| Michael's Family Gets Bigger |
| Michael is a little boy, about 8. He and his family moved to the country a few months ago. They have a big house with a huge, huge yard. His parents bought him a black horse that he named Tornado, like Zorro’s horse. And, he got a white dog, he named Silver, like the Lone Ranger’s horse. His parents just bought some chickens, and a few cows and a few more horses, just a few weeks ago. Michael had tons of fun with Silver and Tornado, making up adventures. They pretended to make brave and daring rescues like Zorro, and The Lone Ranger. They chased the ‘bad guys’ on the other horses. Michael would send Silver to round up the cows so that ‘rustlers’ would not get them. And all three of them— chased the chickens. Michael had fun every day, but he kept wondering when his two new brothers or sisters would get there. He wanted to play with them too. He needed someone to save, and someone to be the ‘bad guy’. Pretending with animals was fine, but he wanted kids to play with. All the games would be more fun with other kids. And then one afternoon, Michael was getting ready to go back outside after lunch. His mom’s stomach started hurting so badly that she was crying. He tried to make her feel better. He gave her a hug— Then a kiss— Then a glass of water— But nothing seemed to be working. So he ran out of the door and got on Tornado, and rode all over the huge, huge yard calling for his dad. Finally, he found him riding one of the other horses. Michael yelled frantically, “Mommy’s sick! Mommy’s sick!” He caught up to his dad, “Her belly hurts; I gave her a kiss, but it didn’t help!” They both rode back to the house, and went inside. Michael’s dad called a doctor, and they all got in the car to go to the hospital. By the time they got there, Michael was crying too, because he was scared for his mom. So his dad stayed in the waiting room with him. He explained to Michael that mommy was okay, and that his two brothers or sisters were in her belly and they’re just ready to be born. Then Michael asked, “Mommy’s stomach is big enough for two kids like me?” Then Michael got the disappointing news. His mom was having two babies! And it would be a long time before they were ready to play and pretend with him. They were at the hospital a really long time. Michael fell asleep in his dad’s lap. But when he woke up, he was lying on a couch next to a nurse, and his dad was walking up to get him, and smiling really big. His dad took him back to the room where his mom was. Michael was very happy to see his mom and was feeling very happy to see his mom was feeling all better—just tired. Michael was sitting on the bed beside his mom when the two nurses came in carrying the babies. They gave one baby to his mom, and the other one to his dad. His mom and dad held the babies where he could see them good and told him that he had one brother and one sister. Michael was happy that his mom felt better…and that he had a new brother and sister, even though they were babies. He thought about his pretend games and thinks that Kristy would be the one whom he saves, and Jack will be the one to chase and catch. But, he was still a little disappointed though they were babies and not kids like him. He looked at his mom and dad and said, “I thought that Kristy and Jack were going to be kids like me. I think it’s okay that they’re babies, but you know, I bet when I start school in a few weeks—they won’t be kids like me either—they’ll be babies too. His mom and dad just laughed. His dad leaned over and they had their first family hug with Kristy and Jack too. |
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| Angela Graham 11/99 |
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