Chapter Text
"Jouta, c'mere."
He almost ignored Daddy and stayed in Grandma's lap. Daddy had told him to stay with Grandma Holly because he was too busy to do what Jouta wanted. Again. Like always.
"Jouta." Daddy repeated, holding out his hand.
"You get to be the first one? How lucky, darling." Grandma Holly said in his ear.
Jouta didn't believe any of the stuff Daddy or Mommy or any of the Grandmas and Grandpas said before the hospital, now, he refused to listen. Daddy sighed and came over. When he knelt down, his face looked even worse than usual. His whiskers were coming in, yucky.
"Mommy wants to see you the most, Jouta." Daddy said.
Jouta let his pout deepen before he climbed out of Grandma's lap. He ignored Daddy and marched to the door himself. The nurse there was smiling and laughing as she opened the door for him.
"Do you know the way, young man?" She asked him.
"Daddy just needs to walk faster." Jouta glared behind him, "Your legs are so long, go faster!"
"I do not appreciate you talking to me in that tone, Jouta." Daddy said, catching his hand.
Jouta pulled free.
The walk to Mommy's room was really long. It had been okay to stay up late at first, but now he was tired and he didn't want to be here and this was stupid. Jouta didn't want a little sister. He wanted Mommy all to himself and he already had to share with Daddy. Babies were stupid. Ugly. He had never met one, but he knew they were.
Daddy opened the room for him, but the room had a curtain, so Jouta thought maybe Daddy had taken him to the wrong place.
"Is that you, Jouta?" Mommy's voice called, "Sweetheart?"
Jouta rushed to the bed.
"Mommy!" He shouted.
Mommy looked tired, too, his red hair flat and his skin shiny. Jouta almost cried, he had missed his mommy all day, but he was a big boy. Then he noticed the blanket in Mommy's arms and he got angry. That was his spot.
"Jotaro, help him up on the bed." Mommy said.
"I don't wanna!" Jouta tensed up, but he was still too small to fight against Daddy.
"Simmer down." Daddy growled.
Jouta kicked his legs.
"Son," Daddy began, but that just made Jouta angrier.
"Jouta, you have to be gentle or you can't stay." Mommy said.
Now Jouta really thought he would cry. He didn't like it when Mommy took Daddy's side.
"Maybe we should have waited, Noriaki." Daddy said.
"Nonsense." Mommy said, "Jouta always likes to sit with me. Don't you, sweetheart? He wants to meet his sister, too."
"I don't!" Jouta quit fighting when Daddy lowered him to the bed, he wouldn't hurt Mommy, but he was still very mad. "I don't-"
The bundle in Mommy's arms shifted. Big eyes opened and looked at him. The eyes were soft and the same color as Daddy's.
"-care…" Jouta finished.
"She knows her big brother's voice." Mommy said, taking Jouta's hand.
The little baby wasn't ugly at all, she was round and squishy. She didn't look like Mommy or Daddy, but some black hair was coming out of the green hat she was wearing. When Mommy moved Jouta's hand to the baby's, she grabbed onto his finger. The baby was strong. Not as strong as him, of course.
"She really likes you already." Mommy said.
The baby gave a big yawn.
"What's her name?" Jouta asked.
"Jolyne." Daddy answered.
"I didn't ask you." Jouta frowned at Daddy, but had to look back at the baby when she squeezed his finger. She wanted to talk to him.
"Tell Jolyne hello, Jouta." Mommy said.
"Hi, Jolyne." Jouta whispered.
The baby yawned again, and it made Jouta yawn, too.
"Jolyne is very tired." Mommy said when the baby's eyes shut, "Lay down here a minute, Jouta, until she falls asleep."
Jouta got comfortable on the bed with Mommy to see if the baby changed while she was asleep. He didn't know a lot about babies, but this one seemed okay so far. Mommy patted his head as Jolyne's sleepiness infected him.
"Jotaro, will you take Jolyne for a minute?" Mommy asked.
"Of course." Daddy answered.
The bed moved around a little and Jouta was put into his proper place in his mommy's lap. Maybe sharing with the baby wasn't so bad if Daddy would actually help.
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The baby had been around for a little while. Jouta had been happy when Mommy and Jolyne had come home from the hospital because he had been stuck with Daddy alone. Daddy was so bossy.
But, Jolyne cried all the time . She was so annoying. More annoying than Daddy.
Jouta was woken up almost every night because the baby was screaming. Tonight was the same. Mommy and Daddy's room was at the end of the hall, and the screaming was getting closer to him.
