At Last, My Reincarnation

Chapter III "Big Brother"

Alexander: (I am so excited to become a big brother!!)

Alexander: (I am also quite pleased to know that I won't have to suck on my mother's breasts.)

Alexander: (It would make it difficult for mother to breastfeed me when her tummy becomes large and vulnerable.)

Alexander: (I should learn how to walk as soon as possible.)

Alexander: (And my teeth are beginning to grow visible.)

[Alexander grins with one tooth]

Alexander: (I'll be eating Mother's delicious cooking in no time!)

[Alexander laughs out loud]

[Nine months later]

Alexander: (I wonder why I haven't met any other relatives besides my parents.)

Alexander: (Is it because my parents are fugitives? No, everyone in this village already knows who my parents are.)

[Alexander imagines]

Alexander: (If they knew who they are, they would just report the authorities.)

Alexander: (Or maybe...)

Alexander: (They are spies sent here from another country!)

[Alexander imagines it]

Alexander: (No, not that either. They aren't keeping their true identities a secret.)

Alexander: (But one thing is clear, they're keeping secrets from me.)

Alexander: (Maybe they'll reveal those secrets to me when I get older.)

Alexander: (There's no point in telling their secrets to a child who is barely two years old.)

Mary: Alexander!

Alexander: (Huh?)

Mary: I need you to call your Aunt Josephine! Quick!

Alexander: (All of a sudden?!)

Alexander: (Oh my god. Is it finally time for my mother to give birth?)

Alexander: (No time for excitement. I need to call Aunt Josephine! Now!)

Alexander: Aunt Josephine! Aunt Josephine!

[Josephine is humming while picking berries from the garden]

Alexander: (Dammit! She can't hear me!)

Alexander: (Why is our garden so far from our house anyways?!)

Alexander: (I need to reach the door knob!)

[Alexander carries a chair to reach the door]

Alexander: (It's locked! Why would my mother lock the door?)

Alexander: (I guess she doesn't want her child to get out of the house and become exposed to the dangers outside.)

[Mary moans in pain]

Alexander: (There isn't much time!)

Alexander: (What to do... I've got it! Although it might be risky, it is the only way.)

[30 minutes later]

James: Ah, Josephine! You can stop gardening now.

James: Let's go inside and have our lunch.

Josephine: Welcome back, James. Already done with your morning duties, I see.

Josephine: You head in first, I'll have my lunch later.

James: If you insist.

James: Don't work yourself too hard. Even busy knights like me are given enough time for their lunch breaks.

Josephine: [laughs sarcastically]

Josephine: Very funny, James. [says sarcastically]

James: It's true.

James: And light up, my friend. Alex might try to imitate that expression on your face.

[James heads towards the house]

James: Huh? Why is the door locked?

[James tries to open the door]

James: Mary! Dear? It's me.

James: Open the door.

James: (Why isn't anyone answering? Did something bad happen?)

James: Mary!

[James breaks open the door]

James: Mary! Alex!

[James goes to the dining room]

James: (Blood?!)

James: (This has to be Mary's. She would never let Alexander get hurt.)

James: (The trail is leading upstairs.)

James: Mary! I'm coming!

James: (I don't know what awaits me beyond this door. But my family needs me!)

[James opens the door]

James: (But what I saw was the most extraordinary scene I have ever witnessed throughout my whole life.)

Mary: James! You're back!

James: Mary? You're safe? But there's blood all over the place.

Mary: That's because I gave birth to our baby. I have given birth to a healthy boy.

James: Another boy?! But...

James: Where is the baby?

Mary: [giggle] Your son's holding him.

Alexander: W--Welcome back, Father.

James: You mean Alex delivered the baby?

James: By himself?!

Mary: He did.

Mary: Our son is full of surprises, isn't he?

James: [stands dumbstruck]

Josephine: I am so very sorry, Mary

Josephine: I didn't pay much attention to what was happening inside the house. And for that, I am truly sorry.

Mary: It's okay, Josephine. It was my fault for locking the doors in the first place.

James: There is no need for apologies. No one is at fault here.

Josephine: I'm very sorry as well, James, Alexander, and... [looks at the baby]

Mary: Oh! That reminds me! We should name our newborn child.

James: I think...

James: ...we should give Alexander the honor of naming his little brother.

James: Because he was the one who delivered him.

James: I was planning on giving Josephine the honor of naming our child after she delivers the baby.

James: But that never happened.

[James looks at Josephine]

Josephine: [looks away nervously]

Mary: I like that idea! So, Alexander? What do you want to name your little brother?

Alexander: (Me?! Seriously?)

Alexander: Hmm...

Alexander: How about William? William Tudor!

James: William Tudor...

James: I like it!

[James carries William]

James: Welcome to the family, my son.

James: William.

(And on this day, 3rd of June, in the year 409, the Tudor family grew and Alexander Tudor would continue to encounter even more extraordinary events in the near future. There would be more surprises in stored for this young boy's life. The same thing would be said for his loved ones especially his--)

Alexander: (I'm... underwater?)

Alexander: (Am I floating?)

Alexander: (Wait... am I drowning?)

Alexander: (Am I even breathing?)

Alexander: (I can't feel anything.)

Alexander: (I don't know if it's hot or cold.)

Alexander: (I feel... nothing.)

???: Where are we?

???: How did we get here?

???: Why?

???: We're supposed to be dead.

???: Are you even listening?!

???: Wake up!!

[Alexander wakes up]

James: Are you okay, Alex?

James: Did you have a bad dream? You're all sweaty.

James: I hope you didn't piss yourself from that nightmare.

Alexander: Huh? [rubs his eyes]

James: Because your pants are wet.

Alexander: Huh?! [looks at his pants]

James: [Laughs] I'm just messing with you.

Alexander: (Seriously? It's so early in the morning.)

James: Anyways, I hope that nightmare you had wasn't a bad omen.

James: I woke you up early to inform you that your mother is giving birth.

Alexander: (It's only been a year since William was born and I'm already having a new sibling. I have a feeling this sibling won't be the last.)

Alexander: What are we waiting for, Father? I want to be there for mother.

Alexander: (And I can't wait to meet my new sibling.)

James: I already came up with names for the baby.

Alexander: You should give them warrior-like names, Father.

Alexander: I want their names to strike fear into the hearts of many. [poses dramatically]

James: Don't worry, Alex. I have already considered that.

James: Besides, I was the one who named you. I won't let you down. [poses dramatically]

Alexander: I know you won't, Father.

Alexander: Now hurry! Let's go!

Alexander: (I think I have made my very first friend in this world.)

Alexander: (Even though I am his son, I am also older than him if I count the years in my past life.)

Alexander: (As we race down the stairs to meet my new sibling, I've been thinking...)

Alexander: (What should I aim for in this world?)

Alexander: (In this new life that has been given to me.)

Alexander: (But for now... my first priority...

Alexander: (...is to become the best big brother to my siblings.)

**TO BE CONTINUED**