Since they didn’t Nora had made friends with most of the 200 people who did live in her building If only there were more children she thought Except for Nora who was seven and her little brother Teddy who was five the only other child in the whole building was Russell He lived on the second floor and was four years old Despite their different ages the three children were good friends Living in the same building meant that even when the weather was bad or Mommy and Daddy were too busy to take them outside they could play together One day Nora noticed that Russell’s mother Mrs Michaels was getting very fat She saw a button pop off Mrs Michaels blouse when she and Teddy were 10
having lunch in Russell’s apartment She had been taught that it was not polite to comment on such things so she didn’t say anything at the time But later when she was back in her own apartment she said to her mother Mrs Michaels is getting awfully fat You’re right said Mommy But she isn’t really fat She is growing a baby inside her Soon Russell will have a new brother or sister I hope it’s a sister said Nora delighted No no said Teddy I hope it’s a by the revelation brother It will be a sister because I said it first claimed Nora And besides we already have two boys in our building and only one girl If Russell gets a sister there will 11
be two girls and two boys Mommy laughed Nobody will know till the new baby is born and that won’t be until next month The next several days the children thought about possible names for the new baby They called out suggestions whenever they thought of them as if they were guessing the secret identity of Rumpelstiltskin How about Snow White because there is snow on the ground offered Nora That snow is dirty said Teddy looking looking out the window The baby should be named George Washington because that is a famous name Now that she knew about the baby growing inside Mrs Michaels Nora was 12
terribly impatient for it to come out A month seemed a long time to wait for a baby It was like waiting for your birthday and as Mommy pointed out it was exactly that waiting for a birth day One Sunday morning Nora and Teddy woke up to discover that there was a strange bundle of blankets in the middle of their bedroom floor A small head was poking from it Russell You came to play early shouted Teddy with delight This was a wonderful surprise Russell woke rubbing his eyes He seemed surprised too just as surprised as Nora and Teddy Then the bedroom door opened It was Mommy with a big smile on her face She 13
