1942 was a milestone in Lytia's life. Her mother and daddy told her she was going to have a little brother. Her cousin had a little brother so she was use to the conversation.
   "Lytia, Duck had a little brother. Do you want one?" her mother asked.
   "just tell Hattie to send me Duck's baby, and I will buy him another one," was her reply.
   "But maybe Duck likes his little brother and wants to keep him." Lytia thought for a minute then said, looking very wise, " We will hurry and he won't miss him."
   To Lytia, nine months was a long time and from time to time, she ask if it was time yet; because, she had been told "It isn't time for him to come yet."
    Lytia's mother and father owne a grocery store, and she told everybody who came in the door, the news.
    "I'm going to have a little brother after while." Some people commented and others didn't quite know what to say. 
   One night in November, Lytia went to bed as usual and when she woke up the next morning, her mother wasn't in the house.
   "Where is Mother?"
   "She ran away. " her dad said
   "Where did she go?
   "She just left."
   "Why didn't she take me?"
   "You were so bad, she just went away."
   Lytia thought about that for a minute then replied.
   "No she didn't. She wouldn't leave me."
   "She went to get your little brother."
   "Oh. When can I see him?"  
   "Soon, Baby, soon."
   After a bath, where she was scrubbed clean, it was time to get the hair combed. Lytia had long, thick hair and her dad turned it all loose at one time. The battle was on. Lydia was tender headed. He was overwhelmed to say the least. He finally conquered the wayward locks and tied the ribbons like he tied his shoes. After working with tiny buttons, long sashes and long stockings, she was finally dressed to her dad's satisfaction, and they left for the grocery store. 
   The plan was for her to spend the day and night with Aunt Emma, her grandmother's sister, but Lytia had other plans. Her mother was out of sight and she wasn't letting her dad out of her sight too.
   That evening Lytia and her dad went to the hospital to visit her mother and new baby brother. When they entered the room she was peeping through the rails at the foot of the bed.
   "That's him," she said pointing her little finger. "That's him.  She made her way around the bed to get a better look. 
   "Can I hold him?" she asked.
   "He is too little: you may drop him."
   "No I won't; I'm a big girl. I'll hold him tight."   Soon it was time to go home.
   "Come Lytia, it is time to go." She started to cry.
   "I want to stay."
   "Where will you sleep, asked her mother.
   Pointing a tiny finger to a spot behind her mother she replied.
   "Right there."
   "But you haven't had your dinner. Aren't you hungry?" A Father's diplomacy wasn't working.
   Lytia looked at the nurse who was watching with amusement.
   "But I can eat right there," pointing to a small white desk across the room. With tears glistening in her eyes, she turned to the nurse, "Bring me a plate when you bring one for Mother, please."
   They all broke up laughing. Lytia didn't see anything funny. She ate noodles for the first time in her life. 
   She finally had her own little brother, and she didn't have to have Duck's.