Baby Book - Phase Three

Chapter One - Back to Day Care

Late June, 2273

Grayson and Amanda were beside themselves, dashing all about the room, urging their parents to hurry, hurry. Nyota's lips twitched, trying not to laugh at them. Spock raised one eyebrow at her and she broke up completely. "All right, all right, we're ready! Let's go eat breakfast and then you can go see all your friends."

The children raced to the door and stood there impatiently, bouncing from foot to foot, waiting for their parents to catch up with them. Once in the corridor, they raced for the turbolift, again constrained to fidgeting until their parents arrived. When they got to the mess hall, however, they were better behaved, although it was easy to see that it was extremely difficult for them. They gulped their breakfast down far too fast, and won a disapproving look from each of their parents. And they still had to wait until their parents finished their breakfast before they could head down the corridor to the day care center.

When the two children burst through the door of the day care center, they found Joey, Stevie, Jilly, and Shron already there. There were loud exclamations of joy and much hugging and dancing around. The boys slapped each other on the back, in imitation of what they had seen men doing, while the girls giggled at them.

Miss Betty came forward to speak to Spock and Nyota before they left. "Grayson will be transferring to the Kindergarten group the first of September. Is he aware of this?"

Nyota replied first. "Oh, yes, and he's so eager for it."

Spock nodded, agreeing. "He has been studying hard to be ready."

Miss Betty looked at him strangely. "But that isn't necessary. There are no requirements to pass. All the children start in Kindergarten."

"Nevertheless, he wishes to be well prepared."

Miss Betty felt that the kindergarten teachers were the ones who needed to be well prepared. But wisely she said nothing, simply nodded and turned back to watch her charges. And just then, all three of the babies came in, Jack and Ankaret, and Dmitry - and at least two of them were crawling now. She would have her hands full today!

Jilly and Amanda ran over to were Ankaret was sitting on the floor and plopped themselves down beside her, to the smaller girl's delight. A spirited game of pattacake was soon under way. After that they dived into the pile of fuzzies, grinning and laughing as they found their favorites to cuddle.

The boys, of course, had piled straightway into the sandbox, and had a magnificent castle under construction. Jack was agitating loudly to be allowed in with them, but Miss Betty had once again confined him to a crib. This was not going to work much longer, she thought ruefully.

Dmitry was hanging onto the bars of his crib, shaking them determinedly, wanting out. It was not fair that Ankaret was allowed out on the floor and he was not. He would figure out how to get down there, yes he would.

Miss Betty dashed hither and yon all day, trying to keep Grrel from scattering sand everywhere, chastising all the boys when they followed Grrel in rolling in the sandbox, snatching Jack up just before a handful of sand would have gone into his mouth, and trying to keep everything running smoothly. Thank Goodness, Miss Lou would be on duty with her tomorrow!