How much trouble can a bunch of babies be?

Fifteen minutes later, Dawn arrived at the Salems', sweaty from having ridden her bicycle in such a hurry. I was still walking Ricky in circles around the first floor. He was gumming madly on a teething biscuit I'd found in the kitchen cupboard. The biscuit had quieted him slightly - as long as we kept moving.

"Do you mind taking Ricky?" I asked Dawn. I circled from the dining room into the living room, Dawn at my heels. "I'd take him, but I think I better stay here in case Mrs. Salem comes home. It would probably be better if she found the same baby-sitter who was here when she left the house."

"I don't mind taking him," Dawn replied. "It's so nice out. Where's the stroller? We'll leave right away."

"It's in the garage. Can you wheel it to the front door? I don't want to stop moving until I can put Ricky right in the stroller."

Dawn retrieved the stroller while I circled with Ricky. As soon as she was waiting outside, I made one last circle, but when I reached the hallway, I turned right instead of left, walked through the front door, which Dawn was holding open, and plopped Ricky in the stroller. Dawn was pushing him down the walk before he knew what was happening Right away, his cries began to fade.

I went back inside and checked on Rose, who was (miraculously) still sleeping. Then I collapsed in an armchair in the living room.

I was just reclining there, enjoying the peace when...

"WAHH!"

Oh, no. Not again.

Mary Anne + 2 Many Babies
Published by Scholastic Inc. 1996
ISBN: 0590449664