When Ais Went to Grandma's

One day, Grandma invited Baby Ais to sleep over for one night at her house. Just Baby Ais. Baby Mo stayed home.

"Bye, Mo!" Baby Ais waved cheerfully from the car. Baby Mo waved back. "Bye, Ais!" He even smiled wide. A whole day with no fighting over toys? Brilliant! Baby Mo imagined he could play with ALL the blocks by himself.

That morning, Baby Mo played with blocks. Alone. He built the tallest tower. Then he turned to the side to say "look!" — but there was no one there. "Oh right," he mumbled. "Ais is at Grandma's."

That afternoon, Umi gave him two biscuits. Out of habit, Baby Mo kept one in his left hand. "For Ais," he said. Then he remembered. Ais wasn't there. Slowly, he stared at the second biscuit, puzzled.

That evening, a dog barked outside. Baby Mo was a little scared, and automatically he turned to grab his sister's hand — but the hand wasn't there.

And at dinner, the table felt too quiet. No one said "nyum-nyum". No one laughed when he made a funny face. No one squabbled over the chair beside him.

Night came. Umi tucked Baby Mo into his bed. But the bed beside it — the one with moon sheets — was empty and neatly made.

Baby Mo stared at it for a long time. Then his little lip trembled. "Umi," he whispered, "Mo… misses Ais."

Umi sat down and hugged him. "I know, sweetheart. Sometimes we only realise how much we love someone… exactly when they're not around."

"But this morning Mo was happy," said Baby Mo, confused by his own feelings.

Umi smiled gently. "That's because loving a sibling is like air, sweetheart. We don't always notice it — until, for just a little while, it's gone."

Baby Mo hugged Baby Ais's teddy bear, breathed in its smell that was like his sister, then fell asleep holding it.

The next morning — "MO!" The door opened and Baby Ais ran in. Baby Mo leapt from his chair and the two hugged so tightly, spinning around, laughing, as if they'd been apart a hundred years. "Ais! Ais is home!"

"Did Mo miss Ais?" asked Umi, smiling.

Baby Mo nodded hard. Then, for the first time, he said something that moved Umi: "Mo doesn't want to play blocks alone anymore. It's more fun with Ais."

And He has placed between you affection and mercy.

It turned out the best toy in the world wasn't the tallest block tower. The best toy is the sibling sitting beside you, laughing along, even while squabbling.

Welcome home, Baby Ais. Baby Mo — and one bed that will, once again, be full tonight — have been waiting for you. 💛