Kendall and Logan settled into a happy little routine, splitting their time evenly between the two houses, playing, learning, eating over, sleeping over (Kendall woke up a happy little ball of sunshine the morning after the night he was left at Logan's), doing homework. Logan was introduced to the world of televised professional hockey, the two boys would squeeze into the same recliner as Mr. Knight and watch the games.
"Wouldn't all of you be more comfortable on the couch?" Jennifer was foolish enough to suggest only once. Donald had always watched games from the comfort of his favorite chair, when Kendall came along he was added, and now that Logan was in on it, there was no reason to move. Sure it was a little snug, and someone might catch the occasional stray elbow when cheering commenced after a great play, but that's hockey.
Over at the Mitchells' they would follow after Dr. Mitchell when he was home, helping out with raking leaves and sweeping up when he'd work on projects in his woodshop out in the garden shed in their backyard. They'd do whatever the moms asked of them too, and Kendall got a little bit neater and better about putting away his things under Logan's influence.
Mainly they played and talked. They made up games, played video and board games, and did puzzles and built things with Legos and Lincoln Logs and blocks and Play Doh, and Kendall began to get Logan ready to start playing hockey. He had a goalie net set up in his backyard, and he and Logan would hit tennis balls into it (or near it) till their arms ached.
Sometimes they'd have Carlos and James over too, and they played with them at recess, but most of the time they were content to just be with each other. Sometimes Logan would rather read and Kendall would rather play with his Lite Brite or Legos, and that was fine-they'd both do their own thing. Just being near each other was enough.
On Logan's birthday, Pam had a little party for just kids, inviting James and Carlos and of course, Kendall. Then a couple months later they did it all again at Kendall's house for his birthday.
One day towards the end of November, but before Thanksgiving, Kendall and Logan were out playing in Logan's backyard after school. It was a raw, cold day, their cheeks and noses had long ago turned red and their eyes smarted with the wind blowing at them. When it was almost sunset Logan's mom called to them to come in and she'd make them hot chocolate.
"Just five more minutes, Mom?" Logan asked.
"Okay, but then get on inside. You two must be frozen by now."
Kendall was surprised. Firstly, Logan always did exactly what a parent told him, without having to be told twice. Secondly, they weren't even playing anything anymore. The cold had slowed them down and they were each just sitting on a swing on Logan's swing set (his didn't have a fort).
"Why don't you want to go in?" Kendall asked. That hot chocolate sounded good to him.
"I don't know, it just feels like something's going to happen, I think. Don't you feel it?"
Kendall looked around and tried to just, well, feel. After a moment he said, "Yeah, actually. I do think I feel something. What is it?"
Logan just shrugged. "I don't know, but let's give it another minute."
They sat there quietly, just waiting. And then a tiny speck was floating down between them. Logan reached out and it landed on the tip of his mitten.
"Hey! A snowflake!" Kendall yelled. "The very first snowflake this winter!"
Logan smiled. "Merry very first snowflake, Kendall."
"Yeah! Merry very first snowflake, Logan! Let's show your mom!" The boys went running to the backdoor, Logan holding his hand out before him. More flakes were starting to spit down out of the sky.
Kendall burst through the backdoor, and Logan was calling, "Mom! Mom! Look! The very first snowflake!"
Pam glanced out the open door behind the boys and saw that it was indeed, starting to snow. She couldn't quite see the speck on Logan's mitten (truth be told, it had melted away), but she acted suitably impressed.
"The very first snowflake, Mrs. Mitchell! And Logan knew to wait for it!"
"That's great boys. It has to be very good luck to be the ones to see the first flake. Now how about you get your coats off and have some hot chocolate?"
Winter was a happy time of holidays and Mites hockey. Mr. Knight was able to be an assistant coach on Kendall and Logan's team, he shuffled his hours around at work so he was able to be at most practices and every game. He also worked with the boys during any free time they all had. The Knights had a small pond beyond their backyard that Donald kept shoveled off and Kendall and Logan would skate until dark every chance they got.
At the holidays, the two families blended seamlessly. All the grandparents met the other boy and his family and each other, and everyone got along great. The Knights had everyone over for a big Christmas supper, and the Mitchells had everyone for New Year's Eve.
