Nora and the Little Moon Lantern

Chapter 1: A new baby arrives and the older sibling feels forgotten

When Nora was five, she was the only child in a small yellow house at the end of Cherry Lane, and she was the center of everything.

Every morning, Mama made her pancakes shaped like stars. Every evening, Papa carried her upstairs on his shoulders, pretending to be a very slow giraffe. And every night, they read three stories, sang one song, and said the same goodnight words, ending with: "You are our brightest little moon."

Then one chilly October morning, Papa came home from the hospital carrying a tiny bundle wrapped in a blanket.

"Nora," said Mama, smiling, tired and glowing, "meet your baby brother. His name is Oliver."

Nora peeked over the edge of the blanket. Oliver had a squished pink face, a little tuft of dark hair, and fingers so tiny they looked like they belonged to a doll.

"Hello," she whispered. "He's really small."

"He is," said Papa. "And he's going to need a very special big sister."

For the first day, Nora felt proud. She told the mail carrier, the neighbor, and even the cat: "I'm a big sister now!"

But then the days began to change.

Oliver cried at night, and Mama and Papa hurried to him. Oliver needed feeding, and Mama sat in the rocking chair for what felt like hours. Visitors arrived with presents and soft blankets, and they all cooed over the baby.