Celeste: Week 4 of 208

Rub a dub dub, three men in a tub. 

“Three?”

“Yes, three.”“Men?”“Yes, men.  Well, future men. Men to be.”“So, boys.”

“I suppose, yes.”

“Do you have their consent?”“I do not. I never ask them if it is ok if I take their picture.  If I did, the spontaneity would be lost, and they would strike a pose, and the emotion of the moment would be lost.”“Don’t you think they will think it is weird that you took pictures of them in the tub when they were little?”

“No, why?”

“Because naked???”

“Yes, but covered in bubbles and water, and having the most fun ever.  None of them ever wanting to get out. Relaxed, laughing, playing with tub toys. Secure under the watchful eye of their mother who guarded against slipping and rough housing and water gradually getting just a little too cool.”

Water. Their comfort levels on display. The holding of the breath. Interesting that this should be so intuitive to one, and not the others. But for all, the water is a fourth playmate. Adding joy and  surprise and competition. 

“I don’t trust you, but I will stay and play for awhile, so long as mom is here, and you leave my brothers alone.”

“Heck yeah I’ll go under, I know enough not to breathe in. Maybe I can count to 50! “

“ Water? Bubbles? Breathe out? Warm? I’ll drink it. NO !!??”

“Boo no. Just hold your breath. Boo, just hold your breath and put your face in. Just count. Ma, Boo is holding his breath!  Ma, look!  Boo!  Boo!  Try this now. See? You can blow on this and make a whistle.  And see? You can put in more water and try it. See? “

Boo is kicking his baby legs out and in as if on springs, while blowing bubbles and simultaneously doing all of the happy things that he has learned how to do at once.

Suddenly, a breath in.  Silence. His baby face reddens.  His brothers hold their breath. They look to Ma. She reaches for Boo and he lets out a holler of  exquisite sinus pain. Tears roll and eyes squinch shut and suddenly water is a bad bad friend. Suddenly, the tub is that last place he wants to be.  A warm dry towel wrapped securely around him, and an enveloping hug and a few minutes of rocking in Ma’s protective arms is all that has ever mattered in the world.  Even the lure of brothers still enjoying the water and it’s charms is not enough to tempt him away.

Gradually tears stop, and sinus pain recedes. Legs and feet new to standing start to wiggle, wanting to bring the rest of Boo closer to the edge of the tub, wanting to see what is happening on the other side. 

“Is he coming back in?”

“No, we should get out. It is starting to get cold. Boo, we are getting out. Then we’ll play upstairs.”

The drain plug is pulled.