December 3, 1970
"Oh Arthur, for heaven's sake, it's a baby, he's not made of china!"
Molly looked in amusement whilst Arthur tried to change little William's nappies. He was only four days old but already seemed to have a will of his own.
"I'm afraid I'll hurt him. He's so tiny and all…"
"You'll never get that nappy changed if you continue like that. Here, let me do it, then we can go down for breakfast."
She ushered Arthur aside and started making little cooing sounds, while she expertly undid William of his sodden nappy.
"There, it's not that difficult, you see?"
Arthur remained silent. She looked at him. Something was troubling him.
"Artie-dear, what is it? Are you upset that I took over? I'm sorry, but it was taking you ages…"
"It's not fair," he replied eventually.
"Not fair? What's that got to do with it? Really Arthur…"
"It's not fair that you know how to do all of these things and I don't have the faintest idea what I'm doing. You act as you've never done anything other in your life than take care of a baby and I… I'm a complete dimwit when it comes to the matter. I want to be able to take care of our son too."
She noted the frustration in his voice, and a hint of hurt, and instantly felt guilty.
"I'm so sorry. I never meant… I didn't think…
"It's okay," he said feebly.
"No, it's not okay. It was inconsiderate of me. I changed so many nappies at work already that it has become a routine for me, and I forgot how scared I was the first time I did it. Would you like me to teach you?"
He nodded and Molly smiled. "Come here then, we'll change it again but this time we'll do it together."
He came closer and she took out a new nappy from the drawer.
"First things first, you'll have to distract him a bit, it will make it easier for you to remove the nappy he's wearing.
"Hey there little fellow," Arthur cooed.
She showed him how to undo the safety pin and he carefully removed it from the nappy.
"Now you have to lift up his legs to remove the nappy."
She demonstrated it by gently taking both William's legs and lifting him in the air. Arthur looked panicked.
"Doesn't that hurt him?"
She shook her head. "If it did, he would start crying, wouldn't he?"
He had to admit there was some sense in that.
"Here, you try it."
Still hesitant, he took over and lifted William's legs in the air. He removed the nappy by repeating the movements he had seen his wife make.
Molly handed him the new nappy. "This is the hardest part," she said. "You have to lift him again and put the new nappy under his bum. Then you pull the lowest part upfront, to his belly and you bring the sides together with it."
Arthur fidgeted with the linen, until he managed to fit the three pieces of cloth somewhat together.
"Now it's time for the safety pin again, isn't it?"
"It is," she agreed.
A bit later, he looked at her. "I did it," he said proudly. "I changed my son's nappy without breaking him or hurting him."
Molly smiled lovingly at him. The nappy wasn't put on exactly right and the linen around the safety pin formed a weird disarray of cloth, but she couldn't find it in her heart to tell him so. He would get better in time.
"Yes you did," she replied. "It wasn't so bad now, was it?"
"It wasn't," he admitted. "But only because I had your help." He kissed her on the tip of her nose and put his arm around her.
"Hey little man, Mummy and I are so proud of you, you know that? We love you very much."
She leaned onto his chest. "He has your eyes."
"You think so?"
"Definitely. Bright and lively eyes that will one day make a young woman's heart go faster."
"But not quite yet."
"No, not quite yet. He'll just have to do with us for a while."
Arthur smiled down fondly. "Well, he could do worse."
