The only thing I knew how to catch was a baseball. I was pretty good at that in high school, but a baby, no way, and now this music thing. What the hell was I supposed to pick out?

I tossed and turned all night while Maggie slept like a log.

Figures.

Sometime around 4am I finally drifted off to sleep, just as the French bakers got to work downstairs. I think my last thought before nodding off was “why me?”

At 7:30 the alarm jarred me awake and I groggily spouted off, “I didn’t sleep a wink last night!”

“Oh, sweetheart, I’m sorry. I’m sure you’ll feel better after a cup of coffee.”

“I’m going to feel better when someone explains to me what’s going on around here! I don’t remember signing up for this baby-catching thing!”

“Well, let’s just hear Mama out during our meeting and try to be nice, Jim. You’re awfully cranky this morning.”

I could hear myself counting to ten.

“And baby, when you get up please set up the CD player. I think a good spot would be on top of the dresser, don’t you?”

“…6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Uh, sure, on top of the dresser, okay.”