How well do we really know our neighbors? People are rarely forthcoming about who they really are. Everyone has a past. Everyone has regrets. Some more than others. Some secrets come back to haunt us, when we least expect it.

Susan is walking around the block, pushing Paige in her stroller. Renee joins her.

"What are you doing? I thought that I was boring," Susan points out.

"You are, but I'd rather walk with you, than by myself."

"I see."

"Just keep her quiet."

"Why do you hate children so much?"

"I don't hate them, I just don't like them."

"That's different how?"

"I wouldn't be cruel to them intentionally, but I'd prefer not to be bothered with them."

"You never wanted to have a child?"

"No," she answers quickly.

"Not even for a second?"

"Maybe for a second, but then I realized how ridiculous that would be. I'm not good with children, and they aren't exactly fond of me."

"It's different when it's your own kid," Susan points out.

"It doesn't matter."

"Why didn't you ever have kids?"

She stops dead in her tracks. Susan turns, and looks at her, waiting for a reaction. Renee takes a deep breath. Finally she answers, "I'm too selfish. I know that I'd never be able to make the sacrifices that a parent has to make without feeling resentful. I thought that it would be best if I didn't have kids. For me, and for the rest of the world."

"How can you look at her, and not have your heart melt?"

"I think about all of the snot, and slobbers, and dirty diapers, and I'm cured," she smiles.

"It's so much more than that. There is nothing in the world like holding a sleeping baby. When Julie, and MJ were babies sometimes I would just watch them sleep."

"Why?"

"They were so peaceful, and innocent."

"I much prefer the scent of a new car, to a new baby."

"Your husband didn't want kids?"

"No," she shakes her head.

"So he didn't mind that you didn't want them?"

"No."

"What if he had?"

"It wouldn't have mattered. I wouldn't have kid, just because someone else wanted me to. That's a terrible idea."

"I agree, I was just curious, I guess."

"Why did you have kids?"

"Neither of them were planned, they just happened. I never knew that I even wanted kids. When I had Julie everything changed. The way you look at everything changes after you have a child."

Paige starts crying, and Renee begins to walk away.

"Stop!" Susan insists as she lifts Paige out of the stroller.

"What?"

"You act as if you're afraid of her."

"You know that I do not like little people of any kind."

"Don't be ridiculous," Susan pats Paige.

"I'm not."

Susan holds Paige out to Renee.

"I don't want her," Renee comments.

"She doesn't bite."

"She's still crying."

"What do you want me to do about it?"

"Make her stop."

"If I make her stop will you hold her?"

"No."

"Then I'll leave her with you."

"Fine," Renee huffs, and crosses her arms.

Susan gets Paige to stop crying. She then offers her to Renee. Renee reluctantly takes the baby. She holds her for a few seconds.

"Are you satisfied?"

"No, you look insane. Don't hold her out so far away from you."

"I don't like this, and I don't like the face that she's making."

"Be normal," Susan suggests.

Renee moves the baby closer to her body. She situates her on her hip.

"See, it's not that bad."

"Babies are like puppies, they're cute in pictures, but I don't want one."

Susan rolls her eyes as she takes the baby from Renee. She fastens Paige back into the stroller, and continues walking.

"Renee did you have some sort of traumatic experience with a baby or something?"

"Why would you think that?"

"I don't know," she shrugs, "Maybe it's the way you act."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"So you didn't have a traumatic experience?"

"I didn't say that."

"So did you, or not?"

"Susan I don't want to talk about this."

"It can't be that bad. Once when Julie was about fifteen months old I had just finished her bath, and was getting her ready for bed. I didn't have any diapers in her room, so I went to find some. When I found them, I went back, and she was gone. I found her in the living room, covered in poop. That was traumatic for me, but I got over it," she rambles on. When she stops talking she realizes that Renee didn't interrupt her. She stops, and looks over at Renee. Renee looks away.

"Are you crying?"

"No," she lies.

"Why are you crying?"

"I told you that I didn't want to talk about it."

Susan walks Renee home. She stops at Renee's porch, and takes Paige out of her stroller. She joins Renee on the porch, in a chair.

"I didn't mean to make you cry," Susan admits.

"It's not your fault."

"Why are you crying?"

"I shouldn't tell you."

"There are a lot of things that you shouldn't tell me, but you do."

"True."