I tried hurriedly to put Ms. Barnes (Baby Barnes?) back into her clothes so that she would be in them when I changed her back. But she wouldn't cooperate with
me. It was tempting to turn her back into an adult out of her clothes, but it would also involve too much explaining. And it could get Mom into lots of trouble.
I heard Mom come in through the back door, and worked quickly. First, I wished that only wishes that I had spoken would be granted. God knows what would
happen if the next thing I thought of wishing for came true. And then, I made wishes about Ms. Barnes' clothes. When Mom came into the room, she found me
holding a baby in diapers and wrapped in a blanket.
"Who's this?" Mom asked in a pleasant voice as she set my baby sister, Andrea, down in her carrier.
"This is Barney!" I said, not thinking too carefully.
"Barney? But he has a girl's diaper!"
"It's short for -- Barnella! She's the baby sister of a friend at school. He and his folks had to go out for a while and asked me if I could take care of the baby. I
thought she's be good company for Andy!"
"I didn't know you were so interested in caring for babies. I'll remember that when I need a quick baby sitter!"
Ouch! I didn't like that idea very much! But I didn't say anything.
"She looks a little strange. Let me see her!" said Mom. I handed her baby boss to her. But I didn't see what was so strange. Mom looked at her carefully and her
jaw dropped. "This baby is wearing make-up! And perfume! What friend do you have whose parents are doing THIS to her?"
"Well -- she's new! She and her family just moved in!"
"And she's cute, I'll bet! That's how she talked you into babysitting, isn't it?"
I kept my mouth shut and hoped I looked guilty, embarrassed, or both.
"Well, if Barney is going to stay here, I'm getting this junk off her! You watch Andy for me, okay?"
And, as I watched, my mother carried the baby, her boss (!) into the bathroom.