with excitement. His goal was to get started finding the perfect
sitter. Sally finished her breakfast. She planned to work on
some lists and reminders for whomever would be watching her
little ones, perhaps organize the nursery a little bit, make sure
everything was easy to find. First though... She diluted a
few drops of clove oil and gently rubbed the mixture on
Nicholas's sore mouth. He grumbled. She gave the child a piece
of arrowroot biscuit to occupy him and sat at the table with an
enamel pen and a pad of paper. The queen tried to begin by
thinking about what would be the most important details for
someone somewhat unfamiliar with baby care. She made several
entries, then crossed them out. She wrote a small bit more, and
crossed that out as well. She began a third time, remembering
her first nervous days with her babies. All the things she
hadn't anticipated. Soon she had a sizable list. The thoughts
flowed from her mind to the paper. As they did, her apprehension
lessened. Why, with the proper information a good sitter would
have no problems with the princes. She smiled to herself,
finally relaxing into the thought of a vacation.
Outside, Jack spoke with several of the interested
townsfolk. He was touched by how many of them were genuinely
ready and willing to help he and his wife. They were all nothing
if not eager. The Vampires were so pragmatic, so
logical. They would do fine. The Harlequin demon was certain
it
would be no difficulty for him at all. The Clown, the witches,
the Corpse family... Everyone seemed to have their strengths.
If
anything, it was an embarrassment of riches. The decision
proved to be more of a problem than Jack had anticipated, and he feared
hurt feelings from those he didn't choose. Jack jr. was passed
from one townsmember to the next. He seemed not to object, just
grinned and babbled soft murmurs that seemed to him to be very
pertinent conversation. Jack finally walked home for lunch with
his son in his arms, no more certain of a solution than he had
been in the morning. Perhaps this wasn't such a grand scheme
afterall. He entered the house and called out to Sally.
No
answer. Jack climbed the stairs up to the hallway and peered
into the kitchen, the parlor, the dining room.
"Sally darling?"
"Upstairs love!",
she called. Jack jr. squealed and waved
towards the stairsteps. Jack proceeded up to the bedroom.
He
wondered if he should tell Sally that perhaps she had been right.
This was just too complicated at the present. He opened
his
mouth to speak as he entered their room. Nicky was sitting on
the thick, purple carpet. He chewed on a frozen washcloth with
determined concentration. Sally stepped out from the large
closet. She was beaming, wearing a filmy lavender dress that
Jack
hadn't seen since before the princes were born. It floated like
a thin cloud around her body. Jack's mouth hung open, but it
was Sally who spoke.
"I had almost forgotten this. It seems like I made it an
eternity ago, though it really hasn't been very long." She
laughed. "I was afraid it wouldn't fit! It still does,
even though it is a little tight
in places. I can fix that before we go, that is, unless perhaps
you like it better this way."
Jack sat down on the lid of a large cedar chest.
On the floor, little Jack investigated his brother's
washcloth. Nicholas whined disconsolately and wriggled away.
"How has your morning been darling?", Sally asked.
"Oh Sally... Everyone wants to help
us, just like I
thought. It's not as easy as it seems. Each and
everyone has strengths, but when I picture any one person solely
in charge of the babies I worry. There's so much to know.
All
the little things. Things like how they cry different if they're
hungry than when they need to be changed, how Nicholas gets
scared during thunderstorms and how little Jack likes cinnamon."
Sally knelt on the floor and ran her hand over Nicky's skull.
She pulled him into her lap.
"I know. I began a list today of things
a sitter
should know. I was amazed myself at how much there is, how
much we've learned together. Together. That's what makes
it
work Jack. We compliment one another as their parents."
"Well I know I couldn't do it alone, that's
for certain."
Jack said rubbing his forehead. "I couldn't be a father without
you."
Sally made a face and laughed.
"I meant..." Jack said.
"I know, I know. I'm only teasing you.
I need you too.
