Within a couple of days Mrs Hamilton had delivered on her promise of a matching bonnet, nappy cover and booties for Todd. His mother dressed him and brought him out for for the ladies to admire. They loved his ensemble of course. “But just wait until you see the outfit I’m making for him!” Mrs Timmons told them. “It’ll be ready in a day or two.”
Todd suc-ked on his soother as they made him waddle across the room and twirl. His mother told him to stand in front of her and turn around. She raised his petticoat and fingered the lace on his nappy cover. “Gorgeous!”
“You know I think he’s ready for his first outing!” she decided. “Nnngghhh!?” “I haven’t been to the café in over a week!” “Oh good idea!” the ladies agreed. “The straps on the high chair can be detached to make a harness for baby”, Mrs Hamilton pointed out. “Perfect!” his mother declared as she went to fetch them.
Todd whimpered desperately as she pulled the harness over his arms and tightened it over his chest. “NNNHHHGG!” “Don’t be silly dear. You can’t stay cooped up all the time in your play-pen. Anyway, everyone knows you are in nappies and pretty baby dresses!”
Suddenly his play-pen seemed to him the perfect place to be. But he was pushed towards the front door. “Nnngghhh!” He pawed aimlessly at his harness. “Don’t forget to take a changing bag!” Mrs Brown helpfully reminded his mother. His mother took a holdall and put a clean nappy and plastic pants ias well as the pack of baby wipes and powder into it. Mrs Timmons had filled his baby bottle with milk and tucked it into the end pocket on the outside.
Todd glared at the changing bag as his mother swung it over her shoulder. Now anyone they met would know that his baby dress and nappy weren’t just a costume. They could see that he was actually using his nappies and was being fed regular bottles.
Mrs Hamilton opened the door and he was pushed out. His mother had to nudge him down the driveway. When they got to the footpath he looked nervously up and down the road. This required turning his head a full ninety degrees in either direction to see past the wide lace brim of his bonnet.
To the right he could see Debbie’s mother approaching. He quickly waddled to the left towards the shops and the café. His mother tugged him back on his harness. “Suddenly you are in a hurry!” she mocked. Todd stood with shoulders sagging as his mother waited for Mrs Wilson to catch up.
“There is the little darling”, she called. “I’ve heard all about you from Debbie!” “I’d heard about your pretty lilac dress but I didn’t know you had such a lovely bonnet!” “Mrs Hamilton made it specially”, his mother told her. “And a very pretty nappy cover”, she demonstrated by raising his petticoat. “Oh my goodness. What a lucky baby!”
Todd just wanted to get away from her but he looked down to the main road and saw lots of traffic moving past slowly and plenty of pedestrians. He didn’t feel in such a hurry now. But they continued all too soon and Todd was walking along the busy road, his mother greeting all of the gobsmacked passers-by, clearly inviting them to stop and chat.
Some did. “He’s in nappies and baby-dresses for the summer to keep him out of mischief!” she happily explained. “Yes of course he is using his nappies! Needs several changes a day, don’t you sweetie?” Todd just suc-ked harder on his soother.
The café seemed like a relief initially but he saw that it was almost full. “I have a table at the back!” the waiter assured his mother. So Todd had to waddle all the way down between the tables and endure the giggles and gasps.
Sitting at the table he faced a toddler girl at the next section. “Mummy! There’s a very big baby!” she said loudly, pointing. “Don’t be rude!” her mother scolded. “That’s alright” his mother assured her. “He is a bit old for nappies!” She tucked the changing bag under the table. The lady nearly choked. “He!?” Todd cringed. The lady’s jaw dropped and then she laughed.
“How old is he?” she asked incredulously. “Fourteen”, his mother replied proudly. “Wow!” “And your little one?” his mother asked. “Three and three quarters! And she’s just out of nappies, aren’t you dear?” “Yes!” the little girl confirmed and gave Todd a pitying look. “Maybe you could give Todd some tips!” his mother teased and they all laughed.
On leaving the café his mother was seen out by the waiter who knew a loyal customer when he saw one. She announced she had to get a few things in the supermarket. Todd winced. It was another block down the street.
His mother pulled a trolley from the line and tied Todd’s rein to it so she could push with both hands. Todd had to follow wherever she pushed it. “Oh I keep forgetting that they’ve moved the cheese fridge! Wait here”, she told him as she went a few aisles back. Todd looked up and down the aisle nervously suc-king on his soother, hoping that nobody would find him on his own tethered to the shopping trolley. His mother smiled at his obviously relieved look when she returned.
At the check-out Todd looked forlornly and the sweets rack. He would usually grab something and pester his mother to buy it. That was impossible with his hands in mittens. She smiled at his obvious frustration. “Would you like something sweet?” He nodded.
She took a large round lollipop and handed it to the lady to swipe. Then she removed the wrapper, pulled his soother out with a pop and replaced it with the lollipop. “There!” Todd was disappointed it was such a babyish confectionary but it tasted way better than the mushy dinners they had been feeding him.