"Mommy look what I drew!"

She stirred and rolled over to look. He was still holding the crayons proudly in his fused fingers, beaming. She smiled a little, but grimmaced as she sat up, the throbbing headache blacking the world out for a second. She could feel him crawl up into the bed and into her lap, his picture slowly coming back into view. "I made it for you." He looked up to gauge her reaction. Ethel rubbed her eyes and then squinted, reaching for the paper.

"Well look a' that." She kissed his head, recalling how she thought he'd never learn to do such a thing. It wasn't too bad off either. A picture of the two of them and a big top in the background. "You're a regular artist, Jimmy. What else ya got?"

"Miss Elsa was teachin' me ta juggle, wanna see?" He pushed against her stomach as he bounced out of bed, sending a wave of nausea through her.

Jimmy scooped three of the balls off the counter in their caravan, putting them on the floor at his feet before he cleared his throat. "My name is Jimmy Darling, but most people call me Lobster Boy," he held up his hands proudly and puffed his chest out a little like a tiny Superman. "You may think life would be pretty hard with hands like mine, but I get by. Don't believe me? Watch me juggle!" He hurried to scoop up all three balls and kept them going for two rounds before two of them fell.

Ethel clapped. "Good show, son."

Jimmy kicked one ball to the side. "No it wasn't I dropped 'em all." He kicked the cupboard door and scowled. "I'll never be good at nothin' 'cause of my hands. 'S not fair!"

Her head pounded and her stomach was lurching but she took a few deep breaths and pushed her feet over the edge of the bed, patting the side for him to come and sit. He marched over, stomping the whole way before joining her, still scowling. "Nobody was ever good at nothin' on the first try. That's why you practice."

"I don't wanna practice. I'm never gonna be good at nothin'."

"Now you listen here, Jimmy. You're no quitter. No you're not. Look at me."

He looked up at her, his brown eyes big and watering. "You can do anythin' you put yer mind you, y' hear? Yer special, Jimmy. And I'll let you in on a secret all the best people are."

"Are you special too?" he sniffled.

"You make me special."

"How?"

"'Cause I'm yer mom."

He cuddled into her side. "Is everybody else here special too? Like us?"

"In their own little way, just like you an' me." Ethel's stomach hitched. "Why don't you go outside an' practice now, okay? Momma's head hurts."

Jimmy slipped out of bed and grabbed the balls off the floor, heading outside to play under Elsa's arm.

"Reeks in here," Elsa pointed out. "Ethel, have you been drinking again? We agreed no more."

"It was just…"

"I give you a roof over your head. Take your son under my wing. This is how you repay me?" Elsa folded her arms. "Or shall we leave you at the next watering hole and I can let Pepper and Salty raise your Jimmy?"

Ethel's stomach dropped. "No. No I'm off the stuff. For good."

"Good. Good. It would be a shame to lose you, Ethel. Now get yourself cleaned up. We have a show to do tonight." Elsa left the caravan in a feathery flourish, leaving Ethel with her thoughts.