Elaine bent to pick up the rattle and placed it back into the crib with her newborn infant. Her mother scolded her that a newborn couldn't use a rattle, but she didn't care. Elaine had filled the crib with an assortment of stuffed animals and toys with pleasure.

Her heart filled with joy at the thought of being a mother. Of course, the chore of childbirth had been excruciating. Long. Painful. But worthwhile. Now she was a Mommy. She rolled the crib toward the window and sat in her padded rocking chair. She sang soft, sleep-inducing, tunes and prayed for her child.

Elaine gave her little one everything she never had. She cleared each obstacle in the youngster's path and barred the child from all harm. The first day of school was bittersweet. A rushing torrent of anxious fear folded together with joyful anticipation of things to come. Then, in a blink, the pre-schooler was riding a bike to school alone. Elaine followed close behind in her station wagon to ensure a safe arrival. They turned a corner and sat down in folding chairs at graduation. Caps fluttered through the air, and long gowns of blue and white trailed over the trimmed grass of the high school football field.

The two stood in the kitchen, and clung to the last moments of mother and child, before the long drive to college. Once the dorm room was set up, Mom turned to leave, and her baby ran down the hall after her for one last hug and kiss. Then, in a blink, she was signing Parental Approval forms for the overseas internship and six months of globe-trotting. Elaine was so proud of the child she raised into the independent adult grinning at her from across the old dining room table.

A tear fell from her eye to the papers in front of her. She wiped the salt-filled drop away and smudged the fresh ink of her signature. She pushed the certificate across to the coroner and excused herself. The yard sale was in full swing, and someone was calling for the homeowner. In the center of all the things scattered across the front yard, a young woman stood by a large item marked "Crib for sale. Never used."

THE END