Sophie was three years old, and she had a stuffed elephant named Peanut. Peanut was gray and squishy, with a blue bow around his neck. A few days ago, someone very small had come home: her baby brother, Max.
Max was teeny-tiny, smelled like milk and slept almost all the time. But whenever he was awake, everyone looked at him. Grandma and Grandpa came to visit and said, “What a beautiful baby!”
Mom held him, Dad gave him his bath, and Grandma tickled his toes. Sophie watched from the rug, hugging Peanut. She had a funny feeling in her tummy, like a tight little knot.
“Mom, can we play kitchen?” she asked one morning. “Not right now, sweetie. Max is hungry,” Mom said. Sophie wrinkled her nose and crossed her arms really tight.
“Then send Max back into your tummy!” she grumbled. Mom didn't get upset. She sat down next to her and stroked her curls. “Sometimes it's hard to share Mom, isn't it?” she said softly.
Sophie nodded, her eyes a little shiny.
That afternoon, Max woke up from his nap crying. He cried and cried, his face as red as a tomato. Mom rocked him, Dad sang to him, but Max wouldn't calm down.
Sophie covered her ears. Then she looked at Peanut. Whenever she felt sad, Peanut always helped her. So she walked over to the crib, slowly, on her tiptoes.
She held Peanut over the rail and wiggled him very gently. And she softly sang her favorite song: “Hush now, little one, the moon is here to kiss you, too.” Max opened his eyes, looked at the gray trunk… and went quiet.
Then something wonderful happened: Max smiled. It was his very first smile, and it was for Sophie. “Mom! Max smiled at me!” Sophie whispered, so excited.
Mom knelt down and hugged her tight, with Max close by. “You're his big sister,” she said. “He's known your voice since he was in my tummy.” Sophie gave Max her finger, and he squeezed it. It was soft and warm.
The knot in her tummy was gone, quiet as can be.
That night, when Max was asleep, Mom came into Sophie's room. “This time is just for us,” she said, and lay down beside her with a book. Sophie snuggled up to Mom, with Peanut tucked under her chin.
And before she closed her eyes, she hummed Max's song very softly. Goodnight, Sophie…