After the holidays, Kendall switched over to afternoon Pre-K and he and Logan spent all their after school afternoons together. The next year when Kendall went to school full days, he and his mom would always walk to Logan's first, and then one or both of the moms would walk them over to school, and then in the afternoons they'd be met by one or both moms and walk to whoever's house they were headed to that day. Jennifer always made both walks every day, even if the kids were going to Pam's-she and Pam seemed to be excited about something that was going to happen in March, and Jennifer was always talking about walking being "good exercise" for her. Kendall and Logan didn't care about March, that was six months away and they had a brand new school year to think about. Now that Logan was in "real" school, Kendall was afraid he'd be too busy with homework assignments to play with Kendall as much, but Logan managed to have just as much time as ever for Kendall. And spending so much time with Logan was rubbing off on Kendall. He was able to read a bit and do some simple addition and subtraction before even setting foot in the kindergarten classroom. He was assigned to Mrs. Perry's class, to the delight of his parents and the Mitchell family. Logan knew Kendall would enjoy his year in that classroom, just like he had.
At Kendall's family birthday party that year, his Grandma Knight gave him a book. Kendall eagerly tore the wrapping paper off and flipped through it checking out the pictures to words ratio and then held it over his head excitedly. "Logan, LOOK! 'Now We Are Six'!" Kendall read from the cover carefully, after bringing the book back down to his eye level. "I bet I can read this to YOU!" Everyone beamed. Logan was an excellent influence on Kendall. And Kendall had turned shy little Logan Mitchell into a hockey playing, socializing, happy-go-lucky boy. He was as studious and serious as ever when it came to schoolwork, but the rest of his life had opened up into a happier and more outgoing place.
At Christmas, the Knights told Kendall he'd be getting a baby brother or sister in a few more months. Kendall was happy with that.
On a snowy St. Patrick's Day night, Jennifer woke Donald up and told him it was time-they had to go NOW.
"I'll get Kendall bundled up," Donald yawned, getting out of bed.
"I don't think we'll have time to get him to my folks-I think we better drop him off at Pam's," Jennifer said, grimacing through a contraction.
"Are you shhhh…" Donald turned to look at his wife, hopping on one foot as he tried to put on a sock. One look told him all he needed to know: they had to get moving, fast.
Jennifer called Pam and Jeff while Donald tried cramming Kendall into his winter coat and boots as fast as he could. Kendall was still pretty much asleep and no help whatsoever. At the Mitchells', Donald left the car running and carried Kendall up to the front porch where Jeff took him from his arms and told him to keep moving, and that they'd be waiting by the phone. He and Pam got Kendall out of his coat and hat and mittens and boots and made sure no snow had stuck to him, and then tucked him in with Logan. Kendall curled right up next to Logan's warm sleeping body and he threw his arm around Logan's shoulder. Pam and Jeff smiled at the sleeping boys and went to make coffee.
Just after midnight on March 18, and just moments after the Knights arrived at the hospital, Katherine Jennifer Knight was born. Donald called the Mitchells and shared the good news. They asked if they should awaken Kendall and tell him the news, but Donald said it could wait till morning and if they'd bring Kendall by to visit around 10 AM that would be perfect. Jeff asked if they wanted to wait and tell Kendall he had a sister themselves, but Donald said the Mitchells could tell Kendall the news.
The next morning, a very happy Kendall and Logan came tumbling down the stairs together, delighted to find each other in Logan's bed upon waking. They climbed up into chairs at the kitchen table, saying good morning to Logan's folks. Kendall was adorable, with a cowlick at the back of his head and his pjs all rumpled. Logan was much neater, he had taken the time to comb his hair and for whatever reason, he just never did manage to wrinkle his clothes like Kendall did.
"Kendall, we have big news for you. You're a big brother. Your mom had a little girl last night," Pam said, giving Kendall a side squeeze. "She's seven pounds, four ounces, and nineteen inches long."
"That's nice," Kendall said. "Are we having French toast sticks for breakfast?" Those were a particular favorite of Kendall's, and no one made them as good as Logan's mom.
After breakfast, the Mitchells got the boys cleaned up (Kendall already had a change of clothes and a toothbrush at the Mitchells which was a good thing, because in the excitement Donald had forgotten Kendall's already packed for grandma's bag behind) and brought them to the hospital. They stopped off at the gift shop, telling Kendall he could pick out a present for his new baby sister.
At first Kendall was drawn to trucks and coloring books (things he'd most enjoy), but Pam gently guided him over to the stuffed animals. "She's too little to hold anything yet, Kendall. Maybe something bright and cute for her to look at?"
