By Your Side, On This Planet and the Next

Older Brother

The waiting room was quiet that night. Quiet enough you could hear distant patients conversing, nurses heels in the hall, and newborns giving their first cry. The room also reeked of cleaning supplies and was a very bright white color. Too white for Edan's taste. He had to squint his emerald eyes to gaze around the room. His boredom, and never ending energy all five year olds had, told him to get up and explore for something more interesting to do. But he doubted his uncle Jamie would let him get very far. The man could hear every move he made no matter how quiet he was. Glancing at him, Edan could see he was reading the novel he'd brought, his dark fingers tracing the dotted lines.

But Edan noticed the parrot which guided his uncle was sleeping. Maybe he could try to move really quietly and really slowly so he wouldn't be heard or ratted out by the feathered creature. With his mission in mind, he cautiously moved to get out of the chair, hoping it wouldn't creak and alert his uncle of his escape. As his little feet hit the floor, he looked back at Jamie who was still reading silently, though the man's white eyes gazed on a different spot than his book; the parrot had also not stirred. Sensing victory, Edan turned and began to walk across the room, eager to find something interesting.

"Where are you going, Edan?" His small feet ceased their stride as he turned to find Jamie's head turned towards his direction; though his unfocused stare was placed somewhere over Edan's head. The small parrot had also awoken and was giving him a disapproving look. "I was gonna go look around." Edan mumbles, hating how he'd been caught as he slowly walked back to his uncle. The man smiles gently. "I know you're antsy, it is a little boring here. I can understand because I was anxious while waiting for your dad and aunt to be born." He picked Edan up with his free hand as the boy tried imagining a younger Jamie wanting to explore and move around like him. Jamie put his book down. "Why don't you read the book you brought?" He asked with a smile. "I've already read it." Edan replied, looking at the book about earthen dog breeds and their origins he finished and reread an hour ago. "So you don't have anything to do?" The man asked. Edan shook his head then added, "no." when he remembered he couldn't see the gesture.

His uncle lightly ruffled his snow white hair. "Don't worry, she'll be here soon." He reassured him. "Are you excited to have a little sister?" Edan pursed his lips in thought before shrugging. "I don't know." Jamie chuckled softly. "That's okay. I wasn't sure how to feel about your dad and aunt Syd either." He smiled as if remembering when he was younger. Edan thought for a second in the silence. "Were you ever worried about grandpa and granny loving them more than you?" He voiced an insecurity he's had for the past few months. Jamie chuckled softly. "Of course. I was an only child for years and I thought they were replacing me." He explained. "Are you worried your parents will like your sister than you?" He asked.

Edan's silence answered for him, Jamie pat the boys head gently. "Don't worry Edan, your parents adore you; they're going to adore your sister just as much. No one could ever replace you, there's only one you." He gently held Edan close as a loving gesture. "But they may need to give her a lot of attention because she's only a baby. Baby's can't take care of themselves at all so she needs a lot of help." He clarified. Edan nodded and hugged his uncles arm. "Okay uncle Jamie."

"Mr. Everett?" The two were approached by a nurse with olive colored skin; both looked at her, or in her direction. "The baby's been born and is ready for visitation if you'd like to come see her." The young woman choked on the word "see" as she realized the condition of Jamie's sight when her eyes fell upon his unfocused, blank ones. She turned in embarrassment. "Uhm...follow me." Jamie put Edan on the floor as he grabbed their books and took the young boys hand when it was offered to him. His parrot perched herself upon his shoulder as they followed the nurse, Edan guiding his uncle around beds and cleaning carts in the hall. Edan was trying to mentally prepare himself for a little sister. Jamie's words from earlier kept playing in his head and helped keep him calm. The woman opened a patient room and gestured for them to go inside.