Jouta put his pillow over his head and screamed back, "Shut up!"
"I'm sorry, sweetheart."
Jouta peeked, seeing Mommy in his doorway while the crying went downstairs.
"You can't make a baby stop crying by yelling." Mommy said when he sat up.
"Do something!" Jouta commanded.
"We're trying, Jouta, we don't know what's bothering Jolyne." Mommy sat on his bed and rubbed his back in circles, "Babies cry a lot."
Jouta had decided he was right not to want a baby, no one asked him, but he didn’t.
"How about I make you some warm milk, just like Daddy is making for Jolyne?" Mommy asked, "To help you go back to sleep."
"Okay." Jouta said.
Now that the baby was crying downstairs, he didn't feel so awake, but he did want milk.
"I'll be back in a few minutes." Mommy kissed him on the head, his hair noodle tickling Jouta’s face, and left.
Jouta stared up at the ceiling. His dinosaur egg lamp lit up the scary parts of his room, but he wanted more so he crawled over to hit the button. The dinosaurs came to life and spun around the room. Mommy still wasn't back when the lights stopped. Jouta took his blanket and went downstairs. The baby wasn't screaming, but she was still crying.
"... won't eat. Is it a fever?" Mommy was saying in the kitchen.
"It's not a fever, Nori." Daddy answered.
"She won't stop fussing. Jouta never fussed this long." Mommy sounded upset, "What if she's sick and we can't tell? She spits up everything."
"It's probably gas, or an upset stomach, don't work yourself up. Jolyne is fine." Daddy said.
Jouta came into the kitchen to see Daddy giving Mommy a kiss. Yuck!
"Oh, Jouta, I forgot about your milk!" Mommy said when he saw him.
"I want milk." Jouta said.
"I know, I'm sorry, I was talking to Daddy and I forgot." Mommy opened the wrong cabinet, then opened another, and got out Jouta's favorite cup. He almost dropped it. Daddy caught the cup and set it down.
"Well, Jouta wants milk, but Jolyne doesn't want any." Daddy said pushing Mommy towards the door, "So, how about I make Jouta's milk and you three sit here on the couch."
Daddy got Mommy to sit and gave him the baby.
"I don't want to." Jouta said.
"You don't want to help Mommy with the baby?" Daddy asked.
Jouta looked over at Jolyne kicking and whining and answered, "No."
"Okay, want to go back up to your room to wait?" Daddy asked.
"No." Jouta shook his head.
"Then, what do you want, Jouta?" Daddy crossed his arms, he looked silly wearing just pants and his hair all messy.
"I want Mommy to make my milk like he said he would." Jouta said.
"If you want milk, I'll make it." Daddy said.
"And I want Mommy to make it!" Jouta shouted, stomping his foot.
Mommy and Jolyne jumped and the baby began to cry loud again. Daddy said a bad word and sat down next to Mommy.
"Relax, Noriaki, relax. I'm sorry." Daddy said, rubbing Mommy's back like Mommy had done for Jouta.
Even though the baby was crying, Mommy's eyes closed. Daddy moved the baby from Mommy's lap to belly down on his lap.
"Jouta." Daddy whispered, "Will you watch the baby?"
Jouta came to Daddy's knee while Daddy helped Mommy lie down next to him.
"Thank you, Jouta, I'm glad you're here to help." Daddy said, "Mommy and the baby are having a hard time sleeping."
Jouta looked at the little baby, she was still very squishy but she had grown a lot. Maybe she was growing some more, and that's why she was crying. Jouta rubbed circles on the baby's back. Jolyne made some grunts, and then, she farted!
"Ew!" Jouta forgot to be quiet and plugged his nose with his fingers, "Daddy!"
"What is it?" Mommy woke up, looking scared.
"The baby farted!" Jouta said.
Jolyne made a bubbling sound and Daddy flipped her over. Jouta leaned in.
"She's smiling!" Mommy exclaimed.
Jolyne made more noise while she smiled even wider and farted again.
"Oh my god, it's so stinky!" Jouta said.
"Gas, Noriaki, her stomach hurt." Daddy said.
"You were right." Mommy kissed Daddy on the cheek and they smiled back at the baby.
Jouta could not understand how they could stand the smell. He pulled his shirt over his face to block the stink and ran back to bed.
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"Jouta Anthonio Kujo!" Mommy's voice flew across the house.
Jouta watched the door, waiting until Mommy arrived to answer. He was angry, his purple eyes were very thin. He held Jolyne in his arms.
