Two for Meg

Gold winner of Wildflower Whispers

It was almost midnight.

I sat on my computer typing as I tried to focus on the screen in front of me instead of the hollering on my lap. My baby niece screeched where she sat, pounding her chubby and usually adorable fists down on my knees over and over again.

I had literally tried everything to stop her from crying. Fed her, changed her, even tried to burp her for a bit. I had to get my school done, and I had promised my sister, who was out on a work trip tonight, that I would watch the darn baby.

Meg was usually much more patient and a sweet baby. But now everything in me screamed “Brat, brat, brat.”

This baby was being a brat. I could never have kids of my own. I doubt I could handle not being able to quit from a job like that. You don’t even get paid, I had told my sister. I babysit, but only for money.

My sister had laughed and told me that the love your child gives to you is worth more than all the payment in the world.

I looked at this baby girl in her pajama onesie and tear-streaked face and frowned. I saw no love for me in her face.

Babies don’t even know what love is. How could it possibly love you?

“Meg, please,” I begged, pushing my schoolwork aside finally and bringing her up to my lap. “I really want to sleep. Can you shut up for one second?” I kissed her cheek but she kept wailing.

What was wrong?

My phone rang and I was surprised at the caller. Colin. My boyfriend didn’t ever call this late. He loved his sleep.

I accepted the call and put him on Facetime. “Hey. You good?”

“Yeah, just decided to check on my beautiful angel because I love her,” he sang sweetly, running a hand through his messy and ruffled brown hair.

I smirked and nodded. “Right. The neighbors texted you, didn’t they?”

“Yeah. Mainly Aaron.”

Aaron was the one who had introduced me to Colin, a couple years ago. He was Colin’s best friend, and one of mine, along with being one of my neighbors. He didn’t really approve of babies though, and the fact that my older sister, who I lived with, left me alone with hers.

“I didn’t think she was being that loud.” I rubbed the top of Meg’s head, twirling her small baby hairs between my fingers.

“What do you mean? I can barely hear your voice over the phone right now.” Colin chuckled. “Have you tried changing her?”

“Wow, Colin. You must be a genius. I hadn’t thought of that,” I responded sarcastically.

“So you have?” Colin was used to and unfazed by my sarcasm. Which was probably one of the things that I loved about him. He was much easier to be myself around.

“What about a song?”

The question caught me off guard. “A song?”

“Yeah. Kids love songs. See, she’s singing one right now. She must be attempting opera.”

She was for sure screaming high at the top of her lungs. I frowned at Colin.

“You think you’re so funny, huh?”

He smirked. “I know I am. Just give me a minute. I’ll be over in a sec.”

This time my frown was from worry. “It’s midnight. You’re going to drive over in your dad’s car at midnight?”

“No, I’ll use our van. Plus, it’s only 11:14, silly. We should be good. And if you don’t seem to know how to shut that baby up, your neighbors will kick you out of the neighborhood, so you obviously need help.”

Before I could object, he said, “Love you, bye,” quickly before hanging up and I groaned.

“So annoying.” I didn’t mean it. But I also didn’t want him to get into trouble for trying to help me quiet down my niece that I’m old enough and mature enough to handle.

I tried burping her again and giving her a pacifier once again, but she pushed it away and screamed some more.

Colin was over within fifteen minutes, and I heard his mom’s van pull into my sister’s driveway. I peeked out the window where a neighbor was coming out of their house, all disgruntled and frowning.

They shouted something at Colin. He just replied with a smile and a wave.

Only Colin, I smiled to myself.

As soon as he stepped inside the house, he snatched the baby from me and swung her around up in the air.

“Oh my gosh, hellooo Meg!!” he sang in a high pitched voice.

She gave a squeal and slowly started to laugh as he threw her up in the air a few times, catching her nicely.

“If you kill my niece, my sister will kill me,” I told him, knowing that he’d be careful with her so I didn’t really have to worry.

“I have no doubt about that,” he chuckled, setting her down on the couch. “And hello to you too.”

He turned to me and kissed my forehead before turning back to the baby. He crossed his arms and squinted at her. “Now what to do with you.”

As soon as he had set her down, Meg began to cry again.

