Free The Wooden Chair by Rayne E. Golay Page B

short.”
    Leini could hardly wait for Mamma to bring Samy home so she could play with him. She was so glad to have a baby brother she thought her heart was going to burst.
    The first night Mamma was home with Samy, she bathed him in the small aluminum tub. Leini stood by her side watching his little body, legs kicking, arms flailing, mouth stretched into a wide grin. She stared in fascination at the thumb-like fleshy outgrowth between his legs. Her breath caught in her throat, scared that there was something wrong with him as she reached a prudent finger to touch it.
    The back of her hand smarted from the fierce slap Mamma dealt her. “Don’t you dare touch him there.” She spat the words at Leini.
    Tears streamed along her cheeks. “But…but what is that…thing? Is Samy sick?”
    Mamma gave her a shove, causing Leini to stumble against the bathroom door. Catching the heel of her slipper on the threshold, she lost her balance and fell, hitting her head a blinding blow on the floor. With her foot, Mamma pushed her out of the way and closed the door, leaving her in the hall. Stunned, she lay still. Then she adjusted her glasses and crept silently into the bedroom. Hugging Maia to her, she sat huddled in a corner. Why is Mamma angry? What have I done? What’s wrong with Samy?
    Leini often stood over Samy’s crib, taking in dark eyes, long lashes and the little nub of a nose. At first, Mamma wouldn’t leave her alone with him, but when Leini only stared at him, never touching, she let up her guard. Mamma spent a lot of time with Samy, changing and bathing and feeding him, singing softly to him when he cried. As weeks passed Leini became less enchanted with her little brother. Before they had Samy, Mamma never spent a lot of time with her, but now it was as if Leini didn’t exist at all. Mamma crooned and talked to Samy. She held him all the time, smiled at him. She never did these things with Leini.
    The first time Mamma allowed her to give Samy his formula bottle, Leini held her breath from fear she would do something wrong and damage the tiny bundle in her lap. She didn’t dare move although her arm was going to sleep. Mamma hovered over them, watching.
    When Samy spit up on Leini, soiling the front of her dress, Mamma’s face turned red. “You’re so useless, a real no-good. Don’t you ever touch Samy again. I can’t trust you to do the smallest thing right.” Mamma snatched the squealing baby from Leini’s lap, crooning tender words in a sweet voice she only used when she talked to him.
    Samy was a good baby. Fed and clean, he slept most of the time, but there were nights when his crying woke Leini. After a time, she thought he was more a nuisance than the source of happiness she’d expected. He was too small to play with and no fun at all. She overheard Mamma complain over the phone to one of her friends that Samy’s crying kept her up most nights. The phone conversation over, Leini took Mamma’s hand to press it to her cheek.
    “Why don’t you take him back to the hospital and leave him there? You have me; I’ll always be your good girl.”
    Mamma yanked her hand from Leini’s and pushed her away. “Shame on you, girl, for even thinking such a thing. You should be the one to go back to where you came from. Samy is an adorable little baby. He looks so much like me. I love him very much.” Mamma’s smile was happy.
    Fighting tears, Leini stared at Mamma. “But you love me, too, Mamma?”
    As she glanced at Leini, Mamma’s joyous smile disappeared. “You…you’re a copy of your father and your grandpa, nothing like me at all.” With a swift movement, she turned her back, leaving Leini alone in the middle of the floor twining a strand of hair around her fingers.
    * * *
    At the sharp ring on the doorbell, Leini, on her belly on the living room floor, glanced from her picture book as Mamma rushed to open. Curious to see who came calling, Leini followed her to the entry hall.
    “Come in. Pleased