Chapter 8

  Siblings - 4

  Nicholas:

  Why did my parents have to go and produce another baby? Why did they have to have two of those things? I'm the baby. Why did they have to wait until I'm sixteen to have other kids? Jealous maybe a little but I know I will get over it soon. Don't get me wrong, I like kids, kids are fun, but babies. I can't handle the crying, screaming, fussy, poopy and pee pee diapers. That's all they do for their first year or two. The fun part is watching them learn to walk, they look funny, all bow legged, waddling like ducks. The super best part is when the kid is old enough to make a mess. Spilling sugar and flour everywhere because they want to make cookies like Mommy.

  I'm feeling miserable because I didn't go to the hospital when Dad said Mom was going into labor. I was in the middle of "homework" yeah let's call it that. Like getting the most kills in Call of Duty isn't important. I guess I will get off my butt and go see the brats.

  I get off the elevator, and see Mom and Dad. Dad is telling Mom she should be resting instead of being up, that she has nothing to worry about, that whatever it is, they will figure it out. I stay hidden and slightly confused. Is something wrong with the twins, one or both? Hopefully it's something else, maybe to do with the pack or some smaller issue? Her name of course it's about Baby Girl's name. It has to be.

  I see Monk. When did he arrive? He's carrying a cup of coffee, he hands it to Dad. I see Cat and my favorite kid, Dorian, he is clutching a pink teddy bear. I think about sneaking up on him and scaring him. I think of a way I can do it without him seeing me, but I see something else. Something I don't know if anyone has noticed about him. He looks focused and serious. He looks more concentrated. He looks more intense than I do when I'm doing my “homework”. Something is wrong. Whatever it is, is more just trying to figure out what to name a baby.

  I look at Dad. I mean really look at him. He doesn't look or act like this. He is always well dressed and groomed. Now his hair looks like he lost a battle with some ware rats and they've taken up residence in his hair. His clothes are wrinkled and in disarray and he needs a shave. I walk up about the time Cat asks if they named Baby Girl yet and Lou walking out of Moms room. Dad tells her Yes. Geneva Venae Dracul. Mom and him decided to put all of our chosen names together. He jokes and says," If My baby Girl doesn't know her what her real name is by the time she starts school, It will be all y'all's fault because all of you will be

  calling her by the name you wanted her to have".

  I feel a sense of pride coming from everyone including myself because it is a great honor to have a hand in naming your siblings.

  Stolen story; please report.

  Dad then explains that Geneva hasn't stopped crying and hasn't slept since she was born and no matter what he and mom have tried, she just won't stop.

  All of a sudden Monk in an unexplainable motion, float, glide, flow, whatever he does when he is on what I call a mission. He heads for nursery number 2. When he opened the door. I quietly ask Dad why babies aren't in a room together. He chuckled and told me all about Baby Vlads Stinky gas problem and how he didn't want to his Baby Girl to have to smell THAT anymore and how 9 months being trapped with that had to torture for her. All while we never took our eyes off of Monk's movements. We all learned never to question anything he does. He will give us the reason when his task is done.

  We watch in total silence too scared to even breathe.

  We watch as he grabs her bottle, cuts his hand and drops blood into the formula filled bottle. He only glances at Lou for not even a second and Lou follows his actions. While Monk gently picks up Ava and feeds her blood mixed bottle, which I must say, I have never seen a baby drink so fast in my short life. Monk grabs the other bottle from Lou. She's drinking happily only a tad bit slower this time, Dorian automatically get another bottle from somewhere and begins mixing the perfect temperature of water in with the perfect amount of formula and cuts his own hand somehow. Monk took the bottle from Dori and Ava drinks that down too but with more content than the first two. She then burps so loud I thought it was an earthquake by the way the room shook. We blinked and she was out like a light like when you turned off the switch. We all tip toe out of the room, waiting for Monk to speak.

  Halloween:

  Sitting around the fire, telling horror stories with the family. I can feel tension that is still between Mom and Dad. They have been walking on egg shells for a few months. Sure looks like she has gained some weight but I don't question her because I once called Catalina fat when she was pregnant. I thought Dad was going to rip my head off. I didn't want to make dad mad again and have to sit through his "Proper Etiquette" lecture ever again. I listen, thinking if I should tell that story as my horror story. I'm completely zoned out in my own thoughts when Dad says they have to cancel the vacation and it's his fault. I get lost in my thoughts this time thinking of ways Mom is going to make him pay for whatever he did to make her cancel her dream vacation and how he ruined my plans as well. I was looking forward to a month or two with them breathing down my neck about doing my real homework.

  Then I hear Mom. She is talking about how she is knocked up, with two babies. My brain short circuits! WHAT THE HELL!!! MOM AND DAD HAVING TWINS! TWO LITTLE SQUALL BAGS!

  I make an assessment of myself. I'm totally awake, I'm not dreaming. I am having twin siblings. We are having twin siblings! How do I feel about this? I won't be the baby anymore but this could be a good thing. I will be 16 when they are born, I will graduate in May, and off to College to study law in August. #1. I won't be around long at all. #2. These little creatures will help Mom. She won't have to worry about Empty Nest Syndrome. #3. If something gets broken, when I'm home, I can just blame the Curtain Climbers.

  How do I feel? I searched for any sign of anger, resentment, jealousy. Yeah there is some jealousy but all in all. I'm over the moon esthetic about finally being a big bother instead of being the baby brother.