Kendall tilted his head and looked at all the stuffed animals. There was a rainbow colored teddy bear that looked pretty cool, but then he saw a pink monkey wearing a bib. "It's a girl," he sounded out, reading what was printed on the bib. "How about that pink monkey, Mrs. Mitchell?" Pam took it off the shelf and handed it to Kendall. He held it out at arms' length, trying to decide.
"Mom? Did you say the baby's nineteen inches long?" Logan spoke up.
"Why, yes, Logan. That's exactly right."
Logan turned to Kendall. "Kendall, that monkey looks about a foot and a half long-that's eighteen inches and that's just about how tall your baby sister is right now. If I were her, that thing would scare me."
Pam had to bite her lip to stop the laugh that wanted to come out. Kendall stuffed the monkey back and looked around some more. On the floor, in a little wicker basket, there were some soft dolls sewn from pink terry cloth and shaped in a sitting position. They looked to be about four inches from head to butt, their little legs sticking out in front of them.
"How about one of these?" he asked, holding it up to show Logan. Logan nodded his approval.
"That's perfect, Kendall. I'm sure your sister will love it," Pam said. They walked up to the checkout counter and Pam paid for the doll, and asked the clerk to cut the tags off so Kendall could give it right to his new sister when he met her.
They took an elevator to the third floor, and found Mrs. Knight's room. Even though it was a double, for now the other bed was empty. Jennifer was holding the baby and Donald was trying to snooze in a chair next to her bed, his hair all rumpled and his eyes bleary but happy. The Mitchells let the boys get closest to the side of the bed. Jennifer held the baby up so they could get a good look.
"This is Katie," she said. "Katie, this is your brother Kendall, and his best friend Logan, and Logan's mom and dad." Katie's big bright eyes were wide open, and she looked at each person as Jennifer was introducing them. She even lifted her head up a little to look at the taller grownups. Then she looked back at her mother, and honestly, it looked like she nodded her approval. She had been hearing all these people's voices for months after all. Maybe she already had an idea of what they would look like.
Kendall held up the little pink toy. "Here, Katie, I got you a dolly. She can be your best friend." Kendall was all for his baby sister and Logan being friends, just not best friends. Logan already had one of those.
Jennifer took the doll and Katie looked at it. She seemed to like Dolly (as her name was destined to become) just fine. They were all having a happy visit, and then both sets of grandparents showed up and everyone got a turn holding the baby (even Kendall and Logan), and then some of Kendall's aunts and uncles and cousins came, and the room was getting more and more crowded and Kendall's grandma said it was probably time that they took Kendall home with them, so Jennifer could feed the baby and they could both get a nap. Kendall and Logan looked at each other. Kendall had to go to Grandma's?
Pam caught the look, and quietly asked Jennifer if it wouldn't make more sense to take Kendall home with them. "They'll be releasing you later on today, right? Kendall could come home with us, and then you could decide if you want him with you, or he could stay with us for another night, or even two, while you settle in with the baby. And if there's school, he can go with Logan." Katie's birthday was a Wednesday, but last night's snow had resulted in school being canceled.
Jennifer didn't even need to ask Kendall which house he'd rather go to. She got Donald to come close and whispered into his ear for a moment. Basically she asked him to tactfully let her parents know Kendall wouldn't be going home with them. She and Pam were good enough friends now that Jennifer didn't feel guilty about her looking after Kendall for them-she knew she'd offer the same for Logan if their positions were reversed and not mind doing it one bit.
Kendall wound up staying at the Mitchells' Thursday and Friday, and after school on Friday, when Dr. Mitchell got home, they all went to Kendall's for supper. Donald barbequed his famous ribs out in the cold for the special occasion of Katie's first dinner party. Pam brought over a delicious potato salad that the boys had helped with, and cornbread they had made from a mix. Jennifer was treated like a queen and wasn't allowed to do anything. She took full advantage; she knew this wouldn't happen too often once they settled into the old family routine again.
When it was time for the Mitchells to leave, Kendall, of course, didn't want Logan to go.
"Why can't he just stay here this weekend? I've been at his house all week," Kendall pleaded.
"Honey, you and your folks and Katie need some family time, just you guys," Pam tried to tell him.
"Logan is family too!" Kendall threw an arm around Logan.
