"Here comes the whale Haru." I say while making an up and down bobbing motion with the spoon. He opens his mouth and eats the porridge in the spoon. He smiles at me for more. In less than five minutes, the bowl is empty. I pat his head. "Good boy Haru. You ate all your food."

Elma raises up the vest he's wearing and lifts him up. She places her face on his tummy and makes loud farting noises to Haru's joy. He laughs and tries to imitate her but his little lips can't stretch out the sound as long as Elma's.. We all laugh.

He already has all his teeth and could eat most things. He could also walk too. "You know Elma, who is going to watch Haru when we're at work during the week?"

She sighs. Her expression changes. If we both had it our way, we'd love to stay home all week playing with Haru but unfortunately we couldn't do that."Um well, let's see. Lucoa-san might be available. Let's ask her."

…

"I'm so sorry guys. I would love to but Shota-kun's parents are taking the family on a vacation and they asked me to tag along since I always watch over him. Maybe another time." Elma hangs up. I was within range enough to hear the conversation.

"Ah that's it! Maybe we can ask Tohru. Isn't she a maid?" I suggest.

Elma's face tenses. "She's our last option. I don't know if she will want to babysit Haru. Maybe you can ask her Nai." Elma doesn't want to swallow her pride and ask her 'rival' herself so she is telling me to do it.

"Sure. Just dial their number."

The phone rings. Someone picks up.

"Hello?" I recognize it's Tohru's upbeat voice.

"Hello. Good afternoon Tohru. This is Nai. How are you?"

"It's nice hearing from you Nai. I'm great. How is yourself?"

"I'm ok. Tohru, the reason I called was because I need to ask you a favour."

Elma is watching me and listening intently all the while I'm speaking.

"Our son Haru is here with us for the week. But Elma and I have to go to work during the day so we were wondering if you could take care of our little boy for us. I know we're imposing and we wouldn't mind paying you either-"

"Gosh Nai! You don't have to pay me. I'd love to babysit Haru. We're going to have so much fun. But I need to ask Kobayashi-san first, ok? Just give me a sec." I heard running and then nothing. In a few moments, I heard Tohru's voice through the phone again.

"Kobayashi-san said it won't be a problem."

"Aw really Tohru? Thank you so much from the both of us. We owe you and Kobayashi a lot"

"It's fine Nai. But I have one request. I would prefer if you bring Haru to Kobayashi-san's apartment because it would be more convenient for me to watch him at home while I also carry out my daily duties. Are you ok with that?"

"Yes. That's no problem. We'll bring him by on Monday morning before we go to work. Take care Tohru and tell Kanna and Kobayashi I said hi."

"Bye Nai. See you on Monday morning then."

I hang up

"Well that's settled."

Elma was quite shocked. "She's... so nice" I hear her say to herself in a low voice.

"Haru! Elma, I thought you were looking at Haru." I say in shock as I run to the chair. Haru is already at the top. He climbs to the top.

"Nai, it's ok. Watch this" Elma's demeanor is calm. Haru jumps from the top of the chair to the floor and lands on his feet without hurting himself.

I pick him. "Oh thank goodness you're ok."

"He's a brave strong boy, Nai. Stop worrying so much. He's training after all. Hey I have an idea, Let's all go on a picnic. It's Saturday."

…

After we packed sandwiches, cake and pastries in the picnic basket, I lock our apartment and three of us head for the same park Elma took me flower-viewing.

We find a nice spot under a tree. It's still spring so the weather is perfect for a picnic. I brought a sheet with us so we spread it on the warm soft grass.

The two of us sit but Haru is busy exploring his surroundings. We keep a close eye on him.

"This is relaxing, the three of us together like this" Elma took the words out of my mouth. Haru's little feet takes him to the tree bark. There are lots of cicadas there and he picks one up and put it in his mouth.

"Fufu he'll do that. It's natural for dragons to eat bugs. They're crunchy and children love them" Elma says while happily eating the sandwiches we made."

"Is that so? Interesting."