"Yes, Mommy?" Jouta made sure to talk nicely.
"Where is your sister's hair?" Mommy asked, turning the baby around.
Jolyne smiled and waved at Jouta, her black hair had one mouse ear instead of two.
"I don't know." Jouta lied.
"Jouta, tell me the truth right now, or you're going to get punished." Mommy said.
"I don't know." Jouta repeated, he had to, or the lie wouldn’t become real.
"Is this because Daddy and Mommy said how much they liked Jolyne's hair? You shouldn't be jealous of the baby, Jouta, we love you just the same." Mommy asked.
Jouta wasn't jealous! He knew Mommy loved him. He just got mad looking at the hair sticking out of the top of Jolyne's head today.
"I don't know what happened." Jouta said, "Maybe it was my invisible friend."
"Your invisible friend wouldn't dare." Mommy said, "I'm going to give you one last chance, Jouta, did you cut Jolyne's hair?"
"No." Jouta lied again.
"Okay," Mommy looked sad, "It's time for your punishment, baby. Boys who cut their sister's hair and lie don't get to keep their scissors."
When Mommy turned to leave, Jouta raced after him.
"I need my scissors!" Jouta cried.
"Not if you used them to cut things you shouldn't." Mommy said.
Jouta grabbed Mommy's hand when he went to open Jouta's door.
"I didn't do it! Don't take my scissors!" Jouta said.
"I'm sorry, Jouta, but until Jolyne's hair grows back, you can't have your own scissors." Mommy said.
Jouta grabbed Mommy and hung on him, but it didn't stop him from going into Jouta's room. Why was everyone so much stronger than him? Jouta was only better than the baby.
"I can't knit without scissors!" Jouta said, "I can't make cards. I can't cut out shapes!"
"You should have thought of that before you cut Jolyne's hair." Mommy picked up the scissors from Jouta's desk, "Until you get these back, you have to ask me or Daddy anytime you need to cut your yarn or make something."
"No!" Jouta screamed.
"No, what?" Mommy frowned.
"No! No! No!" Jouta said.
"You have to say more than no, Jouta, or I won't understand." Mommy said, “I can’t read your mind.”
"Nooooo!" Jouta howled, beginning to cry.
He needed his scissors. He was knitting a new scarf, one big enough and long enough that Mommy and the baby could share it. It would take a long time to make and he didn't want Mommy to see it and Daddy couldn't keep a secret and he'd never get it done without scissors!
"I know you're upset, Jouta-" Mommy tried to speak over him, but Jouta just kept telling him no.
"I'm not going to stand here and take this abuse, Jouta." Mommy snorted, "Think about what words you want to use and come tell me when you find them."
Mommy left, talking quietly to the baby. Everyone thought that baby was so cute all the time. Mommy only ever wanted to snuggle with the baby. That's why Jouta was going to make the scarf. He reached under his bed and pulled out his knitting box. He had lots of pretty green yarn, and it was soft and warm, and now it was all ruined.
"Jouta."
He rolled over in bed.
"It's dinner time, son, aren't you hungry? Mommy said you didn't eat lunch."
Daddy came into his room even though Jouta hated when he came in his room. Mommy and Daddy never listened to him.
"Go away." Jouta said.
"Mommy said you were upset." Daddy walked closer.
"Go. Away. Daddy." Jouta said.
"Can't tell me, either?" Daddy sighed, "I thought for sure it was a special project for Mommy, that's why you were upset about the scissors and couldn't tell him."
Jouta peeked at Daddy. How had he guessed?
"Mommy is very good at ruining surprises." Daddy said.
"I wanted to knit him and the baby a scarf." Jouta mumbled.
"A present, huh." Daddy said.
"Yes." Jouta's lip poked out, thinking about how ruined it was now.
"I can help you." Daddy said, "But you will have to wait until I'm home from school now that I'm working again. Hmm.” He was quiet for a little bit, “How about this, Jouta, if it's for your present, you can go into my office and borrow my scissors from my desk. But only if it's for knitting the present. If you cut anything else, I'll have to tell your secret."
Jouta thought about it. He could go into Daddy's office, where the fish lived, and he could still get to make the scarf? This seemed too good to be true. But he couldn't figure out why Daddy was being so nice. It had to be a trick.
"You'll have to be really sneaky." Daddy added, "I don't know if you could pull it off, actually."
"Nuh-uh! I can do it! I'm like a ninja!" Jouta insisted.
