Red Bull and Cupcake Batter

“Francey, guess what?”

The three-year-old placidly ignored her parents, choosing instead to continue chewing on her stuffed platypus’s ear. Her mother sighed and took the toy away. “Francey, guess what?” Lilah repeated.

Francey frowned. “Mine,” she said, reaching for the platypus.

Jack swooped his small daughter up and set her on his lap. “Frances, my love,” he said, bouncing her on his knee. “How would you like a baby to play with? Maybe in February?”

Francey raised an eyebrow. “I wanna baby sister,” she announced.

Lilah looked at her husband. “Um…how about a little brother, Baby?” she offered. She smoothed Francey’s short black curls. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a little baby brother?”

She shook her head. “Nah-uh,” she said. “I wanna a baby sister.” She brightened. “Or a puppy?”

Jack glanced at his wife, already six months pregnant with a little boy, and sighed. “Well, at least we still have a few months to get her used to the idea?” he offered.

Lilah got up from the couch, her hand on her belly. “You handle this,” she huffed. “I’m going to go watch Pretty in Pink.”

“Again?” Jack said. “That’s the third time this month!”