“I don’t know what her problem is,” I groaned, rubbing my temple.

“She obviously wants attention, it seems. Plus, she’s a bit tired,” he stated thoughtfully, like he was a doctor giving a diagnosis.

I raised an eyebrow at him. “I didn’t realize that you were around babies, Colin,” I told him, surprised. After all, he was an only child, and didn’t seem like the type to babysit for people.

Colin flushed and scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. “Well, I, uhh… find babies—interesting,” he finished weakly.

“That sounds grossly suspicious,” I laughed, nudging him.

“Alright, fine. I’ve always thought it would be fun to be an older brother and then– well, a dad. But I’ve always been an only child so the closest thing to taking care of kids that I have is researching about them and the way they think.” He shrugged like it wasn’t kinda creepy at all. “It’s actually kinda fascinating.”

“Babies?”

“No, you goober.” He flushed again, laughing. “Psychology in general. The way the mind works. How children work and teenagers think. Even adults.”

“You sound like some kind of therapist,” I said, taking his arm. “Well, work your magic.”

He smirked and cracked his knuckles impressively. He sat down on the couch and picked Meg up in his arms, rocking her up and down on his knee.“So, you haven’t tried just spending time with the baby?”

“That’s all I’ve been doing the past day and a half.” I frowned. What did he think I’ve been doing?

“I mean like, actual quality time. Having fun.” He looked up at me. “You said you haven’t tried singing yet.”

“Babies don’t know what fun is.” I crossed my arms.

“They don’t need to.” Colin pulled out his phone. “Choose a song for her.” He reached out and handed it to me.

I took it. “This is ridiculous.” I searched Songs for Crying Babies and lullabies and “Gummy Bear” was the only thing that was popping up. “Nothing’s on here.”

I heard mad giggling from where they were sitting and I looked up.

Colin had Meg on her back on the couch and was tickling Meg furiously, laughing as she gave her cute little giggles.

I watched, surprised. This was going nowhere. How would tickling help her fall asleep?

It did help a bit with the crying problem though. I’d much prefer her laughing hysterically to bawling.

After ten seconds he paused, and Meg looked up at him, disappointed.

“I’ve got a classic.” He stood up and took the phone back and went to his home page on his music app. Then he tapped a song.

Baby Shark, doo doo doo do do

Baby Shark, doo doo doo do do

Baby Shark, doo doo doo do do

Baby Shark!

I scowled at him. “No way.”

He began to do the dance moves and pulled Meg up to her feet on the floor. “Come on, dance with us!”

“Why is that even on your home screen, Colin!”

Meg stomped around grumpily for a bit, not liking being pulled off the couch and her comfy crying position along with no more tickling, and just watched Colin dance like a monkey to the song.

“See, she doesn’t even think it’s funny,” I pointed out, glad to be right for once.

“Meg, dance! Go, go, go!” he sang, grinning at the baby, still dancing. “Can you do it for Uncle Colin?”

Meg gave a small smile.

“Uncle Colin?” I snorted. “That sounds stupid. She’s not calling you that.”

He winked at me. “Well, I hope for it to happen someday.”

I frowned, confused, before it hit me. I blushed. We were only seventeen, for gosh sakes. I smiled despite my disapproval.

Meg began to raise her arms in the air, slowly shuffling her feet. It was clear she didn’t really know where to move her body.

“Oh, yeah, look at her go!” Colin was still dancing and laughing as he watched Meg begin to giggle as she jumped up and down. “I think we’ve got an American Idol in the house!!”

It was a cute scene, but it felt awkward with me standing there, refusing to be a part of it. But there was no way I was dancing to a baby song.

Colin paused his dancing for a second to switch the song. It was Pizza Angel from Veggietales.

Of course. Veggietales was Colin’s childhood. He had only forced me to watch it with him a hundred times instead of actually going out to see a real movie.

Meg apparently knew this song because she squealed and jumped up and down. Now she was dancing for real, and I couldn’t help chuckling at her small little shuffle.

“Wow, she’s got some moves!” Colin laughed. He looked at me, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. “I wonder if she got it from her aunt?”

“I’m not dancing.”

