Chapter 5: Baby number 2 arrives

Cheryl was due to give birth to her second child any day now. Cheryl began the contractions and was rushed to the hospital late at night. Brax jumped excitedly on the hospital chair.

"Is the new baby coming Dad?" He asked Danny who sat next to him.

"Sit down Darryl and shut up. We just have to wait." Brax stopped jumping and sat down on the chair. The doctor approached. "It was just a false alarm, but we would like to keep her here as we believe she will be due very soon." Danny grunted, looking at the time, his watch read 8:30pm, he grabbed Brax by the arm.

"Come on, it's time to get you home to bed." "But I wanna stay here and see when Mum has the baby." Danny tightened his grip.

"You do not get to call the shots. Need I remind you of what happened last time you kept disrespecting me?" "No Dad." Brax replied quietly.

"Good. Let's go." Danny took Brax home and put him to bed, before going out to sit on the couch and drink a beer.

The following morning Brax woke up and rushed into the kitchen. As usual his father had not gotten up yet so Brax cautiously walked into his room and shook him "Arg, Darryl. Get out of here." Danny glanced over at the clock. It read 7:30am. He had to get up to get Brax to school. He groaned and got out of bed to meet Brax in the kitchen.

Organizing a bowl of cereal for Brax, Danny dropped it down in front of him. "Hurry up and eat this, we need to get you ready for school." "What about Mum and the baby? Can't I stay home from school and come to the hospital with you? "

"You know that ain't happening Darryl. You kept bugging your Mum and me to go to that stupid school, so you're going." Brax knew he wouldn't get anywhere trying to argue with his father so sat silently finishing his breakfast, once he got dressed Danny drove him to school.

"Behave yourself. I'll be back to pick you up this afternoon." "Bye Dad." Brax shut the door and watched his father drive off. All day at school Brax could not concentrate, he just kept thinking of how wonderful it would be when the new baby arrives.

Finally the last bell rang for the day. Brax rushed out of the classroom and towards the school gate. Glancing around, he could not see his father's car, though that was to be expected, his father was not huge on turning up on time. Danny finally drove up to the gate, through the open window he yelled, "Darryl get in!" Brax rushed into the car, as he was putting on his seatbelt he glanced at his father eager for news.

Before Brax could open his mouth to ask Danny said, "Your mother's had the baby. You have a little brother." A massive smile produced on Brax's face. "Really? What's he like? Are we going to go see them?" Brax asked. "Enough questions Darryl. Yes we are going to the hospital." Brax sat quietly and looked out the window, feeling more content than he had in a long time.

Danny and Brax reached the hospital and walked into Cheryl's room. Brax ran up to his mother and hugged her. "Mum!" Cheryl groaned. "Hey!" Danny said firmly, telling Brax to get off. Brax pulled away. "Sorry Mum. Where's the baby?" "The nurse has taken him to check him over, they will be back soon."

A nurse then walked in, carrying a small baby wrapped in a cozy white blanket and hands the baby to Cheryl. "Here's your son, Mrs. Braxton" Brax walked up to peer at the small baby. "What's his name?" He asked. "Heath. Heath Braxton." Brax smiled at his brother.

Looking to both his parents he asked, "Can I hold him?" "You can't be serious Darryl, there is no way you are capable of holding a baby." Cheryl told him.

Brax sinks into his chair. Danny walked over to the bed and looked at his newborn son. "So another Braxton to add to the family eh? We'll make big things for you."

When Heath was brought home, Brax was still not allowed to hold him until he had turned 7 months old and this had only occurred when both his parents were tired and could not be bothered. Danny and Cheryl fussed over Heath, even though Brax felt left out, he loved spending every minute he could interacting with Heath, rushing home from school just to see him again.

Brax ran home from school, holding a piece of paper in his hands, this was the most excited he had been since he had started school, it was the chance to go on an excursion to a museum, a place Brax had never even heard of and he really wanted to go, he just hoped his parents would sign his form. Cheryl and Danny were tired, Heath was up all night and it had taken most of the day to get him to sleep, but finally he was asleep.

Brax came bursting through the door, running in. "Mum, Dad!" "Darryl, I just got Heath off to sleep stop your noise!" She scolded. Danny came out of the kitchen, "Oi, what have I told you about running in the house?"

Looking up at his father Brax whispered, "not to." "And what did you just do?" Danny questioned. Danny slapped Brax across the face, the young boy fell backwards, and tears escaped his eyes. "Sorry." Brax whispered.

"Humph. What have you got there?" Danny snatched the piece of paper from Brax's hand. Brax stood up and wiped his nose, "it's a permission slip for an excursion to a museum next week I need a parent to sign it so I can go, please."

Danny read the note and looked at Cheryl, "Our boy thinks he can go on an excursion." Cheryl scoffed. "Not likely." "Please mum, I really want to go." "Sometimes what we want we can't always have Darryl." Cheryl added.

"Wasn't it just the other day we had to remind you about your chores and not to mention having to tell you about running in the house a few moments ago?" Brax nodded, "so what makes you think we would let a boy who can't behave go on an excursion?" Brax's heart sank. "Forget it Darryl. You're not going." Danny told him and threw the paper at Brax.

Brax picked up the paper and walked to his room. Scrunching up the paper he tossed it on his bed. It wasn't fair, why couldn't his parents let him go to this excursion, it's not like something like this comes along often. Brax lay down on his bed, dreaming of a life where he could experience these fun things, it seemed it was the only way he would be able to do that.

Just before dinner Brax heard his mother yell for him to come and help set up for dinner. On his way out of his bedroom he wandered in to see Heath, who was playing with his rattle. Brax reached his hand in the crib and held it. "I'll never stop you going places you wanna see. I promise I'll look after you."

The baby smiled at Brax and shook his rattle. "Darryl, hurry up!" Cheryl yelled again. "I got to go bud." Brax pulled away and walked into the kitchen and grabbed the things to set the table.

"What took you so long?" Cheryl demanded. "You ain't sulking about that excursion are ya?" Brax shook his head. "You better not be." Danny warned. "No Dad." Brax replied and continued to set the table.