"Really?" Daddy gave him a look that said he didn't believe him.
"Yes!" Jouta said.
"Then it's a deal." Daddy put out his hand.
Jouta looked at him, why did he stick out his hand?
"When you make a deal, you shake hands." Daddy said.
Jouta shook his Daddy's hand, but it was a trick, because Daddy picked him up at the end.
"Hey!" Jouta shouted.
"Now, come downstairs and have dinner. Mommy and Jolyne miss you." Daddy said, putting Jouta over his shoulder.
"Put me down!" Jouta pretended to complain the whole way, but it was actually kinda fun when Daddy carried him.
Plus, he was happy, he could still make Mommy's scarf. He only kicked Daddy a couple of times.
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Daddy blocked the way with his stupidly big body. And Jouta couldn't push him because he was holding the baby.
"Mommy is sleeping, let's let him rest, Jouta." Daddy said.
Jouta hated being told what to do. He was big, big enough to do what he wanted, and he wanted to see Mommy.
"Why don't we all sit in the living room and you can read Jolyne a book?" Daddy said.
"Fine…" Jouta grumbled, stomping down the hall.
Daddy was walking really slow for some reason, so he had plenty of time to pick the right book. He didn't like any of the baby's books, so he picked one of his favorites. It was best when Mommy read it, but he was second best.
"Daddy!" Jouta called, climbing up on the couch in wait.
"I had to change the baby's diaper." Daddy said, finally arriving.
Jouta's nose wrinkled, very glad he hadn't been forced to help. She was small, but Jolyne could make big messes.
"Give me the baby." Jouta demanded.
"If you're reading, you need the book. I'll hold Jolyne. Do you want to sit in my lap, too?" Daddy asked.
"No." Jouta was shocked, he never sat in Daddy's lap! "Sit next to me, but don't touch me. Sit down!"
With one of his sighs, he was always sighing and Jouta was sure Daddy had a leak, Daddy sat down on the couch. The entire seat caved in. Daddy was too big.
"What book did you choose?" Daddy asked.
Jouta showed him.
"They All Saw a Cat, again, huh." Daddy said as he settled the baby.
Jolyne blinked at Jouta, Daddy holding her up with one hand. That was one of the good things about Daddy's bigness, he could hold up the baby right. Jouta had a hard time doing that.
"Hi, Jolyne." Jouta said.
Jolyne smiled at him, slobber dripping down her chin. She was so gross sometimes. It made her kinda cool.
"I'm going to read this, Jolyne, so you have to listen really good." Jouta told her, showing her the book as Daddy wiped her face.
Jolyne kept looking at him instead of the book, until he opened it up and began to read, "The cat walked through the world,"
Jolyne interrupted with a laugh.
"That's not the funny part." Jouta frowned.
"She is happy you're talking to her." Daddy said, "Isn't that right, Jolyne?"
The baby dripped more drool. Daddy and Mommy were always saying things like Jolyne had a brain, but it hadn't grown in yet. Just like her teeth.
"How long is she going to be this stupid?" Jouta asked.
"Jolyne isn't stupid, Jouta, she's a baby." Daddy said.
"But she doesn't know anything, that's stupid." Jouta said.
"I thought we understood that calling people stupid was supposed to stop." Daddy's eyebrows pinched, and Jouta knew that meant he was winning against him, "Please, do not call your sister stupid."
"But she is! She can't talk, she can't walk! She can't even sit up!" Jouta pointed out, "She's stupid!"
"Jouta!" Daddy growled, "Do not call your sister stupid. This is not a request."
"Is she stupid because she's just like you?" Jouta asked.
Daddy stood up, "That's it, Jouta, I warned you twice, you're going to your room."
"I didn't even get to finish my book!" Jouta screamed, "That's not fair! I'm just telling the truth!"
"You can take your book with you and read it in your room." Daddy said.
"Nooooo! It's not fair! I was supposed to read it to the baby-eeeeEEEE!" He screamed louder.
Jolyne's lip trembled seeing him mad and began crying. She understood!
"Jouta, I asked you not to call your sister names and you did it anyway." Daddy took his arm and dragged him into the hall.
Jouta went limp, but Daddy had no problem picking him up. It wasn't fair. And he made sure Daddy knew it wasn't fair. Daddy never cared, but Jouta needed him to know.
"When you calm down, we can talk about what you did wrong, Jouta." Daddy said over Jouta and Jolyne, before he closed the door.
Jouta threw his book at the door, leaving a nice hole. He hadn't done anything wrong. He was so mad, he had to scream into his pillow until his throat hurt.
