6 Baby-Sized

(Jayce's point of view)

The ground starts shaking, but for only a second?

I must be hallucinating.

Then there's a voice.

"Jayce?"

"Oh, hey, Lola. Why aren't you eating breakfast? Where's your backpack? Come on, you can't miss school."

"Jayce, you can't baby me. I'm thirteen years old. And I'm in ninth grade!"

"And I'm your older brother, and I work!" I reply sarcastically.

"Plus, you're supposed to be in eighth grade, you're lucky you went to school early."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Blah, blah. Who even cares? I'm the youngest in my class yet I still get the best grades. Aha!" And she laughs.

This kid. Annoying.

"Hey, by the way, Jayce..... did you feel it too?"

I'm shocked. I thought I was hallucinating. The ground was shaking but for a second. Literally.

All that leaves my mouth is a quick 'what' and Lola seems as if she's changed her mind.

"Never mind. I'm probably just hungry. Let's go! Mom made pancakes, and I don't plan on leaving you any! Haha!" And she runs off.

"You little goof! I'll get you!" And I chase after her.

"Mom, save me!" She cant stop laughing. I just don't get her sometimes.

"Alright you two, sit your butts down and wait for your father to come downstairs. I'll get the milk and orange juice."

We both sit, but right before Mom finishes her sentence, Lola springs up and gets to the fridge. She fetched the milk in one hand and the orange juice in the other. I get up and bring cups to the table.

After we set our holdings, we beckon Mom to sit down.

She sits and then father appears at the door, holding a little baby I like to call my brother.

"Hey Dad! Hey Tommy!" Lola runs right up to them and kisses both on the cheek.

I fetch the baby chair and fix it near Mom's chair.

Lola takes Tommy from Dad's arms and swoops him in his chair.

All Dad does is chuckle, then he sits.

"Look at you guys, all grown up. You know Jayce, it wasn't very long ago when you were the size of Tommy." He can't stop smiling. We have this conversation everyday, yet none of us get bored of it.

"Dad, I'm nineteen. I think we both can agree, it's been nineteen years since I was Tommy's size." And we all laugh, even Tommy seems to giggle.

He's almost a year old. The nerve of him to be this cute.

"Dad, what about me? Don't I get any baby-sized compliments?"

"Oh, Lola, you were a little tinier when you were Tommy's age. Tell you what. When we're all home, let's have a little look at the family photo book. It'll bring up some memories." He smiles, the wrinkles near his eyes look just as happy.

"That's be fun, isn't that right Tommy?" Mom asks Tommy in the cutest way possible.

"Alright. I'm done. I'm gonna be late for work if I don't get my butt outside. Come on Lola, I'll walk you to school." The usual.

"Mom, Jayce has officially lost it. He wants to walk me to school." And she giggles as if I really did lose it.

"Lola, go with your brother. Maybe he wants to talk to you. Now shoo, shoo." She shoos is away and we both pick up our belongings and head out.

Lola's the first to speak after we leave the house.

"So you felt it too, huh?"

"Yep. I thought I was hallucinating."

"Same. Do ty think Mom and Dad felt it, too?"

"I don't know. If they did, they probably thought they were getting old." And we both chuckle.

"But, seriously, what do you think it was? It can't be an earthquake, it would've lasted longer."

"I don't know what it was. And you're right. But it's best if you don't say anything at school. Got it?"

"Yeah, I know. Anyways, we take different paths now. Goodbye, brother. 'Till we meet again." She says in a sarcastic and theatrical way.

"Ha, bye."

Our paths separate from here. She takes the one to the right, and I take the one to the left.

I wonder if anyone else felt the shaking too.

It's better not to bring it up anyways.

We all know what's going to happen if we do.