Chapter 2
The Second Child
Twenty-six years after they lost their first child to the Jedi, Ivey gave birth to another son.
"It's your turn to name him," Ivey said softly to her husband.
Squid thought for a moment and then said softly, "Richard Soil Tickle."
Ivey looked down at the sleepling babe in her arms. Smiling she looked up at her husband, "Perfect."
Squid watched as Ivey placed little Richard into his crib and then walked out of the room. Ivey followed him into his study and asked, "What are you doing, love?"
"I'm going to try and contact Typhoon," Squid said, "so I can tell him he has a new baby brother. He deserves to know."
Ivey smiled, "Good idea, I wish I could stay up longer to talk to him too, but I'm so tired right now. I think I'm going to go lay down for a while."
Squid watched as his beautiful wife leave the room and then turned to the hollow-phone.
It had been four years since little Richard Tickle was born. Richard was playing in his room with his best friend, Fokelore.
"I'm going to be a big brover," Fokelore said with a smile, "I'm going to have a baby brover or a baby sither."
"That doesn't sound like fun," Richard commented.
"Oh, it will be, 'cauth now I'll have thome one to play with before bedtime."
Richard thought about that for a moment and then came up with a decition, "I want a little brover or sister too. How do I get one?'
"Athk your Toema (mother) and Toepa (father). I'm thure they will get you one."
"I don't know."
"You want one, don't you?"
"Yes."
"Okay, then you have to athk them."
Richard nodded his head and slid out of his room and into the family room. He stood in front of his parents and stared at them with his large green eyes.
"Yes, Richard?" asked Squid looking down at his son.
"I want a little brother or sister like Fokelore," explained the small boy.
"Don't you like being the youngest?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Me lonely."
"We'll see what we can do," Ivey cut in taking a quick glance at her husband.
Richard gave them a huge smile and ran back into his room yelling, "I'm getting a little brover or sister!"
In the livingroom Squid looked at his wife and said, "I thought Richard was going to be our last."
Ivey stood up and faced her husband; she leaned down and gently kissed him on the lips before whispering, "It's a little late for that."
Then she left her husband with his mouth hanging open and a single thought running through his mind, oh boy another child running through the house.