Amgyptapan

Chapter 34: Third On The Way

Laughter echoed through the walls. A five year old girl ran into the living room followed by an eleven year old boy. These two were cousins by the names of Ioyazi and Takai. The lounging adults looked on with amusement.

Nothile scooped up his son when Takai tried to run past. Akiva did the same to his daughter. Both kids gave their respective parents disgruntled looks. Naturally, both fathers ignored their children's expression of annoyance.

"Why do you two not settle down and enjoy the peace and serenity?" Nothile calmly suggested.

Ioyazi retorted, "But, Uncle Nothile, Takai and I want to play not stay!"

Akiva chuckled and said, "Well, you can't argue with that, Nothile."

"Oh, just watch me!" Nothile retorted back before addressing his son and niece once more, "You know, children, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. In fact, running around too fast can cause you to not be able to veer in time of a hard obstacle and you will end up hurting yourselves."

"Well...when you put it that way, I guess taking a break couldn't hurt." Takai conceded.

"Takai!" Ioyazi burst in protest.

Takai shrugged and nonchalantly replied, "Sorry, Cuz, but my dad's right, we could hurt ourselves."

"So? The pope could turn Jewish! That doesn't mean it's going to happen." Ioyazi retorted.

Takai sighed and returned, "It doesn't matter how much you protest, Ioyazi we are still going to take a break from playing."

While his cousin belly-ached about having to sit still, Takai settled down next to his father. Soon, he was laying against Nothile, fast asleep. Ioyazi soon tired herself out and was soon lightly snoring on her father's lap. Nothile and Akiva softly chuckled.

"When it comes to calming down, Takai is much easier than Ioyazi is." Akiva remarked.

Nothile chuckled and replied, "I noticed. My son does not put up as much of a fight as your daughter."

"Don't I know it! Putting her down for a nap is like trying to pull teeth...with a paper napkin!" Akiva exclaimed.

Nothile snickered. He heard quite a lot in the afternoons when it was time for his niece's nap. The ex-High Priest remembered how, just six years ago, his own son would badger him all morning if it was time for his nap. Some days, Nothile would fall asleep on the living room floor and Takai would be next to him.

"Think this time will be the one?" Hessa asked as she held a pregnancy test in hopes that it would say positive instead of the usual negative.

"We can only hope." Nothile replied.

After a few more minutes of antsy waiting, the test beeped as it revealed its result. Hessa didn't want to be disappointed again so she handed the test to her mate. Nothile looked at the test and grinned. At long last, it said positive.

" Hessa, you will not believe this," Nothile declared, "but it says yes!"

"Really?" Hessa asked, not able to believe what she'd just heard.

Nothile answered, "Really. It says you are pregnant."

Hessa was overjoyed. Finally, after six years of trying, she was finally pregnant again. Nothile, too, was ecstatic about the news. In a motion of happiness, he lifted his mate and swung her around until they were both dizzy.

"What's going on?" Takai asked from the doorway.

Nothile turned his head and said, "Son, there is something that we want to tell you before anyone else knows."