And Just Like That

“And Just Like That”
– Carrick Fergus Phillips

‘Tis just before Christmas and all through our house,
someone is stirring and it ISN’T a mouse.
Mackin is sleeping, using Dad’s feet for a bed,
and Mommy is quiet, thoughts of us in her head.
Yes, there’s peace in our house, but it’s not here to stay—
Rian’s awake. And he wants to play.
I like to play, too, but not every minute;
Sometimes even Irish boys reach their play limit!
When’s the last time I napped? I cannot remember.
But it had to have been before the start of September.
That’s when Rian showed up—dropped in Mom’s lap—
and we had a new brother—yep!—just like that.

Seamus had left us, and we were all feeling sad—
he was with us one minute, then gone, just like that.
I was so lonely, and I felt really lost;
Seamus was not just my brother—he was my friend and my boss.
But then there was Rian, and Mommy said this:
“You’re now a big brother. You get to boss him.”

At first I wasn’t sure about Rian at all—
was he even a cat? Cats aren’t that small.
Mackin was convinced Rian wasn’t a kitten
‘cause he squawked and he cried and he tasted like chicken.
He wouldn’t play games; he wouldn’t explore—
I was starting to think he was just a big bore.
But then Mommy said Rian was really quite sick
and he needed a doctor to fix him up quick.
He was gone for two days, and when he got back,
he was wearing a t-shirt and taking a nap.
Then something happened: Rian opened his eyes,
and just like that, everything changed in our lives.

Rian was different! He ran and he played;
he ate all our food plus the food Daddy made.
He ran from one end of the house to the other;
Mommy told me I MUST teach my brother.
She said, “You can show by example how to be a good boy.”
That would be easier if Rian stopped stealing my toys!
I did try to teach him to cover his messes,
but I’m not responsible for the way that he dresses.
Mommy makes him wear the most ridiculous clothes—
she says when he travels he MUST NOT get cold.
I think Mommy likes dressing her “little man;”
at least it’s just shirts; he doesn’t have to wear pants.

There are times when Rian’s biting gets very wearing—
so Mommy moves him from gen pop to solitary.
Daddy says, “Rian, think about what you did.
Biting is never the way to make friends.”
He’s not just guilty of biting but also disturbing the peace,
of criminal mischief and being a thief.
He steals jewelry and car keys and whole cans of pop—
I admire his skills but wish sometimes he’d STOP.
He just now ran past me with a whole candy cane;
if he runs into Daddy, he’ll have a lot to explain!
Mommy will say, “He’s just a sweet baby boy.”
Daddy will say, “Candy canes are not toys!”

Mackin loves Rian—they take naps together
(which means Mackin sleeps, and Rian rests up for—whatever).
Mommy loves Rian, and so does my dad—
We all still miss Seamus, but we’re not nearly as sad.
As for me? I admit—I love my new brother—
It’s nice to have an accomplice when I’m looking for trouble.

For those of you reading this, I have some advice:
it doesn’t matter if you’re naughty or nice.
No matter how you behave, your Mommies will love you;
your Daddies forget and your brothers forgive you.
And if, this Christmas, you’re feeling sad and can’t cope,
I know how that feels, but hold onto hope.
You just never know what’s coming your way—
there might be a Rian in your future someday.
And if there is, you won’t have time to be sad!
Your whole life will change, and you’ll feel joy—just like that!
So merry Christmas, my friends—to each one of you—
I hope you have lots of happiness in 2022!

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