Chapter Text
Alice is watching the window as you draw. Everyone has been waiting for your parents to come home and Alice has taken up the watch at the window after Carol got bored. You haven't taken the watch yet, you've been occupying yourself in other ways. You grip your crayon tightly as you add flowers to the scene. If you concentrate on this drawing maybe you won't think about why your parents are away.
"They're back! They're back!" Alice starts screeching from her lookout. Suddenly there's pounding footsteps and everyone is in the living room, trying to peer out the windows. Jessica is holding May and letting her look out at your parents as they arrive. You stay at the table staring down at your drawing.
The minutes seem to drag on before your parents come in, looking tired but happy. Your father is holding a baby carrier. They immediately are crowded by your sisters as everyone welcomes them home and coos over their new sibling. You stay at the table staring down at your drawing.
Everybody is smitten with Annie, even the now second youngest, Felicia, who giggles as soon as Tracy brings her close. They are all laughing and smiling. Nobody even looks your way as you refuse to join them. It's always like this when there's a new baby. They're always a new baby. Maybe there was all this fuss when you were born, but you obviously don't remember any of it. You're parents are so proud and your sisters are overjoyed with each new additional sister. It's never a brother. Maybe you would be happier if it were a brother.
You finally get up from the table, drawing in hand, and make your way to your room. Nobody even notices you leave. They'll notice when they come to bed and find you already there. Mom said that someday you'll get your own room, but only because the girls will want a "boy-free space" in a couple of years. You'll probably just get Pepper and Jillian's room when they move out. You hope your parents will let you re-paint their room blue.
For now you walk into the pale yellow room with butterfly stickers that you share with three of your sisters. You place your drawing on top of the dresser you share with Carol and then change into your pajamas. You can still hear everyone talking in the living room as you crawl into the bottom bunk and pull the covers over your head.
Your name is Michael J. Caboose and you hate babies.