Playing Pretend Stomach Book Novels & Stories

“Mama! Read! Story time!” Seraphine pulled him onto her lap, grateful for the interruption. Charlotte’s academics could be managed. Right now, James needed a story. “Which book today?” “TRUCKS! Big trucks book!” James had simple, enthusiastic preferences. They read about trucks construction trucks, delivery trucks, fire trucks James pointing at pictures and narrating with increasingly elaborate stories about what each truck was doing. “This truck going to BUILD something! Big building! With BLOCKS!” His imagination was developing rapidly.

“Okay, but you have to do the voices like Daddy or else the story people get mad.” “Oh, no. Well, in that case, there will be many voices.” I sat her down and closed the door behind us. Rory took my hand and led me into the den, in all its Buddha-tastic glory. Together, we picked out a book—Dr. Seuss—then settled on the couch that cavemen made. Julie was wrong. About halfway through Green Eggs and Ham, Rory hopped up and declared it was time to play Hide and Seek. There was no sign of a nap in the near future, so I decided to take her to the park.

We drag couch cushions across the floor, stack dining chairs into unstable towers, and gather every blanket we can find. By the time we’re finished, half the living room has vanished beneath a crooked fortress of fabric and furniture. Sophie crawls inside, clapping her hands excitedly, and announces that it’s a castle. Apparently, I’m the princess who lives there. I don’t bother correcting her. We curl up inside the fort and read books, exaggerating our voices until Sophie is laughing so hard she can barely breathe. I make the dragon sound ridiculous. She insists on roaring louder. We have a tea party with her stuffed animals lined up around a tiny plastic table, each one patiently waiting t

“Do I look like I know what I’m doing?” “You look like you tried.” “Story of my life.” The cart was full now. Overflowing. I kept staring at it. Bibs, bottles, baby socks that looked like they belonged on dolls. A breast pump I pretended I didn’t notice. A plush giraffe Mom tossed in when I wasn’t looking. “They can’t even hold things yet,” I said. “It’s not about that. It’s about making it feel like theirs.” “There’s no nursery.” “Then turn a corner of your room into one.”

“Please open your book page th-three.” The children, impatiently did as they were asked. They hoped the class in set up Elmbridge School's mystical and non-mystical creatures’ sanctuary would become a place full of lions, elephants or ... even dragons. Even greater was the joy when they thought that all creatures ... would be them, after shapeshifting. They all opened the books, but when everyone saw what was on that page, all the joy on their faces disappeared with Von Halgen's confidence. “Wh-wh-wh-what happened? Why a-a-are you sad?”

“I like it here better. Jack makes grilled cheese with smiley faces.” Mommy laughed. “That he does.” Jack pretended to puff out his chest. “Gourmet smiley cheese sandwiches. Only the best for royalty.” Lila giggled. She liked when Jack was silly. That night, after her bath, Lila curled up in bed with her koala and her blanket. Mommy came in to read a story, like always. But before she opened the book, Lila whispered, “Mommy?” “Yes?” “Can I tell you a secret?”

A playful monkey swung from a painted vine, a friendly elephant trumpeted a greeting, and a pair of mischievous squirrels chased each other through the undergrowth. Across from the mural stood a brightly colored play kitchen, complete with a miniature oven, stovetop, and sink. Tiny plastic pots and pans hung neatly from hooks, and a wooden play food set lay scattered across the counter. Chloe, it seemed, was a budding culinary expert, whipping up imaginary feasts for her stuffed animal guests.

I needed to devour her right now. Slowly she pulled the green scrap upward, revealing the satin skin of her stomach, a slight delay over the mound of her breasts, and then a little bounce as they fell free, and the top went on a little fling through the air. She straight- ened her arms and set them palms down on the couch.

He purred and then curled up to her, closing his eyes happily as he smelled her. "Hey sweetie, I was just reading to your brothers and sister." I watched as she rubbed her tummy. I walked up and looked at the three year old looking boy and four year old looking girl. I sat down next to my mommy and looked towards the book she was reading to them, finding it to have a picture of a bear on the front with letters, but I couldn't read it. The boy started to gnaw on his hands and whimpered before he rolled over onto his tummy and started to crawl away towards a couch and slipped under it. The girl watched him then squealed before she started to play with her toes, falling over onto her side then

Lily's Pov The spoon slid on the pale blue porcelain plate as I dropped it again, cringing. "Ugh," I muttered, holding my stomach. The scrambled eggs were perfectly okay—fluffy, pale yellow, and appropriately seasoned—and yet, the sight of them nauseated me.