3
Ever since I got that cart of seafood back,
we’ve been having sushi almost every meal.
Brenda’s appetite has gone from one platter
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to two.
Her stomach’s getting huge, but she’s skin
and bones everywhere else.
She pats her stomach, which looks like she’s
swallowed two watermelons, with a proud
smile.
“My baby’s going to be the biggest, healthiest
baby ever! I felt him kicking the other day.”
She says, tearing apart a still–wriggling
octopus and shoving it in her mouth.
I know it’s not the baby kicking, it’s the
tapeworms moving around. Judging by the
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bulging on her stomach, they’re about ready
to come out.
I help Mom, who’s also sporting a big belly,
sit down on the couch.
Lately, everyone in the house except me has
been getting bigger.
I told Dad and Kevin it was because they’d
been eating so well.
As for Mom, I just said, with a surprised look,
“Mom, are you pregnant? Am I going to have
a little brother?”
“We’re having a boy!”
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୮
“There is going to be a new man in the
family“.
Mom’s thrilled, and Dad’s beaming, convinced
he’s still got it.
Kevin and Brenda, on the other hand, aren’t so happy.
They thought they were going to inherit everything. If Mom has another boy, he’ll be taking a piece of their pie.
So Mom and Brenda have been at each
other’s throats lately.
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pregnancy, but now she’s resentful. They fight
about everything and take it out on me.
I just take it.
After all, Brenda’s about to give birth.
And I can’t wait.