"Of course he is, Kendall. And he'll need to get used to having Katie around just like you do. If his parents don't mind, he's more than welcome to stay. But if they want him home, or if Logan would rather not sleep here while Katie's so little and will cry a lot every few hours at night, he needs to go to his house," Jennifer said.
Everyone, even Katie in her daddy's arms, looked at Logan.
"Mom, may I stay?" he asked, his manners as impeccable as always. He was interested in how babies worked and wanted to see what life with Katie was going to be like.
But, since Kendall and Logan always slept like babies themselves when they were tucked up together, Logan slept through Katie's nighttime feedings and changings that weekend. As the months went by, Katie fit right into their lives smoothly. She was a happy baby who more squawked than cried when she needed something, and her bright eyes followed everything her big brother and his best friend did when they were in the same room. The boys were delighted when she flashed her very first smile at them, and no one was more excited than Kendall the first time she rolled herself over on her play blanket on the living room floor when Logan and Kendall were right down there with her. Both boys loved reading to her, and showing her pictures that went along with the stories.
On a June evening before school was finished, Logan was sleeping over at the Knights'. Kendall and his dad were already in their chair watching a Twins game (nowhere near as good as hockey, but hockey season was over, the Wings had swept the Flyers in four), and Logan was finishing up brushing his teeth before settling in to watch TV. The boys wouldn't see much of the game, their bedtime was eight o'clock on a school night, but Kendall's dad would tell them the highlights in the morning.
Logan came into the room and instead of joining the guys in their chair, he chose to sit on the couch with Mrs. Knight and the baby. She was just about to feed Katie and had a receiving blanket draped over her shoulder and the top of Katie's head. Katie was waiting patiently for Jennifer to unhook her nursing bra and start feeding her. The Knights had discussed with the Mitchells how much they wanted Logan to learn about everything to do with taking care of a baby, and they were very open to letting Logan see whatever he was comfortable with. Changing diapers, baths, feedings-it was all necessary and natural, and the Mitchells were appreciative of Jennifer's willingness to let Logan be a part of it.
Logan had seen Jennifer nursing Katie lots of times, but this was the first time he got this close to it. He wasn't being overly curious, but he did have a couple of questions.
"So, Katie's getting milk from there? Like when we went to the dairy farm last year?" The first grade trip was always to a local dairy farm in the spring, so the kids could see the new calves.
"Yup, but instead of an udder, human mothers have breasts," Jennifer said.
"That makes sense. Katie's a lot smaller than even a newborn calf. They need a bigger bag of milk," Logan said seriously. Jennifer and Donald exchanged smiles.
"When will Katie drink cow milk like Kendall and me?" Logan wanted to know.
"Well, I'll probably keep nursing her until she's about a year old, but we'll start introducing her to other things, like cow's milk mixed with baby cereal when she's around six months old."
"Is that what you did with Kendall?" Logan asked.
"Yup-it seemed to work out well," Jennifer answered him seriously.
"Do all babies need to drink their own mother's milk at first?" Logan asked, thinking of the cows at the farm.
"Well, no. There's powders and liquids called formula that lots of people feed their babies instead of, or along with, the mother's milk. And, remember how at the dairy there were milking machines? I have a pump that does pretty much the same thing-it's not a machine, but I can pump milk out of my breasts into bottles for Katie to drink when I'm not home with her, or if we're going someplace where I won't want to find a spot to breastfeed her."
"Logan, it's going to be bedtime soon-are you going to watch some of the game or what?" Donald asked. He preferred to think of his wife's breasts in an entirely different context. He was eternally grateful to them for providing their offspring with sustenance, but he figured for a seven year old, even an advanced seven year old, they had discussed things enough for now.
Logan joined Kendall and Donald on the chair, squeezing in next to Kendall. Logan hadn't grown much since he was five, but Kendall was noticeably bigger. They all still fit in the chair though. It was just more snug now. Pretty soon Kendall and Logan were both nodding off. Baseball couldn't hold their attention like hockey.
"Why don't you boys get up to bed, and we'll be up in a minute to tuck you in?" Don suggested. The boys silently padded out of the room, their Batman and Spiderman slippers muffling their steps. When Jennifer and Donald went into Kendall's room after putting Katie in her crib, they were already sound asleep, Kendall's head on Logan's shoulder.
Author's Note: Another character introduced! I hope you enjoyed this little slice of their early years. They're already growing up so fast, out of kindergarten and learning about the miracle of life. But still little and cute-Logan with his glasses, Kendall with a cowlick. I love picturing them like that.