Through the Nursery Window

She hummed quietly; a lullaby.  This made her giggle.  She never thought she'd be here. A baby! Well, baBIES. She rubbed her tummy and smiled.  It was such an exciting time.  She didn't have long to wait now, she could feel it. The young mother sighed and stared happily out the window.  She brushed some dirty webs away from the corner. This would never do! The babies needed a cheery, love filled place. She began to clean and straighten.  Oh how little Momma busied herself.  She worked until she thought she'd fall over. Her back ached and her tiny legs seemed to threaten to give out all together.  When she believed she was finished, she sat back, just for a moment to evaluate her work.

'Nope, nope...Not quite" she thought, shaking her head; and beginning again.  "This must be what they call nesting." she mused. The process continued for the rest of the afternoon.

The sun was also busy; painting the sky with purples and pinks enticing the mother-to-be to stop; rest.
She sighed proudly and spoke softly to her children while looking out the little nursery window.

"I want you to be strong; to be wise. I want you to love and be successful. I don't want you to hurt or fail. I never want you to go hungry...I want to be a good mother." she sniffed back a frightened tear and wondered if all those things could come true.  She wondered how she would care for them at the same time. She worried. All new mommies do.

The night became a velvety blanket flecked with tiny wishing stars.  She sighed and dreamt of her babies, wishing for nothing but peace and a due date.

Morning found her yawning, glad to be one day closer. She slowly stirred and began her ritual; rearranging.  She was just picking up some things, putting away last night's dinner when she felt it; a heavy knock in the pit of her growing tummy.

"OH!" This was it! She knew it. Excitement flooded her little momma body.  She looked around hoping everything was in good shape. Briefly, she frowned for there was something out of place. She reached to fix it, but her belly tightened and pulled. The pain rumbled through her. "Whoaaaaa!"  She winced and clutched herself. She wiped her face and cried out.  Another wave crashed through her system.  She went down, the pain was so searing she saw double.

"Oh NO!" she moaned. She knew something was wrong. She couldn't move.  The labor and contractions came so quickly, she was unable to do anything but wail.  She gasped for breath, feeling lightheaded.  Her mouth was dry. Another pain tried to split her in two. She felt wet everywhere. She fell into a tiny ball, rocking back and forth. More pain marched in, screams flew out and there was not a soul to help her. It seemed like hours that she did this.  She wondered how she could have carried them this long? She wondered if she would survive the unspeakable pain that was turning her inside out. Clutching the window, she fought to stand. She saw the sun. She had seen the babies' birthday. A tired smile crept  over her face.

"My babies." she thought and closed her eyes. They would not open again. Motherhood had been fleeting, like her babies' breaths on her cheek that she wanted so desperately; that she could almost taste. Morning stared at her sadly and moved along with the rest of the world. Poor Mommy.

Through the dusty old basement window, he chomped his cigar swishing it carelessly from side to side.
"Down here?" he asked through meaty, shining lips.

He grumped and pulled at the door.  It gave with a mournful shriek. "Sure. ALWAYS down here." and he started down the cracked cement steps.  The bilco entrance was low, welcoming his forehead with a thick "whump". He rocked back and swore.  No man like that belonged in the nursery. But there was no one to stop him now.  He shined his light, focusing on a rocking horse, a cradle, a bent up bassinet.  He sucked on the brown stump in his mouth and reached for his belt.  Attached was a gun; thin and deadly.  The babies lay sleeping; oblivious to the murderer loose in their delicate haven. 

"Hoooo WEE!" he whistled shining his light over them.  "We got ourselves a problem."

No one answered. The babies slept. Mommy never heard.

The man rubbed his sore forehead and set the tank down.  He pumped it; once, twice, a dozen times.  The gun hissed and sputtered; dousing the children in a smelly sleeping potion. He coughed into the crux of his elbow; a thick mucous tinged pink on his dirty, stained flannel shirt.  One day soon he would be snoozing too; but not today.  Today he was busy. The smell soaked the room, like sugary rust. He hummed and swished.  The song wasn't a gentle lullaby but "The End" by The Doors. 

They wouldn't have known the words anyway. There would be no success, no love, no strength. There was only rest. Her children didn't stand a chance.

When they were asleep forever, he pulled a greasy blue bandanna from his hip pocket, wiping his chin.  There were still grains of soot and filth caught in the folds of his thick neck. He coughed some more, milky and deep. Turning to go he shook his head and met the bilco entrance once more. A punishing crack creased his brow. As punishment, he kicked the door shut and spat over the cigar.

"Kay." he gravelled at the porch. "I got em all."

"All?" the woman's little face could barely hold her large eyes.

"ALL." he laughed and scratched his butt. "Ain't never seen so many. But you don't worry no more." He coughed again into his elbow. There was a sticky stain there. 

She looked away embarrassed and disgusted.

"Yeah..eh.ehhhh." He stretched and yawned. "Biggest spider nest I've ever seen."

The frail solicitor paid him, following him down the drive where he got into the black van with tinted spade shaped windows; musing over the faded sign on its side:

HOWARD'S EXTERMINATING
YOU'LL FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY
CAUSE WE KILL MORE THAN JUST BEES.

Turning back, she stared at the dusty, web covered window only for a minute, then went back inside; oblivious to what she'd done.
The nursery was dark.



 Okay, so here it is.  I hope I gotcha a little bit.  It was inspired by true events.  I hope you liked it.  I'm pretty pleased.

Thank you for coming.  I am glad you did.