The Potty Stick

Elijah woke up before the sun, which was strange, because Eli was only two and usually only woke up when something loud or bright or sticky told him to. But this morning his eyes popped open all by themselves. His room was still dark-blue and soft, with Super Mario everywhere. There was a poster of Mario jumping on the wall, little Mario's racing on his blanket, and even a Mario smiling from the nightlight like a tiny glowing coin. Nothing about his room looked different... but something felt different.

Eli didn’t have a word for the feeling, but he thought it was like waiting for a bubble to pop. He sat up, his dirty-blonde hair sticking out like little surprised branches and blinked at his Yoshi the plush on the floor. Yoshi stared back, not saying anything helpful. He slid out of bed and toddled into the hallway. His feet made soft little thumps on the carpet. The house was quiet.

Izzy was already awake too. That was even more strange. Izzy was four and usually slept like a rock in a cave. But she was sitting outside her room, hugging her knees, eyes big and shiny.

“You feel it too?” she whispered.

Eli didn’t know what “it” was, but he nodded anyway.

Izzy nodded back, very serious. “Something’s happening.”

They sat together, listening to the house breathe until the bathroom door opened. Mom stepped out. Her hair was messy, her face pale and shiny like she’d been crying, but she was smiling. It was a big and weird smile that looked like it was trying to stay on her face but wasn’t sure how. In her hand was a stick. A plain little stick with a tiny window on it.

Izzy gasped. “Mom! Why you got a potty stick?” Mom laughed and covered her mouth. “Oh, Izzy. My Boo Berry. It’s… it’s not a potty stick. Eli stood up and toddled closer. He wanted to see the stick. He wanted to know why the air felt buzzy like the whole hallway was humming. Dad came rushing down the hall, still pulling on his shirt. “Is it…? Did you…?” Mom didn’t say yes. She didn’t say no. She just looked at Dad with eyes that were shiny and full and shaking.

Dad froze. Then he made a sound Eli had never heard before. It was like a laugh and a cry trying to come out at the same time. He wrapped his arms around Mom so tight she squeaked. Mom laughed again, and this time it sounded real. Izzy looked at Eli. Eli looked at Izzy. They still had no idea what was going on.

Mom and Dad hugged and cried and laughed all at once, like they were trying to feel every feeling in the world at the same time. Mom kept staring at the stick like it was magic. Dad kept whispering things Eli didn’t understand.

Izzy tugged on Mom’s shirt. “What’s happening? Why you crying happy?” Mom knelt down, still holding the stick. Her eyes were shiny and soft. “Because… I didn’t think this could ever happen again.” Izzy frowned. “What happen?” Mom touched her cheek. “Maybe something we didn’t think we’d get another chance at.”

Eli didn’t know what “chance” meant. He didn’t know about doctors or cancer or the heavy things grown ups carried around in their hearts. But he knew Mom looked different. She looked like she was glowing from the inside, like a nightlight that had gotten brighter.

Izzy leaned close to Eli and whispered, “I think it’s a baby thing.” Eli blinked. Babies were small and loud and sometimes smelled weird. But babies also meant soft blankets and tiny socks and everyone talking in gentle voices. Babies meant something new.

Dad scooped both kids into a hug, squeezing them between him and Mom. “Whatever happens,” he said, voice thick and warm, “you two are the best big brother and big sister anyone could ask for.” Izzy puffed out her chest proudly. Eli copied her, even though he wasn’t sure why. Mom kissed their heads. “Life… life surprises you,” she whispered. “Sometimes in ways you never thought possible.”

Eli didn’t understand the words. But he understood the feeling. The humming in the air. The bubble waiting to pop. Izzy looked at him again, eyes huge. “Something’s coming,” she whispered. Eli nodded. He didn’t know what. But he could feel it too. Mom and Dad hugged again, laughing and crying and holding the little stick like it was a treasure. Izzy and Eli stood side by side, watching the grown ups be strange and happy and confusing.

Izzy looked at Eli and shrugged. Eli shrugged back. They didn’t understand. But they were excited anyway.