Margo à la Maude

There comes a time in every parent and babysitter's life when Good has a show down with Evil. Specifically, it's when you're changing a baby's diapers, and immediately after you've removed the soiled diaper and replaced it with a fresh one, you hear the all too familiar "movement." And maybe you're tired. And maybe you're hurrying to rush out the door. It doesn't matter. What matters is that now, you're in the Nursery of Good and Evil, and you have to decide whether you're going to go through the routine again.

Did I mention that maybe you're tired.

Or maybe you have to rush out the door.

And you have to make a decision, do I change again, or do I pretend that I didn't hear anything and let it go?

And your brain runs through all the examples of brilliant decision-making in history: Solomon ordering the disputed child cut in half, the Greeks deciding to hide in a hollow gift horse, Shelley Long's decision to leave Cheers to pursue her acting career. And above all, Dirty Harry Callahan. And Dirty Harry's wisdom takes over...

Did she fart six times or only five? Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I've kinda lost track myself. But this being a 4.4 kg baby, the most powerful crap factory in the world, and would deafen your ears if her diaper is soiled, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?

Good triumphs, narrowly. A new diaper is on. The clouds part to make way for the sun. Squirrels stop chewing through garbage cans to mark the occasion.

...and then she shits again.

...and you pretend that you didn't hear it.

Because maybe you're tired. Or rushing out the door. The difference between a drama and a tragedy is just one diaper.

- Michel

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 03, 2006 at 12:07 a.m.. You can skip to the end and leave a response.