Chapter 2.28

I was bored.

I sat on the edge of my bed and blew out a big breath. There was nothing to do in this house! I’d played all the games on the computer – and had really high scores! Higher scores than Nathan had! But anyway, how many drawings could I even make? And there was never anything good on TV. Nathan was no good to play with either; all that poop-head wanted to do was play chess. He didn’t even know how to play right! Reading kind of sounded fun right now, but I’d read all the books Mom said were for me.

Maybe Nora will read to me, I thought hopefully, hopping up from my bed. She’d been reading me this really cool story about a wizard lately.

this really cool story about a wizard lately.

I ran upstairs and into Nora’s room. “Hey, Nora! Will you read me the Harry Potter book?”

My big sister jumped, straightening up on the couch. She wiped her eyes. “I’m not really feeling good right now, Reesy.”

I frowned at her. I’d never seen Nora cry before. “You okay? Why’re you crying?”

She shook her head. “I’m okay. Just don’t feel good.”

“Where’s your pigtails? You always have your hair like that.”

“I just didn’t feel like putting it up.” She wiped her face again and stood up.  “Hey, munchkin, why don’t I make you a sandwich? It’s about lunch time.”

I smiled. “Peanut butter n’ jelly?” That was my favorite.

I completely forgot about reading the wizard book as Nora and I went into the kitchen. She made my sandwich and asked me about school and stuff while I ate. She sounded so sad, though! Why was she so sad?

After I ate, Nora went back to her room. Well, if she wouldn’t tell me, I’d ask Mom! Mom knew everything. Daddy knew almost as much, but nobody knew as much as Mom.

“Mom!” I ran upstairs to where she was painting. She painted all the time and such pretty stuff. I wanted to be just like her. I should go and color – wait, I was on a mission.

Mom put her brush down and smiled at me. “Hi, sweetie! Is it time for lunch?”

I shook my head and hopped up onto the sofa. “Nora made me a sandwich.”

Mom sat down next tome. “That was very nice. Did you thank her?”

”Yes, Mom.” I knew how to be polite. Gosh! “Why’s Nora so sad?”

Mom’s face got kinda stiff. “What makes you say she’s sad?”

“She was crying, and she’s been sad for forever now. And you and Daddy are always whispering.”

She frowned and pulled me into her side. “I guess it’s time to tell you what’s going on. Nora is going to have a baby.”

I smiled at her. “But that’s so cool! I’ll be a sister again!”

Mom smiled and laughed. “No, sweetie, you’ll be an aunt. You’d only have a sibling if I had a baby.”

I huffed softly. “Okay, whatever. Isn’t it really great? There’s going to be a baby.”

She sighed quietly. “It’s really complicated, Theresa. It is good – a new life in the world is never an unhappy thing – but this isn’t the way Nora wanted to have a baby. It’s not a good time.”

“There’s a bad time to have a baby?”

Mom nodded. “Yes, there can be. Your sister is still a kid herself. It’s going to be really hard for her to have a baby now.”

I frowned, thinking. “So Nora is sad because it’s a bad time?”

“I think so, sweetie.” Mom pulled me into a tight hug. “Have I told you today how much I love you?”

I smiled and hugged her back. I loved the way Mom smelled like sugar cookies. “I love you, too, Mom.”

I left Mom and ran downstairs to my room. I grabbed my Chompy toy and carried it back upstairs to Nora’s room.

“Here, Nora,” I said as I went into her bedroom. I held the toy out to her. “Chompy always makes me happy. He’ll make you happy, too.”

Nora looked at me and her eyes started to shine. She got up and pulled me into her arms. “Thank you.”