I never got to properly say goodbye to Penni.
She died in the evening, early on in my pregnancy, while I was fast asleep having one of my many, many naps. Unfortunately this coincided with the end of the daycare day, and the grandmas had to whisk the children away as not to scar them.
Penni was just minding her business, having a pee, when Grim decided it was time.
Later, I'd hear the night as a whole was strange. First, Penni has seen Grim enough in her life that she gave him a big hug and licked his face (or whatever is under that hood). Or maybe she just misses Dad as much as I do and is excited to cross over to be with him.
She ascended gracefully into the light. Then Grim turned to Eden and said very sternly, "I know what you did."
Pretty weird, huh? Grandma Eden drank an entire bottle of pomelo nectar after that and Granny had to put her to bed. We could all hear her insisting that Granny would have to invite her father-in-law to Snowflake Day this year. Eden should never get drunk again.
The next day, she was right as rain, and back to her favorite toddler with Rosetta.
As for me, my pregnancy has been an easy one so far! Then again, I've got a great support network. The hardest thing really is walking around without feeling self conscious about my
bland clothing baby bump.
Orlando is such a sweetheart. He asked if we'd want to name the baby something for a family member. Maybe Carlotta, even. He knew great-etc-grandmother Carlotta. Said she was a wonderful woman. It was then that Grandma Mona Lisa had to explain our naming conventions to him.
We decided to take a day later in my pregnancy to visit the festival grounds. Without the extra hands on deck, the remaining Classics did the sensible thing with the daycare brood.
Orlando pressed his hand into my belly to feel her move. "She's strong!" he said. "So, are you going to tell me the name?"
"Not on your life," I said, sweetly.
"What if I beat you at a game of your choice?" he asked.
I giggled. "You're on."
"This really isn't fair, you know, what with you at such a disadvantage," I simpered, patting my very pregnant belly.
"Woman, you have no idea what I'm capable of!" he said back.
Turns out he was right. He beat the crap out of me at the sport of hotdog eating.
So, I whispered the name to him. He turned a nice shade of pink, flush with happiness, and gave my belly another affectionate rub. "Daddy can't wait to meet you."
I sent him on his way with a laugh. I wanted to stay on grounds and collect some gems and insects for my potions.
I was sure to follow doctor's orders with my nutrition too. Every two hours, a pygmy watermelon down the hatch.
I still, somehow, lost track of time. Before I knew it, it was pitch dark. I felt panicked suddenly and while rushing to my scooter, the unimaginable happened.
I was alone. No matter how much I screamed, no one was coming along to drive me back to the house.
However, from the festival grounds, the hospital was walkable. It felt somehow shameful to be the only immortal to give birth at the hospital, but you do what you must. After a few hours, I was bone tired and wheeling a squirming, gurgling little bundle out of the hospital with a bracelet around her little wrist that said, 'Baby Classic. 6 lbs."
When I finally got her home, I slipped into the house silently. Everyone was asleep. I walked into the light and finally got a good look at her darling face.
"Welcome home, Mata Hari Classic," I whispered. "We've been expecting you."
I was exhausted, but I didn't want to miss the family meeting Mata, so I sneaked into the nursery and put her in the pink swing. It was just a snap of the fingers before she was snoring her little baby snore, like a cat's purr, her head resting against the cushion.
I fell asleep for who knows how long. Not very. It was still dark outside when the sound of melodic singing woke me. A beautiful, sweet voice echoing down the halls. I crept close, but didn't disturb. Somehow, miraculously, the voice was my mother's.
Once I was happy, but now I'm forlorn,
Like an old coat that is tattered and torn;
Left in this wide world to weep and to mourn,
Betrayed by my family's fate She was getting some of the words wrong, but I wasn't going to interrupt her.
Now this boy that I loved he was handsome and true
He made me go weak in my knees
Oh, you'll never meet him, he already flew
Our man on the flying trapeze. My eyes began to sting a bit with tears as I watched my mom cradle my baby daughter. I could see Daddy in my mind's eye, strong and handsome in his acrobat's costume, somersaulting through the air.
Oh, he floats through the air with the greatest of ease,
That daring young man on the flying trapeze;
His actions are graceful, all girls he does please,
My love he has purloined away. She finished with a slight crack in her voice and sighed, cuddling Mata Hari close to her chest. "She looks like Humbug," she whispered, barely audible, to no one in particular.
