From Inside the Maze: A Collection of Short Stories

Someone Smaller Than I

I opened my eyes to the bright sun coming through the window. I slowly and sleepily climbed out of my bed and turned on the light across my room. I saw my clothes that Mommy put out for me last night and changed out of my pajamas. With that done, I got out my Legos and started playing until I heard my door open behind me.

"Grandma?" I said excited and wondering why Mommy didn't tell me that Grandma Kate was coming.

Grandma smiled, giving me a hug and picking me up. "Hi Logan!" she said. "How are you?"

"Good," I said, giggling as she tickled my tummy.

"Do you want some breakfast?" she asked.

I nodded my head as she put me down and I followed her to the kitchen.

The kitchen was empty. I ran into the living room. It was empty too. So was Mommy and Daddy's room. I went back to the kitchen where Grandma had pancakes, my favorite.

"Where's Mommy and Daddy?" I asked.

Grandma handed my a plate and a fork. "They went to the hospital. Your new baby brother or sister is going to be born soon."

I frowned. I wasn't sure about the new baby thing. But, Grandma let me put my own syrup on pancakes and I gobbled them up.

The day was fun. Grandma Kate played Legos with me and read me my favorite story books. We were in the middle of one when the phone rang.

"I'll get it!" I shouted jumping up.

"No," Grandma Kate said. "I'll get it."

I sat down, listening to her talk to whoever was on the phone. I waited until she said. "See you in a few minutes. Bye."

"Who was it?" I asked.

"That was your Mommy," Grandma said.

"Can I talk to her?" I asked.

Grandma shook her head. "No. We're going to go see your Mommy and Daddy and your new baby brother or sister. Get your shoes."

I put on my shoes that light up when I walk and got in Grandma's car. We drove for a little while until we stopped at a big tall building. We went inside and I pushed the elevator button with the number five. We walked down a long, long hallway. Grandma told me I had to be quiet because the baby might be sleeping and opened a door.

Right away I saw Mommy sitting on a bed and ran up to her. "Mommy!" I said, kind of forgetting I had to be quiet.

"Logan, come see, " Mommy said. Daddy helped me sit on the bed with Mommy. She was holding a baby. I looked at the baby and then back at Mommy.

"This is Juliet," Mommy said quietly. "She's your sister."

"Sister," I repeated. "She's tiny."

"Yeah," Mommy said, laughing.

"Like, even more tiny than me!" I said.

"Do you want to hold her?" Mommy said. I nodded.

She and Daddy helped me holding the baby. She was still sleeping. "It's morning Juliet," I said. "Silly, wake up."

"She's taking a nap," Daddy said.

I looked at my little sister, then back at Mommy. I gave Juliet a kiss on her little head.

"Aww," Mommy said. "Do you love her?"

Juliet gave a big yawn and I said, "Yeah."