One morning, Patty was just finishing the breakfast dishes when Ike arrived with Sammy.

"Pearl wanted to know if you could take Sammy for a few days," he told her. "She's sick with a cold and says she feels too bad to take care of him. I have all his diapers, clothing, and medicine right here with me."

"I'd be glad to." Patty reached for her baby brother. "Come here, Sammy."

He grinned and reached for her without hesitation.

"I appreciate it," said Ike. "Bye bye, Sammy!" He kissed his son's cheek and ran his hand over the top of the nine-month-old's fuzzy head.

Patty laid the baby on a quilt on the floor while she finished her morning tasks. After awhile, she glanced at the clock and saw it was lunchtime.

"Are you hungry, Sammy?" she asked. She checked his diaper and found it was wet. She put a dry one on him and propped him up in his high chair, which Ike had brought over. He wasn't quite able to sit up without support yet, so she rolled up some baby blankets to help hold him in place.

When she was satisfied that he was secure, she fed him baby food squash and sweet potatoes. With some difficulty, she got most of it into his mouth, although his face was still smeared yellow and orange. She fetched a washcloth and wiped it clean, then took him out of the chair.

After awhile, he started to wiggle and make grunting noises. From the smell, Patty could tell he needed a diaper change, so she changed his diaper and then put him down for a nap.

When he awakened, she played with him until it was time to start dinner. When Anton came home, she was seating him in his high chair again. Anton kissed her hello.

"I see we have a little visitor today," he observed.

"Ike brought him over this morning," Patty told her husband. "He said Mama has a cold and doesn't feel like taking care of him."

"That is for the best, then." Anton ran his hand over the top of Sammy's head, as Ike had done earlier. "Colds are contagious, and Sammy does not need to get sick."

A week passed, and Ike asked Patty if she could keep Sammy on a permanent basis, as Pearl had said she didn't think she could handle him anymore. Patty agreed. Ike and Sharon came over to visit Sammy every day. Pearl never came.

A few nights before Christmas, Paul and Elizabeth brought Max and Laura over to visit the Reikers. It was freezing, and a light snow was falling.

"It is good to see you," Anton welcomed his visitors as he opened the door. "Patty is in the kitchen, making hot chocolate."

"That's perfect for a night like this!" said Elizabeth. She took Laura's coat and hat off her, while Paul helped Max take his off.

"Santa's coming soon!" Max announced.

"Have you been a good boy?" Anton asked him.

"Uh huh." Max nodded vigorously.

"Then I am sure he will bring you many nice things."

Patty brought the hot chocolate in from the kitchen, and the adults sat on the sofa to drink it. Elizabeth put Laura down on the floor, and she began to take steps holding onto the sofa. Sammy lay in his carrier, watching her and grinning and drooling. Max looked on too, becoming confused.

"Mama, Sammy's bigger than Laura!" he said after a few minutes.

"Yes, he is," Elizabeth agreed.

"Well, then, how come Laura can do that and he can't?"

Elizabeth sighed. "I already explained that to you, Max. Sammy has something called 'Mongolism.' It means he can't learn as fast as other babies."

"Oh." Max reflected for a moment. "Poor Sammy."

Later, after the Brimmers had left, Anton walked into the bedroom to find his wife was not there. He checked the living room, then the nursery, where he saw her gazing sadly at Sammy, who was fast asleep.

"P.R." He went to her and put his arms around her, and she rested her head on his chest.

"Seeing Laura made me realize once again how different he is from other children," she said. "Do you suppose he'll ever walk or talk, or be able to learn things?"

"I am sure he will do what he is meant to do in his own time," Anton replied. "Meanwhile, he is a happy and loving baby who brings us much sunshine."

"That's the important thing, I suppose," said Patty. "I do worry about his future, though. I know he'll never be exactly like normal children, but I hope he gets to do at least a few normal things."

Anton held her close and tenderly kissed her lips. "I know he will, because he has you to care and look out for him."