Growing Pains | a traitor's tale novel | Narnia

What's Wrong with Mummy?

Genevieve's POV

I've noticed mummy's tummy has been getting bigger every day. Auntie Susan told me it's not polite to comment on a lady's weight so I've kept this observation to myself.

Daddy told me to be more gentle around Mummy. I'm not really sure why. Maybe it has to do with her tummy.

Mummy gets tired even more easily now. Sometimes she can't stand for long. She gets bad headaches and something daddy calls 'heartburn', but it doesn't look like her heart is on fire, so I don't know. She gets really hungry now too. Daddy jokes that she's eating for three, whatever that means. I don't think she needs to eat for daddy and I.

Mummy's tummy has gotten so big that I can't sit on her lap anymore during the meetings they let me listen in on. Now I have to sit with daddy.

I've heard many people congratulating her for something, mostly my aunties and uncle and the staff. Maybe she's trying to make her tummy big to win a contest. Maybe she's already won it.

Mummy and daddy sat me down to talk after breakfast.

"Genevieve, darling, I'm sure by now you've noticed some changes in your mummy," Daddy said, gesturing at mummy's tummy.

"Yeah, but Auntie Susan told me its not nice to comment on people's weight."

Mummy laughed a bit so apparently she wasn't mad about my comment.

"Genevieve, how would you feel about having a little brother or a little sister?" Mummy asked.

I looked up at her hopefully. "I would like that very much," I told her in as mature a voice as I could manage. Inside I was jumping for joy.

"Well..." she trailed off as she looked at daddy. He had a big smile on his face. "What if I told you that you get to be a big sister to two little brothers or sisters?"

"Really?!" My eyes widened with excitement. "I get to be a big sister?!" I think mummy could tell I was happy because she laughed as she nodded.

Daddy put his hand lightly on mummy's tummy. "Your mummy is growing two little babies inside her and they're going to be your new siblings."

"Is that why her tummy is so big?" I asked.

"Yes darling," mummy laughed as she answered me. "My tummy is so big because your siblings need space to grow in. That's why it just keeps getting bigger."

"Are they going to be in your tummy for a long time? Doesn't it hurt to have two babies in there?"

"Not much longer, you'll get to meet them in a few months. And it hurts a little, but it's worth it to make my family even bigger. Here, do you want to feel them?"

Mummy must have seen the confusion on my face because she smiled and took my hand. "Here, let me show you." She put my hand right on her stomach where the bump holding my future brothers or sisters was. "If you keep your hand there for a bit you might feel them move," she told me.

I did as she told me and I felt something shift under my hand. "Mummy, I felt something!" When I spoke, I felt more movement.

"They know it's their big sister," daddy said.

"How did they get in there anyway?" I asked.

Mummy and daddy looked at each other, it didn't look like they knew what to say.

"Well, when two people love each other very much, they decide to make a baby together. They make it and then the mummy takes care of it inside her tummy until the baby is ready to come out," daddy explained, sharing looks with mummy as he talked.

"But how though?"

"Sweetheart, that's something for when you're a little bit older," mummy told me. "All you really need to know is that in a few months you're going to have two baby siblings, and you're going to be the best big sister they could ask for."

I wasn't quite satisfied with their answer but I knew better than to ask more.

"What are we going to call them?" I asked.

"Well that all depends on if they're boys or girls or one of each. What do you think we should name them?" Daddy asked me. I was surprised he wanted my opinion.

"If there's a girl we should call her Genevieve Junior, after me!"

"Angel, don't you think that might get a little confusing? How about something unique, like Sebastian, or Angelica."

"But I thought I was your angel?"

"Oh, Genie, of course you're always going to be my favorite little angel, it was just a suggestion, but don't worry. Neither of these babies are going to take your place in our hearts, okay?" Daddy assured me.

"Fine, how about Cinderella? That's a princess name and she'd be a princess so it fits."

"That's a great suggestion," daddy told me, but I'm not sure he really liked it.

"Or maybe Arthur like the king from the story. Or Wendy like that book about the boy who never grows up. Or Clara like that one about the girl and her nutcracker where there's a princess and a fairy. Or Cora like the coral in your crown. You guys should be writing this down, I'm giving you some great ideas here," I said.

They laughed. "What about Margaret, or Mary or Liam or Lucas or Mark? Elliot and Adrian sound nice. Plus there's Carmilla from that vampire novel you like. Or Dorian or James," dad threw in some suggestions. "Or Alexander, or William."

"Edmund, I am not naming my son after your brother. Don't want it going to his head. And I love you, but I think we should do something a little more original than your middle name."

"Oh well, it was worth a shot. I kinda threw those in there to see if you were listening. We still have plenty of time before we need to decide on a name."

We spent a good chunk of our afternoon discussing baby names and other things. It was a good day and I'm really excited to be a big sister!

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Author's note: hey everyone! This chapter I really got to channel my inner 5 year old. As I was writing this I thought about what a kid might think when finding out their mom was pregnant. I wouldn't know personally since I'm an only child but it's been fun to imagine.

A little fun fact is when I was giving random name suggestions I actually slipped in my own mom's name and my name. My dad's name is already in the Narnia franchise.

Anyways, I'm gonna add in gifs later since I'm kinda stuck with a dog on my lap at the moment

Bye! Hope y'all are enjoying this as much as I am!

This happens between chapters 'seven' and 'eight' in a traitor's tale