"Stupid Daddy! Stupid baby!" He yelled.
Jouta had finished his book and gotten bored of all his toys before the door opened again.
"I don't want to talk to you!" He shouted.
"You don't?" Mommy had come instead of Daddy.
"Mommy!" Jouta tackled him in a hug.
"Let's sit and talk, Jouta." Mommy said as they hugged.
Jouta hung his head and went back to his bed. Daddy had told lies to make Mommy mad at him. Now he was going to get in trouble.
"So," Mommy said as he got comfortable, "Why did you call your little sister stupid?"
"Because she is." Jouta pouted.
"Jouta, you and Jolyne are siblings. Siblings means you are brother and sister." Mommy explained, "I never had a sibling, but even I know that big brothers like you are supposed to always be nice to their little sisters."
"Why?" Jouta asked.
"Because you'll always be bigger than her." Mommy answered.
"So?" Jouta said.
"Jouta, do you remember when those two boys were mean to you after school?" Mommy asked.
Jouta frowned. They had called him names and pushed him. When he got mad, they had tripped him and sat on him and made him eat dirt.
"Daddy called them bullies." Jouta remembered.
"Yes, when someone bigger is mean to someone smaller, they are a bully." Mommy nodded.
"Daddy is a bully." Jouta said.
"He is not. Daddy loves you very much." Mommy said, "I want you to tell me how you would feel if those boys did to Jolyne what they did to you."
That upset him, "I would be mad!"
"Of course you would be." Mommy said, putting his arm around him, "Because big brothers are always nice to their little sisters. You know stupid is a mean word, Jouta, so why did you call your sister stupid?"
"Because Daddy told me not to and I wanted to see you but he wouldn't let me, he made me read a book to Jolyne and she wouldn't listen and Daddy wouldn't listen and then Daddy made me have a time out!" Jouta told.
"I see." Mommy said, giving him another hug, "You were upset."
"Uh-huh." Jouta agreed.
"Being upset is no excuse for being mean, you know that." Mommy said.
Jouta nodded.
"So, you're going to go tell Jolyne you're sorry for calling her a mean name-"
"But she's a baby, she doesn't even know what it means!" Jouta interrupted.
"It was wrong, and you're going to apologize to Jolyne and Daddy." Mommy said.
Jouta couldn't say no to Mommy. Mommy was the best and Jouta hated to make him upset.
"Okay." Jouta said.
"Then, you can read your book to Jolyne if you still want while Daddy finishes making dinner." Mommy said.
"Can you read it to both of us?" Jouta asked.
"If that's what you want, darling."
Mommy reading time was amazing, even with the baby sharing his lap. Maybe Jouta could apologize if that was what he'd get at the end.
"I want to talk to the baby first." Jouta said.
Mommy chuckled and kissed him on the head, "Daddy first."
"Why?" Jouta complained.
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Jolyne had been around for a while now. She was still cute, even if she sometimes grabbed his hair. Jouta tried very hard to not get mad at her, but all she did was go 'dah-dah-dah' and 'jha-jha' all the time instead of listening when he talked to her. Mommy said Jolyne was going to speak any day now, but Jouta didn't think she would learn to walk or speak. She just crawled around and bumped her head on things, or slobbered on them. A puppy would be better. The best thing Jolyne did was scream at Daddy and make him walk her all around the house all the time so Jouta could stay with Mommy alone. Jouta knew he hadn't been as annoying as that, Mommy said he was a perfect baby.
"Jha-jha!" Jolyne said from her playpen.
Jouta looked up from his coloring book and found Jolyne was waving her arms at him again. She was smiling, too, and since her teeth came in, that was creepy. He stood up.
"What is it, Jolyne?" Jouta asked the baby.
She repeated herself over and over, laughing at him. In one hand she had her butterfly wand, and it jingled like crazy as she wiggled around.
"Having fun with the baby, Jouta?" Mommy came back into the room.
"No." Jouta answered.
"Jolyne looks like she's having lots of fun with you." Mommy laughed at Jolyne's creepy smile.
Jolyne changed her noises, but it wasn't 'mama.' Mommy and Daddy wanted Jolyne to say their names, but she wouldn't. Mommy picked up the baby with a silly hum and Jolyne laughed more.
"What a wonderful girl, yes, you're a beauty aren't you? My Jolyne. Littlest JoJo." Mommy babbled at her.
It didn't matter what you said to the baby, she didn't know anything. She would just look at you with Daddy’s eyes.
