A Close Call

Open scene with mother and young son preparing to engage in bathtime. Young son has a somewhat small amount of vomit on his clothes, and mother feels it necessary to bathe the small rodent because he hasn't been bathed since last week. Mother carefully removes child's pajamas, pulling onesie over his baby-proportioned large head. The child's arms are fully extended in a "skin the bunny" fashion, yet still don't reach over his head. While still diapered and mother looking on, child gazes into the magical playpen with sparkling water and colorful squirt toys and sieves. A glob of drool escapes his lips and blends with the raging torrent below. Mother spreads the soft, downy towel on the floor for a quick swaddle after splashing fun is through. Excitement overcomes the young child as mother approaches to remove his diaper and give him total and complete freedom. She cautiously checks the diaper to make sure there are no rapscallions lying in wait. Eyeing a suspicious brown streak in the diaper, she examines the child's bottom to locate the source. Satisfied that child's bottom is clean, she begins lowering him into the bathtub. Just as she does so, the culprit manifests itself and enters the gentle waves. Mother pauses, unsure what to do. Child still dangles inches above the water in Mother's arms, unaware of what has come to pass, his body still in spasms of excitement. Mother lowers child into the water, and, forcing herself to continue on even though she realizes what she's about to do, scoops the swarthy knave from the water with her bare hand and nestles it in the safety of the used diaper. A laugh escapes her lips and she continues smiling as she bathes her young son, not only because he narrowly escaped, but also because she remembers a long time ago when she and her brother cowered at the opposite end of the bathtub when a smiliar villain was in pursuit and the brave heroine who was their mother saved them.