Chubby Girl

Chapter 2

Maggie swung open the front door and let it close behind her with a soft click, instantly noticing the quiet. The house had that stillness it always did before her four-year-old brother, Jamie, noticed she was home. She could hear the faint hum of the television coming from the living room, and she set her backpack down as quietly as she could, tiptoeing past the kitchen. But before she could get very far, Jamie's voice called out, high-pitched and excited.

"Maggie's home!"

She turned, barely having time to brace herself before Jamie came barreling down the hallway, his little legs pumping furiously as he launched himself at her with an unstoppable grin. Maggie caught him in her arms, almost stumbling backward from the force, but she couldn't help laughing as he hugged her tightly, his small arms looping around her neck.

"Hey there, buddy," she said, smiling down at him. "Did you miss me?"

He nodded vigorously, his curly hair bouncing with each movement. "Missed you lots and lots, Maggie! Mommy said you were gonna come home and read me a story!"

She chuckled, knowing that her mom probably hadn't promised any such thing but not minding at all. "Well, lucky for you, I've got a whole stack of books just waiting for us."

Jamie's face lit up, and he clung to her hand, dragging her toward the living room where his toys were scattered all over the floor. "Can we read the one about the dinosaurs?"

Maggie knew exactly which book he meant, and even though she'd read it to him so many times she practically knew it by heart, she nodded. "Sure thing, Jamie."

But before she could sit down with him, the soft cry of her newborn sister drifted down the hallway, breaking the calm of the house. Maggie froze for a second, feeling the familiar, nervous flutter in her chest. Ever since her sister, Anna, had come home from the hospital, Maggie felt a bit like she was sharing her role as "big sister" with Jamie. With a baby in the house, everyone's routine had been turned upside down, and her mom, who worked as a nurse, seemed more exhausted than ever.

"Can you stay here for a sec, Jamie?" Maggie asked, gently pulling her hand from his grip. "I think Mom needs some help with Anna."

Jamie's face scrunched up, disappointed but understanding, and he plopped down on the floor, grabbing one of his dinosaur toys. Maggie gave him an encouraging smile before heading down the hallway, her footsteps quiet as she approached her mom's room. She could hear the faint shushing sounds her mom was making, trying to soothe Anna, and she stopped at the doorway, leaning against the frame as she watched.

Her mom looked up, her face softening when she saw Maggie. "Hey, sweetheart," she said, her voice tired but warm. "How was school?"

"It was...okay," Maggie replied, not wanting to burden her mom with the truth of her day. She glanced down at Anna, who was snuggled in her mom's arms, her tiny face scrunched up in a pout as she made little, unhappy sounds. "Do you need help with her?"

Her mom smiled, a mix of relief and gratitude in her eyes. "That would be wonderful. She's been a little fussy all afternoon." She gently handed Anna over to Maggie, who cradled her sister against her shoulder, feeling her little breaths and the soft weight of her in her arms.

Maggie always felt a special kind of peace holding Anna. There was something about the way her sister trusted her completely, the way her tiny hand curled around Maggie's finger, that made her heart feel full. She rocked Anna gently, humming softly as she walked around the room, feeling the baby's breaths start to even out as she slowly calmed down.

"She really likes you, you know," her mom said with a soft smile, watching them.

Maggie smiled, feeling a warmth bloom in her chest. "I like her too. She's a good baby."

Her mom chuckled, leaning back against the pillows with a tired sigh. "Good thing you do, because she's been keeping me up every night this week. I'm lucky if I get three hours of sleep."

Maggie felt a pang of sympathy for her mom. Working long hours as a nurse, then coming home to take care of a newborn and two other kids—it was a lot. She could see the weariness in her mom's face, the way her eyes seemed a little heavier, her smile a bit slower.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Maggie asked quietly, bouncing Anna a little as the baby's eyes fluttered closed.

Her mom reached over, resting a gentle hand on Maggie's shoulder. "You're already such a big help, sweetheart. Just being patient with your brother, helping me with Anna—that means the world to me."

Maggie felt a lump in her throat, but she nodded, feeling a fierce determination to be as helpful as she could. She wanted to make things easier for her mom, even if she couldn't do much. She wanted her mom to know she was strong, that she didn't have to worry about Maggie as much as everything else.

Anna's breathing softened, and Maggie carefully placed her down in her crib, tucking a soft blanket around her. The baby looked so peaceful, her little fists curled up near her face as she slept, and Maggie felt a strange sense of responsibility as she watched her. She wanted to protect Anna, to make sure no one ever hurt her the way Maggie sometimes felt hurt at school.

After a few moments, she tiptoed out of the room, her mom giving her an appreciative smile as she settled back down, hopefully for a nap. As she returned to the living room, Jamie's face lit up, and he scrambled up from the floor, holding out his dinosaur book with a grin.

"Is it time for dinosaurs now?" he asked, his eyes wide with excitement.

Maggie nodded, settling down on the couch and patting the spot next to her. Jamie clambered up beside her, practically bouncing as she opened the book and started to read. She did all the voices, making her best attempt at dinosaur roars and growls, and Jamie giggled, his laughter bright and carefree.

They spent the next hour reading, with Maggie weaving in her own storylines and Jamie eagerly joining in, adding his own plot twists and ideas. For a little while, everything felt normal, like it was just the two of them in their own world, free from school and worries.

Eventually, though, dinner time rolled around, and Maggie helped her mom set the table, carrying dishes and silverware back and forth from the kitchen. Her mom had made a simple dinner—mac and cheese with chicken and a few carrots on the side—and they all sat down together, a quiet comfort settling over the table as they ate.

As they finished up, Maggie felt a pang of worry when she noticed her mom's eyelids drooping as she leaned back in her chair. She remembered seeing her mom's scrubs piled in the laundry room that morning, the faint smell of antiseptic clinging to them, a reminder of how long her shifts were.

After dinner, Maggie helped with the dishes, her hands moving quickly as she scrubbed plates and rinsed silverware. She could feel her mom's tired gaze on her, and she knew that even if her mom didn't say it out loud, she was grateful for the help.

When everything was done, Maggie curled up on the couch with Jamie, the two of them flipping through the channels until they landed on a cartoon they both liked. Her mom came over, sitting on the edge of the couch with a weary smile, and reached out to pull Maggie into a hug.

"You know, Maggie," she said softly, brushing a hand through Maggie's hair, "you're such a good big sister. I'm so lucky to have you."

Maggie's heart swelled at her mom's words, and she hugged her back tightly, feeling that warmth and love settle into her bones. No matter what happened at school or with the other kids, this was her family—messy, tired, but filled with love. Here, she was safe. Here, she was enough.

That night, as she lay in bed, listening to the gentle hum of the house settling around her, she thought about her family. She thought about Jamie's wild imagination, her mom's tired but strong smile, and Anna's tiny fingers wrapped around hers. And even though she knew tomorrow would bring its own challenges, she felt a little stronger, a little more ready to face the world, knowing that she had them by her side.