Ricky

September, 1956

"Should we tell him?" Linda put her hands over her stomach and looked at her son, who was playing with his dreidel and dolls.

"What if we lose it? What if it's a girl and not a boy?" Bobby whispered.

"The doctor said we likely won't lose the child."

"He said likely won't. There's a chance we still could."

Linda sighed. "Should we wait until it's born, then?"

"Wut does bonn mean, Mommy?"

Ricky was looking up at his mother, pulling on her hand. His eyes were wide, and there was curiosity in them.

"Daddy and I are having a big person conversation. Born is a big person word." Linda kneeled down to Ricky. God, her knees hurt from carrying a second child. "Go and play with your dreidel."

"Why is bonn a big pesson wood?"

"It just is, son."

Linda was just about to lift Ricky up but Bobby took him instead.

"You go get some sleep. You need it."

She watched him take Ricky away along with his dreidel. Ricky stared back at her, with his huge blue eyes.

Bobby was right. She needed sleep.