closed her little peepers for a sec. So, I pulled out all her toys.�

�I can see that,� Rebecca stated dryly.

�The toys didn�t work. She wasn�t interested or somethin�. Then, I got out the records to see if music would calm her down so she�d go to sleep. It didn�t. Next, I got out her books, an� that did the trick. She was almost asleep when you came home an� yelled at me. Aren�t ya ashamed, Becky?�

By this time, Rebecca was rocking with laughter. She managed to gasp out, �How many diapers did you go through?�

Baloo silently counted on his fingers. �Eleven, I think, countin� the dirty ones an� practice ones.�

�Practice ones?� She arched her eyebrows.

�That reminds me, I gotta get more fishin� line.�

�Fishing line?� She wondered at this mental jump.

�Yeah, ta tie up her diapers so they don�t slip off.� He pointed to Cassie�s waist. A pale blue plastic line was looped around the diaper.

Rebecca sat down on the arm of the chair, threw her arms around Baloo�s neck, and laughed until she cried. When she was able, she choked out, �Oh, Baloo! I�ll show you how to fold a diaper so that it stays on without fishing string.�

�It can?�

�Yes, it can.� She wiped tears from her eyes. �After you get her to sleep, you get to clean up this mess.�

Baloo smiled. �Yes, sir, boss lady.�

End of part 4

Baby Baloos
Part 5

A Few Days Later

The von Bruinwalds went to see The Wizard of Uz, a newly released movie. Dusk was falling as they stood in line, a line that extended all the way down the block. As luck would have it, they were near the end of it.

�Can I get popcorn?� asked Molly, tugging on her mother�s sleeve.

�Yeah, me, too,� said Baloo.

�Me three,� rejoined Kit.

�You mean I packed all these candy bars in my purse for nothing?� said Rebecca, a little peeved.

�Don�t forget the sodas we stashed in Cassie�s diaper bag,� added Molly loudly.

�Molly, shh! We�re not supposed to bring food into the theater,� Kit admonished.

The little girl grinned. �We�re being sneaky. Danger Woman sneaks food past the evil food police.� She was off in a world of make-believe. �Give up, food police, here comes Danger Woman!�

�Don�t worry �bout the goodies, Beckers. We�ll polish it all off,� Baloo peeked into the diaper bag that he was holding; �in the first half hour.�

�Remember your diet.�

�Diet, schmiet...� grumbled Baloo.

�I hear the witch is really scary,� said Molly, hopping back and forth over a crack in the sidewalk.

Kit nudged Baloo�s elbow with a smirk. �Should we reserve a space for you under the seat, Papa Bear?�

Baloo looked annoyed. �Tell me again why we�re goin� to this flick?�

�Because Molly wants to see it. The Wizard of Uz is one of her favorite books.� Rebecca shifted Cassie to the other hip.

Baloo peered over the tops of people�s heads up the line. He could barely make out the title of the movie on the theater�s flashing marquee. �Hope we get in ta see it tonight. Dunno if I can handle standin� in line any longer.�

�We�ve been here for exactly ten minutes, Baloo,� Rebecca retorted, shaking her head. She nuzzled the baby�s cheek, flashing a teasing look at her husband. �Daddy needs to learn patience. Can you say �patience�, Cassie?�

�I�ll learn ya somethin�, Becky,� he muttered sullenly.

�Finally, we�re moving!� Kit said.

They took three steps and stopped.

�Think Cassie will be scared by the witch?� Molly asked her mother.

�No, Pumpkin, she�ll probably sleep through the entire thing, just like your father slept through It Went with the Wind.�

�Hey, you didn�t tell me it was gonna be four hours long! An� I didn�t sleep through the whole thing.�

Rebecca giggled. �You're right. You woke up screaming, �Air pirates!� when they fired cannons.�

�Really, Papa Bear?� Kit laughed.

Wishing that he could sink through the sidewalk, Baloo�s cheeks turned pink. �Well, they sounded like air pirates ta me.�

He was relieved when Molly changed the subject. �Know what? I was reading Wizard of Uz to Cassie last night. She liked it.�

�Did she tell you that, sis?� Kit teased.

�No, but I know she did,� Molly replied smugly. �She smiled.�

�Aw, she smiles at everything. Don�t you, Cassie?�

In response to Kit�s question, Cassie flashed him a sweet, toothless grin.

�Told ya,� Kit said, gently tickling the baby�s toes, prompting fits of giggles. �Not a care in the world.�

�Except bein� hungry an� sleepy an� dirty,� Baloo added.

�Just like you, Baloo,� Rebecca said sarcastically.

�Hardy-har-har, Beckers.� He playfully nudged her elbow.

After another ten minutes of standing in line, they finally arrived at the ticket window.

�How many?� inquired the high-school aged male elephant.

�Five,� Baloo said proudly. �Two adults, three kids.�

�That�ll be $1.75.�

Baloo dug out his wallet. �I got a dollar an� two checks.�

Rebecca sighed. Her husband never had any cash. �Kit, could you...?�

�I�m on it, Mom.� Kit was already fingering through his mother�s coin purse for change.

The elephant handed them five tickets. Per Rebecca�s decision, they bypassed the snack counter. They filed into seats on the left side of the theater: Rebecca with Cassie, Molly, Kit, and Baloo. The MovieTone News was already playing.

�Pass the candy, Beckers,� Baloo hissed, digging the sodas from the diaper bag and giving one to his son.

Molly said, �I�ll hold Cassie, Mom, and explain the movie to her.�

�Okay, sweetie.� Smiling, Rebecca passed the baby to Molly before she began rifling through her purse for the half-melted chocolate.

The film�s theme music filled the air, nearly rendering the audience deaf by its loud volume. On the larger-than-life screen, the black-and-white title appeared.

�That says The Wizard of Uz, Cassie,� Molly whispered.

Cassie was more interested in the shadows flickering over her big sister�s face than the movie itself.

Molly continued quietly, �Just like the book I was reading to you last night, remember? Now, don�t be scared of the witch, �cause it�s all just pretend.�

The End

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