New Arrival
The small four year old’s green eyes widened excitedly as his mother entered the front door holding a bundle of light beige blankets. He rushed toward the short woman to get a closer look.
“Is this my baby brother?”
Dull green eyes met the small boy’s bright ones as the woman laughed, “Shinki, meet Norio, your new baby brother.”
Shinki’s small hands reached toward the bundle of blankets, “May I hold him Mother?”
“Shinki, come sit with me and your mother will let you hold him.”
He didn’t need to be told twice by his father. His feet quickly carried him as fast as they could to the couch. He easily climbed onto his seat, holding his arms out in front of him excitedly. He had waited nine whole months to meet his new brother. His heart rate increased as he watched his mother close in on him.
“Ok dear, I want you to hold your arms together just like mine.”
Shinki nodded quickly moving his arms to match his mothers, before flinching when she placed the small bundle into his arms. His bright green eyes locked with the wide blue orbs of his brother. He stiffened when they blinked in sync. Looking at his little brother, nothing else mattered.
“Norio...” The name flowed off of his tongue.
He didn’t know why, but his eyes began to sting. His jaw began to ache from the smile across his lips.
“He has father’s eyes, and your hair mother.”
Shinki took in the small thin tufts of dirty blond hair on his brother’s head, so much lighter than his own dark brown hair. He couldn’t help but find himself amazed to find that between the two of them, they held the opposite trait of their parents.
“Alright Shinki, hand Norio back to your mother, he needs to go sleep.”
Etsuko’s tan arms reached forward as she gently took Norio from Shinki’s hold. Shinki’s green eyes widened in momentary panic at the loss of his baby brother. He scrambled to try to take him back, but stopped when his mother’s narrowed green eyes met his daring him to argue with her. When he sat back in his seat, her gaze softened. She reach one arm from under Norio to ruffle Shinki’s hair.
“I promise you can play with him after his nap, but babies need their sleep.”
Shinki nodded, if it was for the health of his baby brother, he wouldn’t argue. He wanted his baby brother to be healthy and happy, always.