Explosions and Storks

Chapter One

IT WAS Milly's birthday and everyone in the house was all excited. Beebo was feeling left out. He was too little to help in the party preparations and too big to play with the babies.

"Beebo, will you stay out of our way until all the food is ready to be served?" said Mummy Biddy when Beebo went into the kitchen.

"Beebo? Son, I can't put up all the decorations if you keep playing with them! Now put them down and go help your mother," said Daddy Melville.

"But ..."

"No buts, son. Now go."

Beebo sat in his room where he would be out of everyone's way.

"I don't see what all the fuss is about. Milly's only a baby girl after all!"

Chapter Two

Beebo remembered a year ago when Milly first came into their lives.

Mummy Biddy had been having cravings. She wanted to eat all sorts of food -- chocolates, ice-cream, meats, chicken, pizza ....

For the past few months there was always a lot of food in the house and Beebo and Beezy had been enjoying all that food.

But Mummy didn't look well. Some days she wouldn't drive the bus. Some days she would be in the bathroom all morning. Beebo could hear her. She didn't sound well. But she always came out with a smile on her face. She'd pat Beebo on the head and say: "It's OK, Beebo. I'm fine. You're going to have a new baby brother or sister soon."

Beebo didn't understand what Mummy Biddy meant. He didn't understand at all. Mummy must not be well. Some days when she felt really bad, she would spend the whole day in bed.

And Mummy was awfully hungry all the time now. And she seemed to be getting fatter.

Daddy Melville tried explaining it to Beebo and Beezy. He sat the two boys down and said: "You know your mother and I love you very much. And we have decided to have another child. That means you're going to have a new baby brother or sister in a few months' time."

"But Daddy," interrupted Beebo, "who is this new baby and what do we call him and how will we know him, and where is he coming from and where has he been all this time ..."

"Hold on! Wait a second, Beebo. First of all we don't know if it's going to be a boy or a girl. Uh ... the ... uh... the stork will bring this new baby. One of these days, you'll come back from Kindy and you'll see your new baby brother or sister."

"I don't understand," said Beebo in wide-eyed wonder. Beezy just burped and went to the kitchen in search of the unfinished chocolate in the fridge.

Daddy Melville did not know how to explain it to his son. "It's OK, Beebo. You'll understand one day ..." said Daddy as he walked into the garden to sit with Mummy on the swing.

Mr Delili kept visiting the Beedle house with more meat and sausages and yummy food for Mummy to eat.

And Mummy ate and ate and ate and ate. And she grew fatter and fatter and fatter and fatter.

Weirdo and Weirdel, the Strange twins, disturbed Beebo about his Mummy's tummy.

"She's getting so faaaaaattttt. Yeah, your Mummy's getting soooooo faaaaattttt. Maybe she swallowed a balloon! Oh, she's bound to float up to the sky or what if she ... BOOOOMMMMM!!!! Explodes??!! Ha ha ha ha ..."

Beebo just bent his head and walked away. They were so unkind.

"But," thought Beebo, "what if Mummy really did float up into the sky or what if her tummy exploded ...?"

Beebo worried about these things. And one night he had a nightmare!

Chapter Three

In Beebo's nightmare, he saw Mr Delili. He kept feeding Mummy and her tummy continued to grow and grow and grow.

And the Strange children were laughing at Beebo and his Mummy and her tummy.

KABOOOM!!!!

It was Mummy's tummy! It had exploded and there were two children sitting on Mummy's lap.

"A brother and a sister for you," said Daddy. Beebo looked at the boy and girl. It was Weirdo and Weirdel!!

They were to be his new brother and sister? Is that what Daddy was trying to explain?! AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

He woke up from his nightmare and ran to Mummy and Daddy's room. But they weren't there.

Chapter Four

Mummy Biddy and Daddy Melville had gone to the hospital with the mayor Dr Whoopee. And Peeper and his mum Auntie Pooper were in Beebo's house.

It was great having Peeper sleep over but Beebo didn't understand why Mummy and Daddy had to go to the hospital when the stork was coming to bring the new baby.

A few days later Mummy and Daddy came back home. And guess what? They brought the new baby. The stork must have known they were in the hospital and took the baby there instead of coming directly to the house. And best of all, Mummy didn't look so fat anymore.

"Did Mummy's tummy explode?"

Nobody answered Beebo's question. They just laughed at him. And everyone loved the new baby ... including Beebo.

She was so cute and soft, and best of all she didn't look anything like Weirdo and Weirdel. And they named her Milly.

As Beebo looked at her, she cried out: "Beeeee-boooohhhhh!! Beeee-boooohhhh!!"

Chapter Five

Beebo awoke with a start. It wasn't Milly calling him after all. He had dozed off and remembered what had happened a year ago when Milly had joined their family.

And now Mummy was calling Beebo to join in Milly's first birthday party.

"Beebo, wake up, son. We can't have a party without you. You know, you're a very important person at this party. You're Milly's big brother. You have to take care of her and look out for her and protect her. Don't let anyone harm Milly.

"You'll always be her big brother. And big brothers take care of little sisters. Remember that!"

Chapter Six

Beebo joined the party with a huge smile on his face. And he never left Milly's side that day. He was on guard. He had to protect her from anyone and everyone who might want to harm her, not that anyone at the party wanted to hurt sweet little Milly.

He enjoyed his new duty.

Everyone had a fine time at the party. Beezy enjoyed the food. Mummy and Daddy glowed with happiness at seeing all their children playing happily. Dr Whoopee made funny faces and tried to make the children laugh. But they were too afraid of him to laugh at his funny faces. Mr Delili brought and ate most of the food.

And Milly cried, "Waaaahhhhh!!!" And Beebo saw to it that nobody bullied his little sister.