The Intruder

Albert was a very happy child. He was only four years-old and felt at the centre of the Universe. Surrounded by the love of everyone in the house, all it took was for him to manifest a desire and soon his parents would hurry to satisfy his whims.

Albert's bedroom, decorated especially for him, was full of toys.

One day his mother said, with a beautiful sweet smile:

- Albert, you're going to have a little brother!

The boy felt that the world was falling on his head. He was not sure what that meant but realised that his life was going to be invaded by a stranger. Listening to his mother refer to the intruder with love, inside him an alert light came on that seemed to say:

- Danger! Danger! Danger!...

As the days passed, his suspicions were confirmed. One day, his mom said:

- Shall we go out and buy clothes for the baby?

So there they went to the shops choosing clothes and gifts for the intruder.

And from then on it was always like that:

- We have to buy furniture for the baby's room!

- The baby is going to need a little bathtub!

- How about buying teddy bears to decorate the baby's room?

How about buying this, how about buying that ... It was always like that.

And it did not stop there. One day his mother called Albert and asked him gently:

- Honey, would you mind changing room?

- Why?

- Because your father and I think we'd better set up the baby's room there.

- Why?

- You’ll have a bigger, nicer room. Do you mind?

Albert did not bother and changed room. But that was only on the outside. Inside, every day he liked that "little brother” less as he had not even arrived yet and had already created so much confusion in his life.

Mom's belly began to grow, and she said fondly:

- Look, Albert, the baby is moving. Put your hand on my belly and feel it.

- No, I do not want to.

- Then come have lunch, honey.

- No.

- Why don’t you want to eat?

- Because I do not like this food.

And Albert, suddenly, pushed the plate that fell to the ground into a thousand pieces, spreading food everywhere.

He was angry and his mother asked:

- Why did you do it? Lately, you have become unbearable, honey. You’re moody and always crying but you were not like that before. If you continue like this, you'll get a good spanking on your butt.

A few months later, his mother went to the hospital, and Albert was left feeling alone and abandoned at home. In fact, he stayed with grandma while his father accompanied his mom to the hospital.

When his mother returned, she was carrying a package in her arms. Albert, wistfully, ran to embrace her, shouting with joy:

- Mom! I missed you so much! I am glad you are back!

Instead of lovingly hugging him, she said:

- Be careful, darling! Do not make noise. You're going to wake up the baby. Look, Albert, it's your little brother! Isn’t he beautiful?

The boy looked at the little red face that poked out of the blanket and gave his opinion:

- No. He's ugly. Very ugly.

If Albert thought that the baby occupied much time and attention of his mother before, now it is even worse! He wanted to stay with his mother, but her lap was always busy. She would deal with the baby all day. She would breastfeed him, change his diapers, bathe him, put him to sleep.

Not even during the night "that little thing" was quiet. No one else could sleep in that house. The intruder was crying all the time.

And the visitors? People who had never appeared in his house now came to visit and bring gifts. But the gifts were not for him… they were for the baby, of course!

More and more Albert felt unhappy and frustrated. And full of anger, too.

While his mother talked to her friends, he would approach the baby pretending to hug him. He pinched the baby’s cheeks. Deep down, he would really like to hurt that intruder.

- See how he likes his little brother! He will not move away from him! - said his mother.

- Albert is jealous because he lost your lap!

The boy looked at the woman who had said those words, grimaced and left the room, sulking.

He did not know what to do. Each day the "enemy" gained more space and he was left aside.

The mother, realising what was happening with Albert, took him in her lap with great affection and said:

- Honey, we love you very much. It's not because we got another baby that we stopped loving you. Parents love their children in the same way and with the same love. God, who is the Father of all creatures, gave us life and placed us in families so that we could live together helping each other and learning from each other. Your little brother is a Spirit that the Heavenly Father has commanded us to take care, protect and educate so he can live a good life. Do you understand? You do not have to be jealous of him. What happens is that, at the moment, he needs me more. Like you did when you were a baby!

Albert felt more relaxed after that conversation and, over time, he would pay more attention to the baby, until one day, he smiled! That ugly little thing gave him a beautiful smile.

It was so unexpected that Albert was surprised and delighted.

- Mom! He smiled at me. The baby is my friend!

- See? He likes you, darling. His first smile was for you!

From that day on, Albert started seeing his brother with different eyes. He did not think he was ugly anymore. He was actually not that bad! 

Their mother now had more time for Albert and, whenever necessary, asked for his help to take care of the baby while doing the domestic chores. Feeling safer and happier, Albert was anxiously waiting for his little brother to grow up so they could play together. After all, the baby was no longer an intruder. He was his friend! 

Aunt Celia

Translation:
Johnny Silveira / silveirajohnny@yahoo.com