It would be so difficult to manage the day to day things without
my bone daddy being so wonderful." Jack laughed and stood up.
He scooped up little jack and carried him to the bed. He lay
back, sitting the child on his chest. Sally continued snuggling
Nicholas. Jack was suddenly struck with a thought, an idea.
He
was quite amazed it hadn't occurred to him before! The babies
were somewhat overwhelming for one person, especially someone who
wasn't accustomed to them. Two people working together made the
job much more manageable. If more than two people were to take
on the responsibility, it would be fantastically simple! Why,
nothing would be forgotten, no one would feel left out! Jack
laughed outloud. He kissed little Jack and sat up.
"I need to get back out to work Sally.
I've just solved
our problem! Isn't that marvelous?! It's wonderful!"
Little
Jack was placed on the rug beside his mother and brother. Sally
hurried to pick both children up, then she followed Jack out of the
room and
down the stairs.
"Jack, wait! Don't you think you should
tell me what your
wonderful idea is? Who is going to watch the babies?" Jack
was
beside himself with delight. He often got like this when
inspiration dawned. It was wonderful and exhilarating to be with
him, but sometimes Sally had to remind her king to slow down and
share his epiphanies. He spun around and kissed her. Then
he
caught his breath and spoke:
"Sally darling, what if we gave several people
the
responsibility of the princes? Someone could play with them,
keep them safe, someone else could give them meals, another could
put them down for bed and make sure they're safe through the
night."
Sally nodded thoughtfully.
"Well, that could certainly work Jack, but
they would all
have to be very organized. If things got confused it would cause
real problems."
"That's why someone in charge would have to
oversee
everything! That way nothing could get forgotten!" Sally
nodded
again. It seemed a reasonable idea. Little Jack and Nicholas
sat in her arms. Little Jack wrapped himself in streams of long,
red, hair.
Nicholas whimpered.
"Oh dear, you forgot your washcloth upstairs!
We'll find you something else to make your poor little teeth feel
better too.", Sally said. "That's another thing Jack. With
his teething, Nicky is going to be very difficult."
Jack regarded his son with concern.
"Yes, that's understood." Jack made
a mental note that
someone patient would need to be entrusted with soothing Nicky.
"You want me to take a baby with me?", Jack asked. He
playfully tickled his sons. Nicholas smiled, forgetting his
tooth for the moment.
"It's alright love. They can both stay
here for the
afternoon. That way you can get more done. Maybe we'll
come out
for a walk and meet you at the hall in a while.", Sally said.
Jack was still beaming with his plan. He kissed his wife on the
lips before heading off down to the square. Sally watched him
go. She smiled and rolled her eyes, then she and the babies
returned indoors. She carried them back to the bedroom.
There
were still a couple of dresses to try on for the trip.
"Me?! No! No Jack!"
Back in the Mayor's office, the rotund politician stammered
and shuffled papers. Jack sat back in a chair. He was relaxed,
his famous grin spread across his skull. All he had to do was
be
his usual persuasive self.
"Please Mayor! Surely you can see that
you are the clear
choice to oversee this! There's simply no one as organized, no
one else whom people listen to the way they do to you!"
The Mayor was thoroughly nonplused. He had watched Jack with
his
little sons for the past six months and he had never witnessed
anything so alien to him. Even that
Christmas thing was nothing compared to this. Jack laughed, his
velvety voice echoed through the office.
"Now, now, Mayor. You have nothing to worry about, and
I'm
sure Sally and I don't either. Besides, it isn't as if you will
be caring for the little ones. You'll just be in charge of
everyone else! Overseeing, making sure everything gets done.
If
you think about it, it isn't all that different from what you do
everyday with the holiday." The Mayor nodded gravely.
There wasn't really anything else to say it seemed. Perhaps it
wouldn't be so terrible, as long as he didn't have to do anything
with the little creatures himself. Sensing the man's turning
mind, Jack took the opportunity to excuse himself. Still
grinning, he headed out to the town square.
