Chapter 30

I squatted down as best I could to get closer to the basket that was laying there. I pulled back an old, worn cover to see what was in the basket. And looked into blue eyes, just as clear as day. I was so startled I lost my balance and sat back in the snow. Good heavens, I thought as I regained my balance, leaned over to pick up the basket and slowly made my way back inside the house. I got behind the door to push it with my weight but found it awkward to shut while holding the basket. I gingerly set the basket down, put my shoulder to the door and slowly pushed it shut, some of the snow going back towards the porch but even more pushing back into the house.

I quickly took off my coat to hang it up and kicked off Bobby's boots. Carefully walking around the melting puddles of snow to keep my socks from getting wet, I grabbed an old blanket and threw it down on the floor to soak up the melted snow and made my way to the fire to get a closer look at the baby in the basket. I pulled the worn cover off of the baby and quickly dropped it to the floor, catching a scent of unwashed fabric and soiled from the evidently, wet, nappy the baby had on. I carefully reached down into the basket and eased the baby up. He never cried, just kept staring into my eyes, as much amazed at the sight of me as I was of it. As I lifted the infant up I got a better look at it. A worn nightshirt of flannel had been placed on the baby obviously not belonging to the infant because it was several sizes too big. Someone had taken the tail of it and knotted it up to keep the infant from wriggling loose of the worn fabric. A small pair of socks, the size of a small child had been fitted over the small hands and what looked like a man's handkerchief had been tied around it's head. I held the baby out in front of me carefully inspecting it's appearance. It had to be about 3 months old and it's cheeks were fat as butterballs and 2 small chins rested on it's fat neck. It seemed to weight about 15 pounds and started to wriggle around, moving every which way that it could to get loose.

I quickly leaned down before the fire and laid the infant on the rug in front of it. Slowly I removed the socks from the chubby little hands taking in each little finger as I went along. I then proceeded to untie the nightshirt to remove it from the baby. I could see the little legs kicking up and down furiously and I struggled with the knot. Finally I got it untied and up and over the baby's head, laying it on the floor next to the worn cover. The nappy was soiled and just about to fall off of the baby's bottom so I carefully removed it. HHMM! A little boy. I pulled the knitted throw from the back of the chair and wrapped the baby up in it nice and tight, pulled the basket down to the floor and place the baby boy back inside it. I then went over to get the water heated for tea and a bar of soap along with a piece of soft flannel to wash the baby. I checked the water to make sure it wasn't too warm or too cold, poured it over into a small bucket and carried everything back to the front room. The little boy was cooing and kicking and making baby sounds as I lowered myself next to him on the floor. I gently untied the throw from around the baby, watching him scrunch up his eyes at the sudden coolness across his skin. I wet the soft flannel, lathered it up good and proceeded to cleaned the baby boy from top to bottom. I removed the kerchief from around his head and smiled at the springy curls that were hidden underneath. I continued to lather the baby up and wipe him down cleaning under all the little folds of fat from under his chin down to his little perfect toes. After I finished with his bath, I wrapped him back up and held him close to me to warm him. Slowly getting up with the baby, I went over to the small dresser that Bobby had gotten for my own baby's things and rummaged around for a clean nappy and something warmer for the baby to wear. Finding a soft flannel gown that had long sleeves and tied at the feet I eased the baby boy down on my bed to dress him. After that was finished I headed back to my rocker to sit and rock the little feller and ponder what in the world was I suppose to do next? And wouldn't Bobby be surprised?

After a bit of rocking the little blue eyes slowly closed and a look of contentment came over his face. I wondered where was his momma. Who put him on my porch. Why did they choose my house. What ever made anyone want to go out in this kind of weather. And who would leave a little baby on a porch in such weather.

I awoke with a start when I heard boots stomping near the back door. I then heard the door open and Bobby called out, "I hope you got a surprise fixed for me, cause I am froze to the bone. I am near about starved to death and have no idea how I am walking with my feet so cold." I hollered, "Hold up, I will be there to help you, don't you tramp wet boots through the house." I eased the little bundle I held back into the basket and straightened up, rubbing my lower back, boy was he ever going to be surprised.