’s probably busy with something and didn’t hear me,” she said.
Sonny heard his mother, thought Molly. If Molly could hear her outside, Sonny could hear her two rooms away.
“The twins are in a good mood today,” said Mrs. Stone, leading Molly into the nursery. “Just look at them playing.”
The twins were in their playpen. They were playing with a toy that swung over their heads. Lee batted it with his little hand and laughed out loud.
Lani pushed a plastic bird around so it spun. She gurgled and cooed.
“You came just in time to give Lee his bottle,” said Mrs. Stone. “Why don’t you just sit beside them while I heat the bottle. Get to know them.”
Molly drew a chair up to the playpen. Lee stopped batting the toy and laughing. He looked at Molly.