Into the Cradle
Chapter Four: Anne
The baby was staying in Amy's room.
Amy had worked ten hours a week for $5.50 an hour since she had gotten her job. Her daughter, Anne remembered fondly, had been excited to pick out the purple bassinet amidst Ricky's and Ben's protests. She remembered they way she had laughed, like bells. She had not laughed like that for such a long time...
Anne's grandson was a handful. All babies were to be honest. Anne can still remember the routine she used with Amy and Ashley and even with her mother's help she had been tired every hour of every day. But this baby had Amy, Ashley, Ricky, Ben, Lauren and Madison to take care of him through the spit up, sponge baths, breast feeding, diaper changes (she still remembered the fear in her daughter's voice when she cleaned the tin foil) and general watching.
Everything was time consuming. Anne was disappointed, but not surprised when Lauren and Madison stopped visiting. She comforted Amy with ice cream. When Ben stopped coming, she had held her daughter as her shaking and sobbing lasted for many hours. But she had not only been disappointed, she had been surprised too. Ricky always came.
Anne's grandson was happy. She was grateful for that much at least. The baby did not cry very much or make too much of a fuss. He loved listening to his mom playing her instrument. He loved playing with Amy's long brown hair. He loved when his father spoke to him. He was an easy child, And Anne was glad for Amy's sake too. He was precious when he was not crying.
Anne's grandson was cute. The carpet of black hair had thickened the past three weeks, and his eyes seemed to be staying crystal blue. No surprise really, she thought, his father has gorgeous blue eyes. The red in his skin had calmed, now it was smooth like soy milk. A perfect combination between Amy and Ricky. She wondered what this baby would be like....
Would he be musical too? Like his parents?
How many bones would he break?
Would he call her grandma or grandmama or grandma Anne?
Would he be smart and excel at school?
Wold he be a heart breaker?
A dare devil?
Anne's grandson was the future. A future that held hardships, but beauty. A future that held love, but heartbreaks. A future that held smiles, but tears. A future that Anne knew Amy would have to fight for and against (she had to fight for her's and her girls' futures too). A future that Anne had always thought was worth it; a future Amy would think is worth it.