October Exclusive - "Bobbing" - Part 4

FOUR

They fall asleep in each other’s arms. No bedtime story, no lonely snowman or Snow White. It’s already so late, such a special night, but they must get their sleep, they don’t want to be grouchy at nursery tomorrow, do they?

Robin looks at his sister in the illumination afforded by a twinkling nightlight. “You did it,” he whispers, now that Mum has delivered her goodnight kisses and left the room. Yoo diddih.

Lucy could frown with confusion, she could deflect. Instead, she provides her own kiss, damp lips on Robin’s cheek, and then she says, “Starting again.” Her diction isn’t much better than her brother’s, but the meaning is understood.

Special treat, to sleep in the same bed? Hardly. Mum jokes, why did she bother buying two? There will come a time of course, an age where this sibling snuggling isn’t appropriate. But tonight, that time hasn’t come. Tonight, it isn’t even close.

Lucy wears her Paw Patrol costume to bed. It’s pretty much a pyjama set anyway. The hood is pulled off, so she doesn’t get too warm, so her hair and head can breathe. And Robin, after a nappy change, is happy to be back in his unicorn onesie, with the hood removed just like his big sister.

They hold each other, and Lucy whispers, “You choose.” Her nose wrinkles and it’s obvious she’s working hard to for the sentences and enunciate as she says, “You can turn back if you want to. ‘Cause maybe you don’t like it.”

Robin open his mouth, but the reply stalls in his throat. What should he do? What does he want? Does he join his sister in this new life, in a fantasy that Lucy has managed to create around them, that will apparently hold and be real for everyone?

He can hold both worlds in his head – they seem to bob up and down like apples, taking turns to feel more real – and maybe that’s what Lucy can do, holding her brother so he can see both sides.

Lucy giggles. She kisses him again. “You don’t have to decide right now. You can sleep on it.” She strokes his hair and says, almost sings, “Sleepy unicorn.”

Robin smiles. He closes his eyes. Big sister’s right; it can all wait until morning.

THE END

“His mum wants him to attend his aunties Halloween party with her and his toddler sister. He said he is too old for that now. But after an accident bobbing for apples his mum may need to borrow a pretty Halloween outfit from his auntie, and to be put in a nappy just like his sister ready to toddle off and trick or treat!” – Waynee