No Day Care Today

Sensitive content: This story describes an ICE incident.

Baby Ben is in his car seat next to his two-year-old brother, Theo. Cars whoosh past them on the highway. An airport sign appears. “We aren't going to day care today boys!,” Dada says.

“Nope, we are off on a crazy family trip. We are going to Hawaii to visit Uncle Bo and Aunt Charlene!” “Who is ready?” asks Mama taking photos on her phone to document the experience.

This little family of four is off to Maui where Uncle Bo is living while he starts a gastroenterology practice. Baby Ben’s parents are having one last paternity leave adventure before work, daycare and laundry kick in for good. All air miles points rolled into one multi-travel leg trip.

How many size one and size six diapers do we need to for 10 days? How many car seats, strollers, baby carriers and pack n’ plays can you take on a flight? Did you pack the veggie and juice packs? The wipes?

Nope, Theo won’t be going to day care and squeezing Freya dressed in pink tulle and light-up Moana Velcro shoes. Nope, Theo won’t be drooling on his teachers, large Lego, or on his shirt.

They are off to see parrots, sea turtles and palm trees. Theo has been warned to not look up when walking near a mango or a coconut tree. Ripe ones can bonk you on the head.

The parents have packed new books, etch-a-sketch, head phones and a soft blankie for the 10-hour plane day time trip.

Baby Ben, age three months, is an easy traveler, still nursing. He just eats, sleeps and rouses for a few minutes to cuddle, burp and a diaper change.

On the same day in the same city, Baby Tion, age eight months, gets dressed in soft pink layers, pink ribbons in her hair, pink lace socks and matching shoes with her own Velcro straps. She is scooting, not crawling. She is delicate, petite and absorbs everything around her.

Her Dad, Sammy, drops Tion off at day care. Her Mom, Adume drives to a cancer center where she is a PhD student working on cancer metastasis. At 9:15 am, her mom, gets a text on her Apple watch from Sammy - "I'm being pulled over by ICE. Help!"

Tracking his location, Adume rushes to his location just in time to see Sammy being pushed into an unmarked van. She yells at the plainclothes men. “I am his wife, why are you taking him?,” she screams. She thrusts her student visa in the ICE officer’s hands. He looks, flips the pages, checks his phone. “We don't want you… not today. Here are his car keys and wallet.”

“Wait, what? Where is his car?,” she pleads.

The van drives off.

Adume frantically calls the cancer center. Her supervisor is teaching a seminar and is pulled out, leaving remaining students confused.

The cancer center calls state and federal legislators, and strategizes on getting Sammy released. It turns out he has working papers but not a visa. The university and cancer center that grants Adume a stipend can’t help, but offers an immigration lawyer’s name.

Later, Sammy calls from the detention center 30 miles away. He is applying for asylum status, and has no US status as a spouse. Sammy needs a lawyer to help sort this out; to get in front of a judge.

Adume picks up Baby Tion at daycare; afraid she too, might be snatched off the streets. Baby Tion is sitting on a caregiver’s lap, cooing at other babies on the carpet playing with wooden blocks. Adume hates taking her from such a warm environment.

Adume left the lab in a rush. Her clone experiments are growing up and multiplying by the hour. A lab tech phones the lab director. What should I do Dr. R.? “Just put them in airtight containers, label them and put them in the freezer. Hopefully they won’t die by tomorrow,” he advises.

Without Sammy’s income, Baby Tion can’t go to day care, and Adume can’t continue her research. This puts her student visa at risk.

The lab director and his wife bring a hot meal over to Adume and Baby Tion. Baby Tion’s big brown eyes look around, at her Mom, at the strangers. Adume gives her a bath, puts her in clean onesie with jumping sheep. Adume pushes the fish around on her plate. She takes a bite of potato. “Thank you,” she mouths.

Baby Ben and Baby Tion live in the same city about five miles apart. These stories happened on the same day, on the same planet. Baby Ben didn’t go to day care and is on a plane to paradise. Baby Tion got picked up early from day care and hasn’t seen her dad for a week.

Adume hires a lawyer who visits Sammy in the detention center. No, she didn’t document the ordeal on her phone. A bond for his release may be $15,000. Adume’s stipend is $35,000.

Sammy calls Adume the next day. “How are you? What did you eat?” she asks.

“They threw a piece of bread at me. It’s very dirty. I miss Tion, give her a kiss for me, he cries softly. There is one other man from our country in my cell. He has been here for one year. He gave me his pin number to call you. What happens if you can’t get me out? How will I see Tion, how will you continue your PhD.?, he whispers.“What have I done to you, to us, to Baby Tion? "

“Have strength and faith, I will get you out,“ promises Adume.

Baby Ben sleeps often during the next 10 days, fresh Pacific sea breezes, peach and pink sunsets. Garden of Eden. He is taken on long walks on sandy beaches, his stroller parked under palm trees moving in soft winds.

Baby Tion is with mom 24/7. She doesn’t go outside for fear of ICE. Friends bring food, baby formula and diapers. How many size two diapers does a baby need in a week?