I could feel my cheeks getting hot. Again, I was cradling the baby in my arms. I was holding my little sister.

She was so tiny. So cute! Her tiny body was the same size as both of my arms. When wrapping my arms around her, her head touched one elbow, while her feet touched the other. She was neither too big nor too small. She was just right.

She fit perfectly.

I giggled as I watched Tamara play with my nightdress. Using those tiny fingers of hers, she grabbed a small button.

"Ooh," the baby cooed, examining the button. She was intrigued.

"Thank goodness," my mom spoke up, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand. "Tamara finally stopped crying and is now happy."

"Yep," my dad agreed. He kissed my cheek. "Thank you for the help, honey. You did not have to, but we appreciate it." He gently got ahold of Tamara's hand to make her let go of the button, and then picked her up. "Okay, baby girl. Back to bed."

I was on my way out, when all of a sudden...

"Wah!" Tears fell down her face, and Tamara kicked with her arms and legs.

My dad groaned and rocked her, hoping that she would be calm. But no. At this point in time, she was on the verge of screaming, and nobody in this household wanted that.

I went up to my dad and held my arms out. "Hand her over," I ordered.

Having no other choice, he handed her back to me. Tamara looked up at me and immediately stopped sobbing. Her lovely smile reappeared, and she snuggled against me and shut her eyes.

"Shelly...Shelly..." my sister said softly.

"Hmm." My dad glanced at my mom. My mom nodded and turned to me.

"Shelly, I think that Tamara missed you," she pointed out. "That is why she was crying."

I was a bit surprised at that. "Really?" I said.

"It would make sense," my dad stated. "Not long after we put her to bed, she began crying. She knew that you were not with her. Then, she cried out your name. Very loudly, I might add. And when I took her away just now, she got upset. The only times that she stopped her crying was when you were holding her."

"...true." I looked at my baby sister. She was sleeping peacefully and sucking on her thumb. I kissed her forehead and looked back at my parents. "Let me put her in her crib."

Both of them nodded in agreement, and I walked towards the crib and laid down the baby. As soon as I did and pulled my hands away, Tamara's eyes fluttered open, and she whimpered.

"No, no, no," I said as I put a hand back in the crib. I held out a finger, and Tamara grabbed my finger and immediately stopped whimpering. She cooed.

"At least she is taking a liking to you," my mom told me.

"Yeah." I slightly turned my head to my parents. "You two can go back to bed."

"What?" My mom took a step towards me. "What about Tamara?"

"I can handle this. Besides, there is nothing that you can do."

"But it is almost midnight!"

My dad grabbed my mom and patted her shoulder. "Shelly is right, honey," he agreed with my decision. "There is nothing that we can do to calm Tamara. Tamara wants Shelly's company. And Shelly is turning thirteen tomorrow. Or should I say, in a matter of minutes." He kissed my cheek and made him and my mom leave the room. "Do not stay up for too long, sweetheart. We have plans tomorrow."

When they had left and were out of sight, I pulled my hand away and quickly picked her up.

"Shelly..." Tamara said my name for the millionth time. She rested her head on my chest and cooed quietly as she fell asleep.

I slightly smiled. "Would you like your big sister to read you a bedtime story?" I whispered in her ear.

My sister cooed happily in her sleep and gently kicked her legs.

"I will take that as a 'yes.'" I glanced around the room for a bookshelf or even a book. Alas, there was no bookshelf or any book. "Huh. I guess that Mom and Dad have not yet made a special bookshelf or gotten a collection of books for you. No matter." I walked to the rocking chair that was by the opposite corner and sat in it. "I will tell you a story of my own." I cleared my throat. "Once upon a time..."

"Shelly!" I heard a whisper.

"Hmm?" I looked down and saw Slappy and Snappy standing in front of me. They had their wooden arms crossed over their chests and disappointing looks on their faces.

"Slappy? Snappy?" I spoke. "What are you guys doing in here?"

"What are you doing?" Slappy shot back. "You promised me and my brother that you were coming back."

"Yes, and I will."

"When?!" Snappy questioned. "You have been gone for a long time!"

"...." I shook my head. "I left my room ten minutes ago. I have not been gone for a long time."

"Well, it seems like it!"

"I will ask you again." Slappy pointed at my baby sister. "What are you doing?"

I frowned. "What does it look like? I am putting my new sister to sleep."

"But she is sleeping! Her eyes are closed!"

"Yes, but she is not in a deep sleep yet."

"...what is that supposed to mean?!"

Hearing Slappy's outburst, Tamara began crying. I growled at the brothers and motioned them out.

"Please. Go away."

"B-but what about cuddling?" Snappy wondered.

"I promise that I will be in my room as soon as possible. Now go."

I could tell that they were upset. They hurried out of the room. And as they fled, I overheard Slappy.

"We have to get rid of that baby, brother."