BABY BOOM

The Baby in the Storage Room.

- By Sarita Wariyer

The sun was just beginning to crest over the horizon, casting a golden glow over the small suburban neighbourhood. A team of workers gathered outside the sprawling house, preparing for a long day of installing a state-of-the-art solar system.

"Alright, everyone, let's get to it," said Mark, the foreman, clapping his hands to get the crew's attention. "We've got a week to get this done, so let's make every minute count."

The team nodded and started unloading the equipment from their trucks. Among them were Jim and Tony, seasoned electricians; Maria, a skilled technician who specialised in solar panels; and John, the supervisor.

As they worked, the hum of drills and the clatter of tools filled the air. The house belonged to Dr. Warren.

Warren was a well-known local physician who saw patients in his home clinic. Inside, his wife Elizabeth and their grown son Michael moved about their daily routines.

"Hey, Jim," Maria called out as she climbed onto the roof. "Pass me that wrench, will you?"

Jim tossed the tool up to her. "Catch!"

Just as Maria caught the wrench, a faint, high-pitched sound reached her ears. She paused, listening intently.

"Did you hear that?" she asked, frowning.

"Hear what?" Tony replied from below, adjusting some wiring.

"A baby. I think I heard a baby crying."

Tony shook his head. "You're imagining things. There's no baby here."

But then the sound came again, louder this time, unmistakable.

Maria looked down at her colleagues. "You guys hear that now, right?"

Jim and Tony exchanged puzzled glances before nodding.

"Yeah, I hear it," Jim said. "But where's it coming from?"

The workers all turned to the supervising manager, Mark, who was busy coordinating the installation.

"Mark!" Maria called out. "Do you know whose baby that is?"

Mark looked up, confusion written across his face. "Baby? What baby?"