The Bundle

Mother went to the hospital. My sister Amie didn't understand why. "Where's Mummy going in that van? Is it bad?"
"No, Amie, she'll come home, and when she does, you'll have a new baby to play with!" Amie was still scared. At the time, I was eight, she was 4. My older brother Marcus was 12. He was watching us when Mom and Dad were at the Hospital. I remember the moment vividly. It's like a photo in my mind. Even though I portrayed that I knew everything would be okay, I wasn't so sure. A year after Amie was born, Mother had another baby, a stillbirth. And before Marcus, she had had a miscarrige. Mother didn't have much luck with babies, but Amie didn't know that. Marcus was not his usual happy, laughing self. Amie knew something was up.
Marcus said, "You want some Mac'n cheese for dinner." It was a statement we knew not to answer. He popped some Easy Mac in the microwave. Soon after we ate, Amie and I went to bed. Marcus was staying awake for phone calls.
Just after midnight, Marcus woke me up. "A healthy baby boy!" he hooted. We hugged. I was so, so happy. Then we agreed to tell Amie in the morning, but neither of us could sleep. We made a big banner for the baby, that said, WELCOME SPECIAL BUNDLE! We hung it over the door.
Soon, it was morning. Amie was up and asking. "Is Mummy back yet? When is she coming?" Finnally the questions slowed a bit and we told her the news. She laughed with joy. The baby was coming the next day. I called my best friend Sharyn and told her the good news. She was very happy, too. Sharyn came over to help with the nursery. We needed to put some final touches on it. Then Shar had to go home.
The baby was coming! I was antsy all day long. Finally I heard our old truck pull in! Amie quiety opened the door for them. The baby was wrapped in a blue blanket. When Mother showed him to me I was overwhelmed. He was so beautiful! Our parents said, "Marcus, you get to pick his first name because you were so good and watched your sisters. Elise, you and Amie get to choose the middle name for being so good. And we pick his third name.
Baby's name ended up being John Richard Miracle Jones.
We loved him to bits.