Lexi and Julia laid together on the couch, limbs intricately tangled. With each of their heads propped up on opposite arms of the couch, it wasn't clear where one persons leg’s and the others began amidst the layers of blankets and stray pillows.
Julia settled deeper into the crevice of perfectly squished sofa cushions she’d established and scrolled Pinterest on her tablet, curating outfits and gardening ideas for spring.
She was comfortable, at least she thought she was. Until she got a kick to the shin and her blanket dragged off of her. Just a moment ago Lexi had been reading a graphic novel and sucking on the collar of her t-shirt. Now, in a fit of legs, elbows, and blankets she was standing in front of her empty spot on the couch.
“I’m bored, that book is boring,” she said, tossing it on the coffee table.
“That was rude,” said Julia.
“The author can’t hear me.”
“I meant getting up suddenly, kicking me, and taking my blanket with you.” Julia grabbed one of the stray pillows and tucked it behind her back.
Lexi didn’t say anything to that. Instead, she pulled a clear plastic bin from the bookshelf and sat on the floor. She popped open the little container of colorful beads inside and starting stringing them on a spool of nylon thread. The sound of plastic pieces being sifted through soon filled the room.
It didn’t last long before a jarring crash startled Julia out of her scrolling. She whipped her head to face the room, prepared to see a broken glass or picture frame. Instead, she saw Lexi. Lexi with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. Beads of every color, including some flower shapes and letters were scattered on the floor. There was nothing resembling the piece of jewelry Lexi had been attempting.
“Lexi!” Julia exclaimed, “What’s gotten into you today?”
“Nothing!” Lexi bent her knees to her chest and stomped her feet from her sitting position. The beads shook and rolled even further.
“You’re being very naughty and impolite,” Julia stood up from the couch and carefully avoided any bead land mines to cross the room and head to the kitchen, “when you’re done picking this up come and help me get started on dinner, please. I need you to unload the dishwasher.”
“No,” said Lexi, still on the floor.
“No! I don’t want to clean up the stupid beads or make dinner, or do anything!” A tear rolled down her flushed cheek and more threatened to spill from her watery eyes.
Julia paused. This wasn’t Lexi’s normal brattiness. She typically pitched a fit over chores and tidying, but throwing toys and weepyness was uncommon. Julia turned around to face Lexi and crouched down to her level.
“What’s wrong, baby? Do you need something?”
Lexi just turned her head away and rubbed her nose. She shrugged her shoulders and sniffed.
“Come here,” Julia opened her arms. Lexi swept away the beads in her path and crawled into Julia’s lap. Their chests touched and Lexi tucked her arms under Julia’s, while Julia’s crept down and clasped under Lexi’s bottom.
“A-ha,” said Julia. She patted Lexi’s bottom, which produced a dull thud. Her other hand came around to the elastic waistband of Lexi’s "denim" shorts. She squeezed Lexi's bottom and got a squishy handful of bloated padding, “you’re soaked! And it’s cold, when was the last time you went?”
Lexi buried her head in Julia’s shoulder and whined.
“I think someone was in a fussy mood because they need a new diaper. Is that right? Was it getting too cold and icky for you?” Julia’s voice took on a teasing inflection.
Lexi nodded with her face still hidden.
“What a little baby! You could have told me you know? Or, are you too small for that? You can only pout and fuss until Mommy notices what’s wrong?”
“Nuh uh” Lexi said softly, without any real bite or attitude.
“No? You're not Mommy's fussy baby? Oh, so that must mean you don’t want me to change you? You don’t to be all clean and dry in a new, fluffy diaper?”
This time Lexi pulled her head out from Julia’s chest to let out a whine. Her eyes were still watery and it looked like she had been chewing on her bottom lip.
"I want to be dry, please, Mommy."
“That's what I thought. Let’s get this soggy baby all cleaned up.”
Julia reached for the caddy next to the couch that was stocked with changing supplies. She rolled out the cloth mat with a plasticky inner lining and patted it invitingly. Lexi lowered herself on to it and let her knees fall to the side on instinct. Their knuckles brushed inside the caddy, Julia grabbing the packet of wipes and Lexi fishing for a pacifier.
“Taking your pacifier without any fuss? You really are small today. Now, lay still and let Mommy make it all better.”
Julia changed Lexi with practiced ease, taking extra special care to make sure she wasn’t getting a rash from being wet so long. She fluffed the fresh diaper and slid it under Lexi.
“Yuck,” said Lexi when she felt thick rash paste being spread on her, “that stuff’s icky.”
“Not as icky as diaper rash…now, here’s a tape, here’s a tape…” Julia said as she fastened Lexi’s diaper securely, "Aaalll better, right?" she helped Lexi into a sitting position and pulled her into a hug.
"Uh huh," Lexi muttered around the pacifier. She was practically melting into Julia's embrace.
The two sat there for a minute, Julia breathing deeply to help regulate Lexi. Eventually Lexi pulled back and dropped her pacifier from her mouth. It bounced on her chest but stayed put thanks to the clip on her shirt.
"To be good. To listen to Mommy and be nice." She scooted away and started picking up the beads one by one.
