Dad said, “We have a new baby and she is coming home today.”

I got out my ball and bat and all my favourite games to show the baby. I found my favourite picture book and read it out loud to the baby.

But the new baby didn’t pay any attention to me. She cried a lot, even when I told her my best joke. I made the funniest face ever and she cried even louder.

I tried to dress her but she was too wiggly and floppy. And sometimes she smelled funny and Mum had to change her. 

I asked my mum, “What can I do for the baby?”

Mum said, “We can cuddle her and rock her to sleep. We can tickle her tummy and make her laugh or give her a rattle to play with.”

 I can give her my finger to grab, and let her pull my nose. I can take her for a walk and show her to my friends. They think I am so lucky. 

• Owen Tepa is a Year 4 student at the Palauli Primary School. This entry in the Year 4 English Category won him 2nd placing in the 2022 Tusitala Short Story Competition. Note that the photo with this story is a generic Samoa Observer photo.