February

Lydia wasn't feeling very well that day and she'd learned from her first pregnancy to rest when her body told her she needed it. Her husband was usually responsible for Beatie's breakfast in any case, but today, Lydia asked him to do something else as well.

"Beej, she should understand what's happening and what to expect. Last night, she asked me when the baby store would have the baby ready to pick up."

Beetlejuice stared at her. "You want me to explain the birds and the beetles to her? Dearest, isn't five a little young for that?"

Lydia managed a small laugh. "I just want her to know what's going to happen in a few months. That we won't be picking the baby up at a store. Keep it really simple and basic, okay? No details or anatomical lessons, just simple and easy for her to understand." She closed her eyes briefly, reaching for his hand. "Sorry to be such a wimp about being pregnant."

"Don't be stupid," he said and patted her hand gently. "Just take it easy and I'll bring you some toast later."

After breakfast, he checked on his wife again to find her napping, thought seriously for a few minutes, then returned to his daughter with a question. With Beatie settled on his lap in the playroom, he asked, "Can I talk to you for a little bit?"

She nodded, busy combing her doll's hair. It was a Medusa-doll and the snakes were fairly realistic, but prone to tangle.

"Well, you know we're having a baby in a few months. Do you know where that baby is right now?"

Beatie looked up at him with a small frown. "At the store, getting ready?"

"Nope. It's in Mama's tummy, getting ready. She's keeping it there where it's safe until it gets big enough to be born." He looked at her closely. "Do you know how a baby's born?" When she shook her head and forcefully separated two snakes, he went on. "Well, Mama goes to a special doctor and he helps the baby come out of her tummy and that's it – it's born. See? It's really pretty simple, right?"

"Uh-huh. How many few months will it be?" She grew irritated with Medusa's tangles and attacked them vigorously.

"From right now, it's four months. Probably early in the summer. June." He looked at poor Medusa and thought some more. "Do you . . . um, do you," he hesitated, then went ahead, "have any questions about the baby?"

Beatie stopped attacking Medusa's 'hair' and considered. "How did the baby get in there? In Mama's tummy?"

"I was afraid you'd ask that," he muttered. Then, "Okay. Um. Mama and I wanted a baby. So we . . . um, we . . . we decided to have one. See?"

She nodded and Beetlejuice closed his eyes and quietly sighed in relief. "So, do you want a brother or a sister?"

She thought for only a few seconds. "A brother."

"Why?"

"'Cause I look like Mama and he'll look like you."

Beetlejuice cackled quietly. "That's not exactly the way it works, but I don't think you're quite ready for Mendelian Laws. Look, Mama's brown eyes and dark hair are . . . well, dominant is the word I should use, but I'll just say they're stronger than my light hair and green eyes, okay? So the baby will probably have the same dark hair and brown eyes as you and look more than Mama than me. I think that's a good thing, too." He paused then, stroking her hair and watching her pull Medusa's snakes out by the roots. Then he added, "On the other hand, Mama and I have beaten the odds before."