“Did I say Mommy first?” Jouta asked.
“No.” Mommy answered, “Your first word was no. You were crying and you told Daddy no.”
Jouta was sure that was a lie, his first word had to have been ‘Mommy.’ Why would he talk to Daddy first, he wasn’t that stupid, he had been smart all his life.
"Jouta, it's almost dinnertime, please clean up and wash your hands." Mommy said.
"Daddy isn't home yet." Jouta pointed out.
"Daddy is going to be a little late." Mommy said, "I'm going to go change Jolyne and I know you're a big boy who can pick up his crayons."
"Okay." Jouta dutifully said, "I have to go potty."
"I guess we'll all go upstairs, then." Mommy shifted Jolyne so Jouta could take one of his hands.
Going with Mommy meant Jouta didn't have to clean up his crayons.
"I just want rice." Jouta demanded.
"Jouta, you won't grow big on rice." Mommy said as he locked Jolyne into her highchair, "Remember? The doctor said you need lots of different foods to get taller."
"And milk." Jouta added, "Rice and milk. Please, Mommy, that's all I want. Please!"
"You're going to try and have some curry. I made it sweet just like you like it." Mommy said.
"Mommy-"
"I'm not fighting with you about it, Jouta." Mommy didn't let him talk.
Jouta crossed his arms and made a 'Daddy face' where his eyebrows tried to touch.
"You like curry." Mommy reminded him.
He did like curry, but he couldn't say it if Mommy said it first!
"Jha-Ja!" Jolyne pounded on her chair table.
"Jolyne doesn't like it when her big brother scowls." Mommy said.
Jouta looked over at the baby and she smiled at him again.
"What do you want, Jolyne?" He grumbled at her.
"Johda!" Jolyne said, then slower she added, "Johta! Jouta!"
"Oh my god!" Mommy shouted, "She said your name Jouta! Jolyne's first word was your name!"
"It was?" Jouta stood in his chair, "Me, Jolyne? Jouta?"
"Jouta!" Jolyne repeated, laughing, "Jah-da Jouta."
"That's right, Jolyne! Jouta!" Jouta threw his arms in the air, “That’s me!”
"Jouta!" Mommy said, too, picking up the baby and bouncing her happily.
"Jouta! Jouta!" They all said, dancing around the kitchen table.
This was the best day ever. Then, Daddy came home and ruined it.
"What's going on?" Daddy asked.
"Jolyne, tell Daddy what you said." Mommy carried the baby over to him.
Jolyne took one look at Daddy and started crying until he gave her a hug. Mommy had to help Daddy take off his coat because Jolyne grabbed him so hard.
"Jolyne's first word was my name!" Jouta told him instead, to make him crazy that Jolyne didn’t love him.
"Yeah." Daddy nodded, rocking the baby.
"You're not surprised?" Mommy asked.
"That's all she's been saying for a week." Daddy said.
"And you said nothing?" Mommy said.
"I guess it was more like 'johja' but she only said it to him. Jouta is Jolyne's favorite." Daddy said, "Right, Jolyne?"
Jolyne babbled into Daddy's shirt, smearing snot on him. That made Jouta feel a little better. Jolyne was a good sister sometimes.
"Curry for dinner? You saved some for me, I hope." Daddy asked, kissing the baby's head.
"No." Jouta got back into his seat and began eating so he could have seconds before Daddy was done with the baby. Less food for Daddy that way.
Daddy sighed as he put Jolyne back into her chair.
"How was work?" Mommy helped Daddy get a plate even though he didn't deserve any for being late.
"Jouta!" Jolyne shouted, she looked so happy when they all turned to her.
Jouta smiled at her and she smiled back.
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"Jouta!"
Jouta frowned and didn't answer.
"Play, Jouta! Jouta play Jolyne!" Jolyne called under his door.
Jolyne could walk now, but she fell over a lot, and her brain wasn't very big still. She wasn't even tall enough to reach the doorknob and open the door, and Jouta had been doing that forever. When he did open his door she stood there with her butterfly wand, wearing a coat and shoes.
"Play!" She repeated.
"I can't, Daddy put me in time out." Jouta told her, she didn't remember anything, either.
"Did you tell him, Jolyne?" Mommy's voice drifted down the hall.
"Jouta play!" Jolyne bopped him with her wand.
"She isn't telling me anything!" Jouta leaned out of his door, technically not leaving his room and breaking time out rules.
"Play where with Jouta, Jolyne?" Mommy came closer, wearing jeans instead of what he had on at breakfast.
