Crying came from over the baby monitor again, causing eighteen year old Emmalin Holden to groan out of frustration. She had just fed her brother not more than an hour ago. How did her mother do it all day? And night? Granted she loved three month old Michael Holden Jr. but he was a handful. She barely got any sleep with his incessant crying throughout the night. She couldn't even imagine if she actually had to get up out of bed like her Mom and Dad did. Still, she had wanted a younger sibling all her life. She just thought it would be much earlier than now.
So, with Michael at work and Claudia Joy at Denise's for a quick errand, Emmalin was on babysitting duty. She slowly got up and trudged up the stairs into the nursery where Michael was supposed to be napping instead of crying, "I guess that's what three month old colicky babies do," thought Emmalin, "It's okay Michael. Emmy's here," she cooed at him. Thankfully it was neither a 'hungry' cry nor an 'I need a change' cry. But the problem was it was an 'I want Mommy to hold me and cuddle with me cry.' And Claudia Joy was gone even if it was going to be only a couple hours.
"It's okay baby. Mommy will be home soon. She needed to go to Auntie Denise's house," said Emmalin attempting to soothe the fussy baby. She walked over to the rocking chair and sat down rocking back and forth which is something Michael always seemed to enjoy. She looked down adoringly at her brother thinking about the day he was born: June 3, 2011, "What a way to enter the world," she thought amusingly. Emmalin remembered calm voices also soothed her brother so she decided to give it a try.
"Michael you know I've loved you from the start. From the moment I found out I was going to be a big sister. And I was even there the day you were born. Even though you decided you wanted out of Mommy two weeks early at my graduation, it was still one of the best days of my life. You're just what I needed to have a great one again," she said as Michael's eyes began to get heavier, "And I don't know if Mommy or Daddy has told you but you have another big sister, Amanda. Even though she isn't here physically to see you, I'm sure she's watching over you from Heaven." Little did Emmalin know that Claudia Joy had arrived home early and was standing in the doorway.
"You're so good with him sweetheart," said Claudia Joy causing Emmalin to look up.
"Um I guess," Emmalin blushed, "He's a well behaved baby and he has great parents."
"And you're right. He has not one but TWO great big sisters. They're just looking out for him in different ways," said Claudia Joy just as Michael started to turn towards Emmalin's chest.
"Okay. I don't quite know what we're doing here but I think this is your department," laughed Emmalin as she handed Michael off to Claudia Joy.
"Did you feed him an hour ago?" Emmalin nodded, "Yeah then that's probably what he wants. You're free now. Thanks for watching him," said Claudia Joy.
"No problem Mom, he's my baby brother," said Emmalin kissing him on top of his head, "I love you Michael James Holden Jr."