It was a frosty morning with a warm sun promising to melt those ice crystals away. Von Kaiser was just coming out of the locker room when he saw Joe push through the doors with Katrina in his arms. They both looked exhausted. Von Kaiser went over to them. "Du siehst müde aus, geht es dir gut?" (You look tired, are you feeling okay?)
"Elle est poussée les dents," mumbled Joe, rubbing his eyes, "alors elle ne peut pas dormir. Et quand elle ne peut pas dormir, elle pleure, et quand elle pleure, je ne peux pas dormir." (She's teething, so she can't sleep. And when she can't sleep, she cries, and when she cries, I can't sleep.)
Von Kaiser thought for a moment, and guided Joe to the lounge room. "Hier. Leg dich für ein Nickerchen hin, und ich hole dem Baby etwas zum Kauen." (Here. You lay down for a nap, and I'll get the baby something to chew on.)
"Merci," mumbled Joe, as he drifted off.
With that, Von Kaiser brought Katrina to the children's room, where there was a box with a few teething toys. He picked one up and handed it to Katrina, who instantly put it in her mouth.
Katrina was still rather fussy, and who could blame her? Teething hurts! So Von Kaiser bounced her on his lap. "Es ist in Ordnung. Neue Zähne zu bekommen ist hart, oder?" (It's alright. Getting new teeth is rough, eh?)
And then all of a sudden, Katrina stopped. She went quiet, and took the teething toy out of her mouth. She looked up at her big friend and grinned. And what should be there but two little bottom teeth!
"Sehen Sie, los geht's," said Von Kaiser. "Alles erledigt." (See, there we go. All done.)
About half an hour later, Katrina needed to be fed, so Von Kaiser went back to the lounge to find Joe, who was just waking up from his nap.
"Jetzt sollte es ihr gut gehen," said Von Kaiser, handing Katrina back to her father. (She should be fine now.)
Once she was in his arms, Katrina grinned at Joe to show him her teeth as well.
"Félicitations, ma belle," cooed Joe sleepily. (Good for you, darling.) Realizing that it was a bit past ten o'clock, he pulled a bottle out of his duffel bag to feed his daughter.
