Kyra Leigh stretched then, unballing her body. She made a tiny fist, which she pointed into the air. Then she twisted her back a little and lifted her head. She gave a huge yawn, for something so small, and settled back to sleep on Mom.
“Oh,” I said. That had to be the cutest thing I had ever seen in my entire life. “Oh.”
“Laurie,” Mom said.
“You're awake.” Now was a good time to tell her about the drool. But she found it herself and wiped it away with the sleeve of her shirt.
There was a knock at the door.
“Visitors,” I said. “Wipe your mouth again. There's some spit right here.” I dabbed at my own face to show Mom where. “I'll get the door.”
“All right, honey,” Mom said. She tightened her hold on Kyra Leigh and sat up to face company.
It was Mary. And Christian.
“Laura,” Mary said, and she gave me a hug. “Can we see Kyra Leigh?”
“Of course,” I said. “Even you can, Christian.”
“Oh, thanks,” he said, and gave me a smile.
The three of us went into the living room.
“Ooooh.” Mary's voice was a squeak. “She's so cute. Oh, Mrs. Stephan, she's so cute.”
Again Kyra Leigh stretched. She blinked a few times, then she nuzzled at Mom.
“Here comes my milk,” Mom said. “Feeding time. Laura, would you get me that blanket?”
I couldn't move. Surely my mother was not planning to nurse right here in front of my friends. Surely “Here comes my milk” was all the embarrassment I'd be getting for the day. Please, let it be so.
“Here you are, Mrs. Stephan,” Christian said. He handed her the blanket, all the while looking out a side window.
“Mom?” I said.
“She's such an adorable baby,” Mary said.
“Don't,” I said. I leaned toward my mother and whispered, “Not now. No nursing now.”
“Laurie,” Mom said, a smile on her face, her voice loud. “This is what breasts were made for. Feeding our young.” What was she doing? A TV documentary?
“Oh.” I turned to my two friends. “Let's go play some basketball,” I said. “Quick.”
“Yeah,” Christian said, and he was gone.
“See you later, Mrs. Stephan,” Mary said.
Mom waved to my friends. I hurried after them. “I love you, Laurie.”
I stopped in the living room doorway and looked back at my mother. “I love you, too,” I said. “Boobs and all.”
And I meant it.
things to help my mother do better on
1. public drooling
2. public nursing
3. hosting her own NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC documentaries
About the Author
Carol Lynch Williams is the author of seven books for young readers, including The True Colors of Caitlynne Jackson, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, an ALA Quick Pick and winner of the Golden Sower Award. Her most recent books for Delacorte Press are Carolina Autumn, selected by Bank Street College for its Best Children's Books of the Year list and by the New York Public Library for its Books for the Teen Age list, and If I Forget, You Remember, an NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies. A four-time winner of the Utah Original Writing Competition, Carol Lynch Williams lives in Springville, Utah, with her husband and their five daughters.
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Copyright © 2002 by Carol Lynch Williams
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eISBN: 978-0-307-48842-8
v3.0
A Mother to Embarrass Me Page 9