“There we go little man, now let’s see if we can find you something to wear.”
“Oh look at him, he is so adorable.”
Jasper suddenly realized Molly wasn’t there and opened his eyes. He had his hippo in his mouth and was being held upright in the arms of a girl who couldn’t be more than a young teen. She was talking to another girl who was probably in her late teens.
The two continued to talk like he wasn’t there, “There’s not much in lost and found but maybe we can put him in one of these?”
“Better than nothing.”
“Think it will fit?”
Before there was an answer, Jasper had a shirt being pulled over his head. It seemed to fit as they manhandled his body through the sleeves and it seemed to work.
“He looks like a tired little camper, should we try putting him down?”
“Jasper, would you like to take a nap honey?”
Jasper was conflicted he knew he was a man, but today, he was also just this little guy. He felt overwhelmed. He thought it best to just let them know maybe he should just sit quietly. But what came out was a little different “mooommmmmmy” he wailed he just couldn’t hold back he just whined and started to cry. “Mooooommmmyyyyyy.”
“Oh poor baby. Mommy will be back soon.” The young teen holding him said.
Jasper was having none of that. He knew they were just saying that to quiet him down. He also knew he was behaving like a baby but he couldn’t contain himself.
It took a good 10 minutes of being held, rocked and comforted for him to finally settle down.
Exhausted and quiet, he had no more fight left in him. Placed into one of the cribs, in a dimly lit area of the room, a small blanket was placed over him.
Jasper lay there on his stomach. Finally his senses grasped his environment. He was in a crib. He could smell things, baby power and A&D ointment. It was the smell of a baby, him. Stretching his arms he felt a few items in his crib, they left him with his hippo. Jammed next to the bars and the mattress was a baby bottle. The bottle was full, it still had on its cap.
As he lay there consumed with a single thought Mommy left me here. When is she coming back? he held his hippo and the bottle tight against his body and snuggled under his small blanket.
I’m in a crib. A crib for heaven sake. I no a baby. I a big boy. Then Jasper realized as tired as he is, he is also thirsty. The bottle was full, not a big fan of milk, especially warmed as it was from beign next to his body. Still it is something to drink. It wasn’t that difficult to get the cap off, it virtually popped off when he tried to remove it. The top was a different story. It was screwed in tight.
After failing to remover the top, Jasper noticed that the milk smelled a little odd but he had a strong craving to drink it. Glancing out throught the crib bars no one was in sight, so he put the nipple of the bottle to his mouth and tasted the contents. But he wasn’t tipping the bottle the right way to get a anything more than a small taste. Soon, he lay on his back holding the bottle to his mouth. It didn’t take long for him to figure out how to suck then suckle and get into a good rhythm. It was heavenly he nursed a bottle and loved it.
As his thirst started to be quenched, he started to doze and his mind started wondering back thinking of who he was. I’m in a crib. I no a baby. I a big boy. His thoughts slowed by his sleepiness… just because…. I….. wet pants, …….wear diapers,…….. sleep crib,…… like bottle. No baby….. no baby. With that Jasper drifted into a deep sleep.