"Park!" Jolyne exploded, knocking herself over.
"That's right." Mommy helped Jolyne up, "Jolyne is going to the park."
"Jouta!" Jolyne said.
"With Jouta." Mommy nodded, and Jolyne watched his curly dangle hair bounce around, "And Mommy and Daddy."
"Mommydaddy!" Jolyne said.
"I can come out of time out?" Jouta asked.
"Yes, darling, we're going to go have a picnic. Daddy's school starts soon, we're going to spend more time with him until then." Mommy explained.
Jouta used to be excited about school starting again because that meant he got to spend all the time with Mommy, but now he had to go to school too and the baby would get all of Mommy's time. Jolyne made everything different.
"Do we have to go with Daddy?" Jouta asked.
"Yes." Mommy answered, "Let me brush your hair."
Jouta held Jolyne, she was getting very heavy but he had enough muscles to still lift her, while Mommy brushed his hair flat. Then he picked a hat and raced down the hall to open the baby gate for them. The one at the top of the stairs was the trickiest one to open. They had to buy it because Jolyne sometimes opened the one to the kitchen when no one was looking. Jouta wanted to set up a camera and see her be bad but he had to wait for his birthday to get one. His grandpas and his uncles always gave him really cool gifts and he told them all he wanted a camera.
Daddy was waiting for them, and he looked just as angry as he had when he'd put Jouta in time out. He'd been a grouch for days . Staying in his office all the time. Mommy handed the baby to him and Jolyne smacked him with her wand a lot. That made Jouta happy.
"Shoes and coats." Mommy said, sitting down with Jouta to help him.
"I can do it." Jouta put on his own shoes.
He'd learned how to tie them. Sometimes he forgot. Not today.
"Very good." Mommy said as she helped him with his coat.
"Let's go!" Jouta bounced.
"Daddy needs his shoes."
The baby was passed back and Daddy took forever to tie his shoes. Jouta was so much faster than that. He'd be better than Daddy at cooking soon, too, and then they could live without him.
The walk to the park was short, they went all the time. It had grass, a swing, a slide, and a bouncy horse. Jouta had to help Jolyne on the slide and Mommy caught them both at the bottom while Daddy laid on the blanket with his hat over his eyes.
When it was time to eat, Mommy whispered something in Jolyne's ear and let her go.
"Daddddiiiiiii!" Jolyne screamed as she ran and jumped on Daddy elbows first.
"Oof!" Daddy sat upright, his hat falling off.
"Eat!" Jolyne said.
"Time to eat, Jolyne?" Daddy gave her his hat.
Jolyne hummed happily.
"Jolyne, take off that stinky hat!" Jouta told the baby.
Daddy sighed and put his hat back on, he looked weird without his hat anyway.
"Can we go play more?" Jouta asked.
"You're both done eating?" Mommy asked.
"Yes!"
"Done!"
"Okay, but only right here where we can see you." Mommy agreed.
"I'll clean up, Nori, go with them." Daddy said.
"It will only take us a minute." Mommy said, "Jouta watch your sister closely."
"Yes, Mommy." Jouta took Jolyne's hand.
"He's not big enough to watch her." Daddy said.
"Then clean up faster." Mommy said.
Jouta led his sister to the wood chips and showed her the outside piano, but she watched him instead.
"Jump!" Jolyne cheered, "Jump!"
Jouta had practiced jumping on the spinning seats lots, it made his legs strong, but sometimes he fell off. This time, Jolyne whined when he did, but when he stood up, he saw she wasn't worried about him. Jolyne had spotted a strange dog.
Jouta liked dogs. But one time Iggy came to visit with Uncle Pol and growled at Jolyne and she'd been scared and now she hated dogs. Jouta didn't blame her, Iggy was a scary doggy sometimes.
"It's okay, Jolyne." Jouta told her.
But the dog came closer and she screamed. The dog's ears went up and it barked. Jolyne cried harder. Jouta picked Jolyne up.
"Jouta. Jouta." Jolyne cried.
The dog's ears went down and Jouta was beginning to get scared, too. Jouta would protect the baby. He was the big brother.
"It's okay, Jolyne." Jouta repeated as the dog ran at them.
"Jouta! Jolyne!" Daddy's voice called.
The dog's teeth were sharp. It was going to tear Jouta's arm off, but he would lose it for Jolyne. The dog would take her head off and then she would be dead. Jouta didn't want Jolyne to be dead.
