" Welcome, dear dear dear parents ! ," the very large and very bubbly woman in a long flowing flowered dress and handwoven sandals said perkily as she greeted the group of equally enthusiastic parents with their young children of varying preschool ages who were seated before the stage in the auditorium in the West Hyattsville Community Center. The entirety of the large spacious area was decorated in bright cheerful colors suitable to a tropical paradise with large plush stuffed animals and flower arrangements scattered about the stage along with sparkly balloons. She clapped her hands in a passionate manner and smiled for the local media cameras and photographers from the local newspapers. " I am so so so pleased and happy to welcome you all to the very first annual baby beauty pageant which was once to be called The Little Miss Hyattsville Baby Pageant but we had a few...... very valid viewpoints from concerned members of the community that we were leaving out our very beautiful baby boys so we have renamed it the Little Miss and Master Hyattsville Beauty and Talent Pageant for ages newborn to five years old. I am Ms. Natalie Nelson and I own and manage a very successful family friendly party planning business in the area. Actually my husband and I have opened our third in Alexandria, Virginia. I am a very devoted mother of seven also very beautiful children so I consider it a honor to host this wonderful event which is sponsored by the Baby Bloom Magazine. And don't we all just adore Baby Bloom ! " She laughed huskily while smiling brightly and still clapping. " We have the most wonderful judges as well for our four day event which today is our opening ceremony where we can finish any last minute registration boo boos , meet and greet one another, take personal photos in our customized photo booth in the lobby and have a few snackies ! Call it a little party before the show begins. "
As the terminally happy woman with red corkscrew curly hair surrounding a chubby freckled face and huge green eyes continued on introducing the three judges at the front table: Bliss Jones who owned a local day care center , Carlton P. Boothe who was a child psychologist/writer of several well known books on parenting and Miss Blue who was the star of a popular local children's show Miss Blue's Crew Spencer sat in the back of the crowded space in his wheelchair with Miracle on his lap. Next to him was his family friend Susan Mullins who also held her eleven month old son Little Spencer. Miracle was grabbing at Little Spencer's nose and the baby boy chortled with laughter as he clapped his chubby hands happily.
Spencer whispered to Susan," I'm a little nervous. I didn't think it would be so.... I don't know what it is really.... but ....."
Susan rolled her brown eyes at him and smiled fondly. " I think the kids at the college would have called it cringe. Yes. It's very cringe. But it'll be fun. And , Spence and Miracle can make tons of friends here. Plus I want to talk to Bliss Jones about her day care center. I plan on going back to work at the college as a secretary when he's a year or so. I'm bored senseless at home. Aren't you? Don't you miss teaching? "
Spencer looked down at his smiling daughter and said reflectively," Actually no. I don't really. I mean I do payroll and such things for my brother in law's restaurant and I am on the PTA at Barrington and Miracle keeps me busy. I should miss the college but I don't. " Why didn't he miss it? , he thought to himself as he continued on with," And , I'm planning her first birthday party for next Saturday. That's when we estimate her birthday would be because we don't really know when she was actually born. Do you think Miracle can win? Or , Spence of course. "
Susan kissed the top of her son's head gently. " I think it's more important that we just have fun , Spencer, dear. "
" That's good," they heard from the doorway next to where they sat and they turned to see a gleefully grinning LuLu Simms standing there late as usual with her huge stroller load of her crying triplets Sapphire, Ruby and Pearl. " Because both of you will lose to my gorgeous baby girls. "
" Please ," snickered seventeen year old Mary Swan Norland with her sleeping still large infant son Trey in a front carrier over her chest standing behind LuLu's chubby short form. " It's obvious that my son has no competition in this room."