I see him running behind the other side of the bark to a spot I couldn't see. He then emerges after a few seconds and is running. I now notice a squirrel is running in front of him. He's trying to catch it. It goes inside a log to hide but it can't fool Haru. Haru picks up the log and the squirrel comes tumbling out. It's on the run again but Haru's too fast for it. He's on its trail and grabs its tail from behind, picking up the squirrel in his tiny hands. He comes running over to us. He brings it over to where the both of us are sitting. He wears a proud expression.

Elma claps. "Good work Haru" she pats his head.

"You were really fast Haru."

"Do you want something to eat ?" Elma says taking out the gives Haru a slice. He has some frosting at the edge of his mouth and she cleans it with a tissue. We have to make sure he keeps his tail and horn hidden when he's in public.

"Ooh I saw this on the web. Let's play horsey Haru." Elma mounts Haru on her right knee and starts moving her leg up and down.

"Ah!" he squeals with joy. He is thoroughly enjoying it. "Maybe I should go faster" Elma says picking up her pace. Up and down her right leg goes and Haru is bouncing on her but he holds on tight. They do this for about fifteen minutes until Haru lands on top of her chest. She places her arms around him. For a moment the two of them lock eyes. They nuzzle noses. It's sentimental watching the two of them like this. A few drops escapes my ducts. He lets out a yawn and falls asleep while she holds him. She gently places him in her lap and strokes his curly black hair while he sleeps.

Everything is quiet except for the buzzing sounds of the cicadas. The cool spring breeze is so refreshing . I feel myself drift off in sleep too.

…

On our way home, we stop to buy ice cream at the parlour. I order three chocolate sundaes. We both take turns in feeding Haru his. Elma and I are chatting away. I hear a gulp sound only to look down and see Haru has swallowed my ice cream on the spoon i was holding some moments ago.

Elma chuckles. "Fufufu Nai, your ice cream is not protected. You must safeguard it"

"I guess so." Haru looks at the both of us and I think he probably knows we're talking about him. I feed him some of my sundae.

His mouth has ice cream all over but he licks his lips and it's the most adorable thing.

…

Sunday

At home, Elma is showing him all the funny filters on her smartphone and the two of them are laughing while trying out the various funny effects with her phone camera.

"Ooh this one's a cat. Nya!"

"This one's a lion, what does the lion say?" she asks him. "RAWR!" she roars.

Haru laughs and tries to imitate her "WORRR!" We all giggle.

"I think we should take a photo." I say so I take out the camera and set the timer.

"Do you want to take a photo with your mommies, Haru?" Elma asks him.

"Mom-mies" Haru's first word and it was 'mommies'. I couldn't believe it. I wish we captured this on video. We both hug him.

"We love you Haru, your mommies love you" I tell him.

"Ba!" he says.

"Smile" and we hear the shutter click. The photo is beautiful. Elma and I are sitting next to each other and we're holding Haru between the two of us. I will frame this photo and put it near to the one with Elma and I in wedding dresses.

…

"And hen the mommy tiger was so worried her cubs didn't come home, she went into the jungle. She walked and she walked. She then listened carefully and" Elma turns the page of the storybook she's reading to Haru.

"Crack! The mommy tiger heard the snapping of branches and the playful sounds of her cubs. She walked over to where the noises came from and she saw her babies were all playing by the riverside. She was so relieved. All of the cubs were so happy to see their-"

"Elma, he's asleep." I whisper.

"Eh? Oh yeah. I got so caught up in the story I didn't realize" she kisses his forehead.

…

We're all sleeping but I awake to the sound of Haru crying. Elma also opens her eyes. His crying is loud, I was worried the neighbours would hear.

I pick him up and gently pat his back. "Shh don't cry. Mommy has you Haru." Elma watches us but it appears she doesn't know what to do. He's still crying.

"I wonder if he's hungry. I'll go get him something to eat" Elma says heading to the kitchen.

She brings back banana pudding. "Do you want to hold him?" I ask her.

"Yes" she takes Haru and I feed him in the pudding. His crying subsides. He makes a soft 'goop' sound and is silent after.

"Thank you" I say to her.

"You don't have to thank me. We're his parents."

We put him on the bed and Elma covers him with the blanket. We watch him slowly shut his eyelids before drifting off.