I'm joining DL Hammon's DejaVu Blogfest today. This is a story I wrote back in 2009 for Sunday Scribblings:
From the wheelchair, Lucille watched a young mother wrestle her four small children. The mother's octopus hands snatched little fingers from probing outlets, tall vases and pudding cups left on end tables. Her constant motion made Lucille sympathetic. The mother noticed her staring and gave a weary smile.
"I had four," said Lucille. She gazed at the sleeping newborn wrapped around the woman's chest.
"Did you?" asked the mother. She retrieved her three-year-old from entering Silvia's room. Silvia would've screamed for hours; it was good the mother was quick. "How did you manage?" She gave a pleading look.
"Hard to remember." Lucille gazed at the sleeping bundle. "But you seem to be doing fine."
The mother chuckled. "That's kind of you." Her smile faded. "I'm not sure sometimes." She glanced down the hallway softly bouncing the sleeping child. "Karl is visiting his grandmother. She gets tired of us all packed in her room so I try to give them some time alone."
Lucille nodded. "My grandkids live in California. Too far away to visit," she defended. By the look on the young mother's face, she knew she hadn't been convincing.
The woman hurried off several more times collecting her three active children from racing down the nursing home hallway. This time she made them sit in chairs and handed them plastic toys hidden inside her purse. This pacified them for a bit. She wiped a strand of auburn hair out of her eyes perspiring from the exertion. When she sat down the sleeping baby awoke. It began to squirm and kick. She let out an audible sigh.
"May I?" asked Lucille.
The mother smiled with relief. "Yes." She unwound the baby sling and handed the fragile child into Lucille's arms.
Lucille rocked the pink footed baby. The small face gazed at her and raised an arm aimlessly. Lucille savored the newborn scent. She lifted the girl's face next to hers and started to kiss the delicate cheek. Then paused. "Do you mind if I--" Lucille faltered. It seemed odd asking.
"Of course not," said the mother as she pulled a toddler into her lap.
Lucille put withered lips against the baby's cheek and kissed the delicious softness.
Hi, Catherine! I'm here from the Déjá Vu blogfest. :) This is a really sweet story with wonderful description. I could see it all perfectly. It's especially resonant for me since there have been so many babies among my family and friends this fall (seven!).
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great weekend!
Beautiful and touching story! I really enjoyed reading it, great entry for the Deja Vu fest.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend ahead! :)
I'm having so much fun reading through Deja Vu blogposts. I absolutely love this sentence you wrote:
ReplyDelete'The mother's octopus hands snatched little fingers from probing outlets, tall vases and pudding cups left on end tables.'
precious story.
ReplyDeletemore younger people need to visit those homes. they were young once and now they're mostly forgotten.
thanks for reminding us.
I'm getting there myself. Just received a new granddaughter late last night and I'll get to meet her tonight after work. Lovely story.
ReplyDeleteDarling. I want to hold my little nephew now! Beautifully written, Catherine. I'm happy I stopped by today to see this! <3
ReplyDeleteOh, that was a sweet post! You picked a great one to recycle.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for joining the Blogfest!
Another Deja writer here (#33), and I love the way you write! Definitely following this blog!
ReplyDeleteHello! I'm a new follower from the DejaVu Blogfest. Nice to meet you! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine--I'm stopping by from the blogfest. Great story-- "kissed the delicious softness"--love that!
ReplyDeleteLovely writing. I came over from the Deja Vu Blogfest...and I'd like to come back and read more!
ReplyDeleteYou always know how to tug at my heart! Beautifully written, as always. A perfect choice to show off your voice to the new followers!
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking part today, and making our blogfest so special! :)
Catherine, I can smell that baby! It really is touching, how you've described a young mother in motion, and Lucille's quiet mourning of those days she must have rocked, wrangled and raised her own babies.
ReplyDeleteI love your writing voice!
That's a really lovely story, and I agree with the others that your descriptions are evocative and spot-on! Nice to meet you, Catherine!
ReplyDeleteThis is truly beautiful. I'm so glad you reposted it. It brought back memories of when I used to take my three young children to a nursing home by our house to visit the residents. Their eyes lit up at the sight of the kids. And the older two, ages 5 & 6, loved going on Bingo day when they got to play with the senior citizens! When I had our fourth child, I had my hands full and was too tired to keep visiting the nursing home. What a shame.
ReplyDeleteSo nice to meet you during this great blogfest!
Okay, you wrote MY LIFE!! I now have three little ones and I never want to leave the house because I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE THIS!! Well written! You must have little youngsters, too. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely scene. Nice choise for reposting.
ReplyDeleteDid you use me as a model for this story? I swear I've had almost this exact conversation. I even had someone kiss my baby the other day and then look at me in shock and say, "I can't believe I just kissed your baby! I never do that!" I didn't mind a bit. It's "the delicious softness" ... you can't resist it! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a lovely story, filled with all the things that tug at your heart. I'm making blogfest rounds. Nice to meet you.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful story. Great job.
ReplyDeleteThis is sweet. I'm glad you reposted.
ReplyDeleteMy kids are 9 and 13, so I've left the soft, snuggly stage. But it also means they're pretty reasonable. It's a nice time. I'll miss them when they've grown.