“Come on!” Colin grabbed my arm and gave me a twirl. “It’s not hard. You just do a little shake here and there.”

“That’s a really weird description.”

He ignored my remark and began to move my arms around as he grinned and danced beside me. I made my arms limp so it was obvious that I wasn’t going to let him win this.

“Why don’t you cheer your sister on?” Colin asked me, still holding onto my hands as he wiggled my arms into the air. “My plan won’t work unless you help.”

“It seems to be working already.” I peeked over at the baby, who was now yawning as she moved. She caught my eye and grinned happily up at me. “She’s getting tired.”

“Thank goodness,” Colin sighed, smiling as he looked back at her too. His gaze turned back to me. “Hey. Nice cartoon panda pajamas.”

I rolled my eyes. “Har har.” I noticed that he was still holding onto my hands but not forcing me to dance with him anymore.

That was all he had needed to do. I began to slowly move along to the music. He grinned again but didn’t say anything. No teasing.

All three of us stood in the center of the living room, at midnight, dancing our heads off like the craziest people ever.

“You’re really good with children.” I hadn’t really thought about my words before they came out suddenly, surprising both of us, but I meant it. “I know it’s late, but I’m probably going to get better sleep than I was going to, thanks to you.” I gave a light laugh.

So did he. “Yeah, with all the phone calls I was getting from Aaron, I wouldn’t have been able to sleep either.”

“Why don’t you just silence your phone?”

“I couldn’t do that.” He frowned at me. “It’s nighttime. Someone could call because they’re being robbed, or hurt, or hanging off a cliff.” I grinned and he raised an eyebrow. “Or maybe they just need help putting their niece to sleep. Who knows?”

“I guess that makes sense.” I let go of his hands and turned to Meg. “Hey, sweetie. You tired?”

Meg was sitting down now, rubbing her eyes. She looked up at me with no emotion.

“Ahh, come here.” I held out my arms and picked her up. I looked over her shoulder at Colin. “I’ll be back.”

I trudged into the nursery and set her down. I twirled a small bit of her hair around my finger, smiling at her.

She was a brat. But she was the cutest brat I’ve ever seen. Colin had some stiff competition.

I kissed my niece's cheek before leaving her, already half asleep, in her crib. I turned on her camera monitor, turned off the light, and closed the door most of the way before walking back into the living room.

I smiled as soon as I heard Aaron’s voice over what I knew was Colin’s phone. “Bro, are you blasting The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything from Veggietales right now? I can hear it from over at my house.”

“Maybe,” Colin responded casually. “I was helping someone put Meg to sleep.” He glanced at me pointedly.

Aaron gave an audible sigh. “Well, can you at least turn the music off now if she’s in bed? I’m going to get no sleep tonight.”

Colin grinned. “Do I have to? This song is fire.” His response was Aaron hanging up.

I walked over to him, and he wrapped an arm around my waist. “You got him pretty upset.”

“Oh, he’ll be fine and laugh about it tomorrow.” He looked down at me. “You should get to bed, and I should return our van before my mom finds out it’s gone. She’ll probably think it’s stolen, along with me.”

We both laughed and he gave me a quick kiss before walking to the door. He stopped and turned around. “Oh, and by the way– next time, we’re doing limbo with Meg. I can just see how that can turn into a fantastically fun disaster.”

He was teasing me. I grinned back. “Yeah. Sounds perfect. We can follow it up with a finger-painting session using baby food. Nothing says ‘artistic masterpiece’ like pureed carrots on the walls, since chaos is truly the goal here.” I opened the door wider for him. “Goodnight, Colin. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Alright, I’m leaving, Miss Pushy.” He held up his hands in defeat.

“And thanks again. For the record, you’d make a great dad.” I lifted an eyebrow. “You have the jokes for it.”

“You’d make a great mom. You have the attitude for it,” he shot back smartly before rushing out the door before I could swat him on the arm.

He rushed over to his van and peeked over the edge. “Love you!” he called out before getting in.

I watched him drive away in the dark as some of the neighbors stood outside and frowned at me and my sister’s house in annoyance.

I just smiled and gave a small whisper. “I love you too.”