when my sister was born, I remember arguing with my father over the gender. I said it would be a girl, he said it would be a boy. he didn't tell me he already knew it would be a girl, but he kept me busy during the birth of my sister because my mother was in pain and I could

hear it. then the screaming stopped and a baby began crying and a nurse came out and said that it was a girl and I was happy I won the debate, but my father didn't care. he wanted to see my sister. they let us in and in this tray-like thing, my sister was there. I didn't really

care too much. I was too young to understand how important that moment was. I kind of just stared at her and wondered why she was so pink. I remember my baba saying, "she looks just like me" which was funny. we had to stay at the hospital for a few more days and during

that time, I would accompany my father whenever he went to get medicines and stuff, as well as food. every night we'd go to the drugstore, then the restaurant, get takeout, and come home and eat it. I fell asleep waiting for the takeout to get finished every time.

I'd wake up in my father's arms or I'd already be in bed. at the end of it all, when we came back home, my mother told my father that I was very pleasant during the whole thing. I didnt give them a reason to stress. I was well behaved. mama said I should be rewarded.

so my dad went out and bought a fake gold medal and a tiny bouquet and mom gave it to me. it was my "best nurse" award.

I was 5