The morning sun had barely broken through the curtains when Cutis stirred awake. The little boy rubbed his eyes and yawned, feeling the warm weight of Baby Monkey curled up against his side. It was unusual—Baby Monkey was usually bouncing around by now, eager to start the day. But today, both of them seemed strangely still, as though sensing something in the air.
From the kitchen came faint clattering sounds, mixed with soft humming. It was Mom, moving slowly, almost deliberately, as if she didn’t want to wake them. Cutis sat up, frowning. Something felt… different.
“Hey, Baby Monkey,” Cutis whispered, giving the small furry shoulder a gentle shake. “Wake up. I think something’s going on.”
Baby Monkey blinked, rubbed his face with his little hands, and tilted his head. He followed Cutis’s gaze toward the kitchen. There was Mom, holding her belly with one hand while stirring a pot with the other. Every few seconds, she paused and took a deep breath, as though she was feeling a little uncomfortable
The two watched for a moment in silence.
“Do you think…” Cutis whispered, wide-eyed, “Mom’s about to… have the baby?”
Baby Monkey’s eyes widened in perfect imitation of Cutis’s expression. He made a quiet “ooh ooh” sound and tapped his own stomach in an exaggerated way, as if confirming the theory.
It wasn’t entirely far-fetched. Mom had been talking for weeks about how the baby could arrive any day now. But Cutis had imagined it would be loud, dramatic, maybe with flashing lights and Dad rushing around. Instead, this morning was calm—too calm—and that worried him even more.
Cutis hopped off the bed, motioning for Baby Monkey to follow. They crept toward the kitchen doorway, peeking around the corner like detectives in a mystery movie. Mom noticed them and smiled gently.
“Good morning, you two,” she said. Her voice was warm, but there was a tiredness in her tone.
Cutis hesitated. “Uh… morning, Mom. Are you… okay?”
Mom chuckled softly. “I’m fine, sweetheart. Just feeling a bit… heavy today. The baby’s moving a lot.”
Baby Monkey tilted his head again and pointed at Mom’s belly, making a questioning “oo-oo?” sound.
“Yes, little one,” Mom said kindly, bending slightly to meet his gaze. “The baby’s inside here, remember?”
But her smile didn’t erase the concern that had planted itself in Cutis’s mind. He noticed she was sitting down more often, resting her hands on her knees, breathing slower.
After breakfast, Mom went to lie down on the couch. Cutis and Baby Monkey sat on the floor nearby, whispering in their own little “meeting.”
“I think she might be in pain,” Cutis said seriously. “And if the baby’s coming, we need to be ready. What do we do first?”
Baby Monkey scratched his head thoughtfully, then scampered off to the bedroom. He returned moments later carrying a soft blanket—probably thinking it was for the baby.
“That’s good,” Cutis nodded. “We’ll need that. And maybe some water. And snacks. Babies like snacks, right?”
Baby Monkey nodded enthusiastically, though it was clear he wasn’t exactly sure what babies liked.
The two of them began a frantic mission around the house. Cutis filled a small bowl with crackers, poured water into a cup, and grabbed Mom’s favorite pillow. Baby Monkey collected random items he thought were important: a teddy bear, a toy truck, and a shiny spoon.
They placed everything neatly next to Mom on the couch. She looked at the pile, then at the two of them, a little puzzled but clearly touched.
“What’s all this for?” she asked with a gentle smile.
“It’s for when the baby comes,” Cutis said matter-of-factly. “We want to be ready.”
Mom chuckled again, but there was warmth in her eyes. “That’s very sweet, honey. But I think the baby might still need a little more time before arriving.”
Cutis wasn’t convinced. “But… you’re moving slower today. And you’re holding your belly a lot. That’s what happens in movies before the baby comes.”
Baby Monkey nodded firmly, backing up Cutis’s point with a little “eek” sound.
Mom reached out and pulled them both closer, giving them a gentle hug. “It’s true that I’m feeling a bit more tired lately. But that doesn’t always mean the baby is ready this very moment. My body is just preparing. It’s a big job, you know.”
Cutis leaned his head against her shoulder, still worried but feeling comforted by her calm voice. Baby Monkey nestled against her other side, clearly soothed.
The rest of the morning passed in a strange kind of alertness. Every time Mom shifted position or sighed, Cutis and Baby Monkey would exchange nervous glances. When Mom stood up to get water, they both jumped to their feet, ready to “assist.”
At one point, Mom laughed so hard she had to sit down again. “You two are my little bodyguards,” she said. “Don’t worry—I’ll tell you when it’s time. And when it happens, it’ll be an exciting, happy day.”
That helped, but Cutis still decided to keep watch—just in case. He and Baby Monkey made a “baby watch station” near the couch, complete with crayons and paper so they could draw while keeping an eye on her. Baby Monkey’s first drawing was a large round circle with stick arms and legs—obviously his interpretation of Mom with the baby inside.
In the afternoon, Dad came home early. When Cutis ran to tell him their theory, Dad chuckled and ruffled his hair. “Not today, buddy. But soon. We’ll all know when it’s the right time.”
That evening, as they sat together watching the sunset through the window, Mom placed Cutis’s hand on her belly. The baby kicked, a firm little thump against his palm. Cutis gasped, his eyes lighting up in wonder. Baby Monkey, not wanting to be left out, put his tiny hand on her belly too, and the baby kicked again.
They both burst into giggles, their earlier worry melting away.
“See?” Mom said softly. “The baby is happy in there for now. When it’s ready, we’ll be ready too—together
By bedtime, Cutis felt calmer. He and Baby Monkey snuggled under the covers, whispering about how amazing it would be to meet the baby. Maybe they would teach it to play catch, or share bananas (Baby Monkey’s idea), or even draw silly pictures together.
As they drifted off to sleep, the moonlight spilling into the room, Cutis realized something: even if the baby wasn’t coming tonight, it didn’t matter. They were already a family waiting with love, and that was enough to make him feel safe.
And somewhere in the quiet of the night, Baby Monkey reached over in his sleep and patted Cutis’s hand—a silent little promise that when the big moment came, they’d be ready side by side.