A flutter of white fell over Jouta and Jolyne. The dog kept growling, but it didn't bite Jouta or Jolyne.
"Jotaro!" Mommy called.
"Get the kids safe!" Daddy ordered.
Mommy's arms lifted Jouta and Jolyne and they moved really fast. Jolyne was crying so hard Jouta thought she was going to barf. It was Daddy's coat that was wrapped around them. When they stopped, the dog didn’t sound very far away.
"Here's my babies." Mommy uncovered them.
He was smiling, but he was crying, too. His hair was messy.
"Mommy!" Jouta couldn't help crying, either, "I was protecting baby. I was protecting Jolyne!"
"You were, my brave little man." Mommy said and kissed both of them on the head and held them closer.
Jolyne threw up all over Daddy's jacket and screamed.
"Don't cry, Jolyne, it's okay, the doggy is gone." Mommy balled up Daddy's jacket and dropped it on the ground.
"Daddy's going to be mad you messed up his jacket." Jouta told his sister.
Jolyne's eyes went wide.
"No, Daddy's not going to be mad at Jolyne." Mommy said.
"He's going to be mad at me for not watching Jolyne." Jouta said.
"No, Jouta, Daddy's not going to be mad at either of you." Mommy hugged them very tightly.
Jolyne began crying again and Mommy had to stop her from throwing up. Jouta could see over Mommy's shoulder when he rocked the baby back and forth. The dog was gone, but Daddy was yelling at someone. So, he was mad. Then Jouta saw Daddy was bleeding. The dog had taken Daddy's arm instead! Daddy lost an arm and it was all his fault.
Jouta had given Jolyne his potekoro to hug. She always wanted to steal his stuff, and that one was her favorite. Jouta hugged Jolyne. She was sucking on her binky and getting slime on the stuffy in her arms but that was okay, it was a special day. Daddy was at the hospital with a missing arm and Mommy had left to bring him home. Daddy wouldn't be able to hold Jolyne anymore and that was what she liked most. Jouta had ruined that.
"Mommydaddy." Jolyne said quietly.
Jouta patted her hair like Mommy always did for him.
"Are you two okay in here?" Grandma Holly came from the kitchen with snacks, "Oh my, still snuggled up."
Jouta didn't want Grandma's snacks, and Jolyne whined when she tried to pick her up.
"I guess she's staying with her big brother." Grandma said, "Since you protected her, she must be feeling very safe with you, Jouta."
Jouta petted Jolyne's hair some more, pretending it was for Jolyne, but it made him feel better, too. Her hair was long again, and very soft.
Grandma had been at their house since they left the park. Mommy had called her. Jouta loved Grandma, but she couldn't make him smile this time. Jolyne fell asleep in Jouta's arms and Grandma let her sleep on the couch after Jouta promised to watch her carefully. Jouta tried to watch her, but he fell asleep, too.
The sound of the door opening woke him.
"Welcome back." Grandma said.
"Thank you for watching the kids." Mommy's voice was next.
"Forget it! How did things go?"
Jouta slid into the hall just as Daddy was turning around from shutting the door.
"Jouta?" Mommy was surprised at his rush.
There was a big bandage, but Daddy's arm was still there.
"Did they put it back on?" Jouta asked, grabbing Daddy's hand.
"What?" Mommy asked.
"Daddy, did they have to put your arm back on?" Jouta asked.
"It was just a bite, Jouta." Daddy said.
"Just a bite?" He couldn't believe it, "With that much blood? All those teeth?"
Daddy nodded.
"I'm so glad!" Jouta shouted and let Daddy hug him when he started to cry.
"They were both very worried." Grandma said.
"The hospital insisted on running some liquid antibiotics after they stitched him up." Mommy said quietly, but Jouta heard it all, "Because dog bites get infected very easily. Luckily he got his tetanus booster recently, but he will have to get a round of rabies shots."
"I'll have to stay a while and help out, then." Grandma said.
"You don't have to, Mom."
"We'll appreciate it."
Daddy and Mommy said over top of one another.
There was a noise from the living room. An almost cry.
"Jolyne." Mommy said and rushed to the baby.
Jouta let Daddy carry him as they followed. As soon as Jolyne saw Daddy, her binky popped out of her mouth.
"Daddydaddy." She whined.
"I can hold her for you, Daddy." Jouta offered.
"I'll do it, Jouta." Mommy said.
Jouta and the baby were squished between Mommy and Daddy in a big hug. Jouta decided even with Jolyne and Daddy, they were the right size family.