Pieces

The first word

     "Marvin!!" I call my husband to the kitchen. "Come here!!"

     "What is it, Stella?" He enters with an annoyed expression, much contrasting with my own excited one.

     "Luke just said his first word!!!" I exclaim joyfully, turning back to our little son in the baby chair.

      He's chewing on a chew-toy which, despite being a week old, has punctures in it. And that's exactly the first thing Marvin notices.

       "I just bought that for him." He says in a defeated tone. "And its the fourth one I bought in a month!"

       Marvin moves a hand through his hair and a laugh escapes me. He glares at me. I raise my hands defensively.

       "It's not my fault he took after me."

        This happens a lot when a human falls in love with a vampire, and they get married.

       Marvin smiles too.

      "But I'm not getting another one."He says, and turns towards Luke.

       "Now what did you say you little vampy?" He asks, kneeling in front of him.

        "wa! wa!" Luke only makes little noises as he chews on the toy.

       "He said—"

       "No." Marvin stops me, "I wanna hear him say."

        I laugh.

        "Fine." I say, and move around him to finish doing the dishes, while the father and son are having a chat.

         "Come on," Marvin says to him. "Whachu say? Temme. Temme...."

        I giggle, continuing my work.

       "Bha— bha..." luck makes some more noises and then rubs his face with his little fist.

       "Stella!" Marvin calls my name like little human kids say 'mommy!' "Make him say it!"

        "What happened?" I tease him a bit. "Tired already?"

         I know my husband. He'd never back down from a challenge.

        "Nope. Not tired at all." He says and gets back to the little vampire baby in the chair.

         "If you say it," he tells him, grabbing his face on both sides. "I'll double your pocket money."

           "You're bribing a child!!" I laugh out loud.

           "What??" He shrugs "gotta do something, right?"

         "Just take—" I start to say, but he stops me again.

        "I'll do it." He turns back to Luke.

       "Who's my little champ, huh?" He says to the baby. "You are! Yes, you are!"

       At this Luke makes 'Hoo! Hoo!' noises and jumps in the seat.

      "Come on champion!" Marvin says "come on. Say the word. Say the word.."

       This keeps going the whole time I'm doing dishes. By the time I'm done, Marvin has bribed, sweet talked, even pleaded for him to say a word. But Luke being his own son, doesn't say a word.

      As Marvin stands up defeated, I wipe my hands on a towel, telling Marvin to watch and learn.

    "Luke?" I grab the chew-toy which is dripping with drool. "Give this to mommy."

     I tug at the toy.

     Luke yells

     "Maaaeeen" pulling it to himself.

      I turn back to find Marvin standing with his mouth on the ground.

       "Mine." He says sighing. I laugh out loud again, while he stares at me.