What’s inside Mama’s tummy? (A Children's Story)

I've written this children's story originally in my own language (Filipino) over 6 years ago. I wasn't able to get the chance to have this published. I wish there was steemit already back then!!

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I was just 5 years old then. It started when Mama and Papa went to the doctor once. I was left with my granny Ema, Mama’s mother. It took them some time to get back home. But I patiently waited for them.

“Where are they already? Is Mama sick,” I asked myself while I was looking out from the window of my granny’s house and waiting for them to arrive. I’d been overhearing Mama telling Papa she felt so dizzy and had been throwing out the past few days. “Oh no! Looks like she is really sick!”

I put my hands together and I closed my eyes so hard. I started praying. I didn’t know how to pray like how Mama was doing when she was guiding me every night, so I was like a bee buzzing while I tried my best to tell God my request in a manner a bit louder than a whisper.

“What are you praying for, my child,” granny asked when she approached me.

“Granny, I was praying for Mama to be healed,” I told her while seating on her lap.

She smiled at me and gently kissed me on the forehead.

“Your Mama will be healed, especially with an angel praying for her. You’ll see, when she comes home she’ll feel a lot better!”

I smiled back at her and I started playing with my dolls.

Granny was preparing lunch when Mama and Papa came. Just right on time! I was really starving!

I hurried up and sat down at the dining table while waiting for them to follow.

“What’s taking them so long? I’m so hungry,” I told myself.

“REALLY?!”

I looked on their direction when I heard Granny exclaimed excitedly! I ran as fast as I could towards her to see what happened.

“That’s wonderful news!” That’s what I heard from Granny.

I frowned.

“Granny, what happened,” I asked her while grasping for my breath.

Granny laughed softly, “Don’t worry. I am just so happy!!”

I frowned more...

“Huh? Why?”

“You’re gonna be a big sister, Erica,” Mama and Papa chorused in gladness.

I looked around, “Huh?! Where is my baby brother? Or sister?”

I rushed and opened the door to seeif my sibling was there. Not there!

I checked under the sofa. Nope!

Not even on mama’s big bag when I checked it!

What about Papa’s pocket? Not there!

My tears almost fell. It’s tiring to look for someone who’s not there.

“You’re lying... Where is my baby brother? Or sister,” I asked them sadly. “I think we better eat,” I sighed.

“Erica, you won’t see your baby brother or sister yet,” Mama explained.

“Then, when?”

“Very soon,” said Papa.

I waited every single day for the baby to arrive. But no one came. And I was losing my hope. Until I finally gave up.

But wait! Something seemed so wrong. As the days passed by, Mama’s tummy grew bigger and bigger. Is she getting fatter? Ahm... Not really. It’s only her tummy that got bigger! Was I the only one noticing it? Oh, no!!

Why was here tummy getting bigger!!

One day, my question was answered. We were once walking to go somewhere when someone who knew Mama greeted her.
“Wow! Nellie, your tummy is really big,” the lady exclaimed.”It looks like you swallowed a basketball!! It’s so round!

‘Huh? Oh-ow!’

My eyes grew wide out of surprise!

“Mama has swallowed a basketball? So that’s why it’s huge! Does Papa know?” I asked myself.

Ever since I found out about the basketball Mama has swallowed, I tried to be with her wherever she goes. I also thought of some ways so I could remove the ball from her tummy. What I got scared more was the fact that the ball was getting bigger inside everyday! It seems so mysterious!!

Oh no! There is a mysterious ball inside Mama’s tummy?

One day, when Papa was touching Mama’s tummy, he suddenly screamed.

‘It kicked!” Papa said and he seemed so happy.

“A kicking ball? That’s weird”, I whispered.

After that, one afternoon, I noticed almost everyone in the house was panicking.

After a few minutes, my aunts and uncles and some cousins went over.

Why ?

I saw Papa. He seemed so worried.

I then heard Granny shouted,” Let’s take her to the hospital! Quick!”

Wait what? Hospital? Why?

I wasn’t able to contain everything . I asked Granny what was happening.

“Erica, we need to take your Mama to the hospital. The one on her tummy wants to come out already, “ Granny said excitedly.

“What?” I was shocked! “The mysterious ball inside Mama’s tummy wants to come out?”

“Haha, Yes!”

Papa took Mama to the hospital and they stayed there for 3 days.

“Did the mysterious ball come out already? I’m so sure it’s shiny. I’m scared! I will never go near that ball, ever!”

Papa and Mama came home while I was at Granny’s house again that’s just a few blocks away.

I was watching TV when Papa came in.

“Erica?”

“Come, let’s check on Mama.”

“No!” My mind protested.

“I don’t wanna get near that ball!”

But Papa carried me.

I covered my eyes with my hands. I really didn’t wanna see the ball!

“Erica, look at Mama,” Papa said while trying to remove my hands over my eyes.

I closed my eyes!

“Erica,” Mama called me.

I slowly opened my eyes.

No shiny light? No basketball? Where is it?

I looked around! Nothing!

“Papa, where is the basketball?”

“W-what ball’, Papa asked.

“The one inside Mama’s tummy. The ball! The one the lady said she swallowed!”

They both laughed.

“Do you wanna see the ball,” Mama asked.

A nod was my only answer. They could see a slight fear on my face.

“Here he is. You’ve been waiting for him, right?”

Ohhhh! It got all clear to me when I saw him.

I was so happy!

The ball! The one I was looking for!

What’s inside Mama’s tummy was the baby brother I was waiting for!