Ellen scanned the directions for the DNA sample while Will stood at the kitchen sink and rinsed his mouth with warm water, his small fingers wrapped like a gecko's around the glass tumbler. Though she had to use the nonstandard test for Carol and Bill, she was collecting Will's sample by the conventional method, and she had to get it tonight because all the samples had to be sent to the laboratory together.
"Spit, Mommy?" Will asked, his eyes trustful over the rim of the glass.
"Two more times, pal."
Will took a second gulp of water and spit it into the sink. "Is this good?"
"Yes, and we have to do one more thing."
"Okay." Will took his third gulp, letting the water dribble out of his mouth and down his chin for fun.
"Good, thanks." Ellen wiped his wet grin with a napkin, then took the glass from his hand, set it on the counter, and turned to face him, placing a hand on his little shoulder. "Now open up, sweetie, just like you do for the doctor."
"Is it gonna hurt?"
"No, not at all." Ellen took the Q-tip in hand. "I'm going to rub the inside of your cheek with a Q-tip, that's all. It's the same kind of Q-tip we use to clean your ears."
"Are you cleaning my mouth?"
"Yes." Sort of.
"Why is my mouth dirty? I brushed my teeth this morning."
"Ready to open up?"
Will opened his mouth like a baby bird, and Ellen rolled the swab on the insides of both of his cheeks for about a minute, making sure to cover most of his inner cheek. Then she withdrew the swab and set it on a folded piece of paper to dry, according to the instructions.
"Good job, sweetie."
Will began jumping up and down.
"We just need one more, okay?"
"Why?" Will opened his mouth again, and Ellen picked up another Q-tip and swabbed the inside of his cheek.
"Just to be sure. All finished. Great job."
"Now can we have dessert?"
"We sure can."
Anything but lime Jell-O.