Playing Pretend Stomach Book Novels & Stories

“He’s trying to figure out why grown adults find shaking toys so fascinating.” Carmen wiggled the rattle again. “Because we’re fascinating.” Jayden let out a small gurgling sound, his arms flailing slightly as he kicked his legs. Evelyn leaned forward instinctively, steadying him. “Easy, little man.” She reached for one of the cloth books lying beside them and opened it, turning the pages slowly so Jayden could see the contrasting colors, animals, shapes and big, exaggerated faces designed to stimulate developing eyes. “Once upon a time,” she read softly, not because Jayden understood the words, but because he recognized her voice. “There was a very brave baby lion…”

It felt both strange and familiar that I no longer lived here, but I knew this little world belonged to Noah. “Noah, which book do you want to read?” I asked, sitting on the edge of his bed. He hurriedly took a picture book from his nightstand and handed it to me. “This one. About a kind dragon.” I smiled faintly, opened the first page, and began to read. My voice was hesitant at first, but then it flowed more smoothly as Noah’s eyes focused on me, listening to every word. I stared at the colorful cover, which depicted a green dragon with a wide smile. “Wow, this dragon looks so friendly. Are you sure this is a dragon, Noah? Aren’t dragons usually scary?” I asked, pretending to frown.

“Thank you.” “Is that all, Your Highness?” “Yes, Reid. Good night.” “Good night, Prince Jarren.” I hung up the phone and tossed it on the bed. I picked up the book off my desk and propped myself against the headboard. I looked at the cover. “What to Expect When You’re Expecting .”Yes, I was reading a pregnancy book. I wasn’t sure how much of it would relate to Jillie and me since our baby wasn’t human, well, not completely human, but I was finding out many different little facts. It was…fascinating.

*Mihira Pov* “How are you feeling now?” Mom asked caressing my hair when I woke up to find her sitting beside me. “Fine!” I replied shifting a bit and found Dad standing near the door with a worried look. “Mom! Dad! I am sorry for pretending before both of you.” I mumbled sitting up with her support. “It is our fault for hiding it.” She said before passing the bowl of oat porridge and I took a bite from it not knowing what to say hearing that from her.

When Malcolm saw it, he froze for a beat. It was pork stew with pears. Pear, as in "pair". I used to joke I'd make it the day we stopped being one. Without noticing the subtle shift in Malcolm’s expression, Ashley had already taken the stew. She'd barely had a bite when she jolted and dumped the plate on me. I stood there, a mess, stew dripping off me, while she covered her mouth like she hadn't meant it. "Oh, no! I'm so sorry. It was too hot, and I wasn't holding it properly…"

"Let me show you our science fiction section for younger readers. There's a new series that just came out that might be perfect..." Thirty minutes and several hundred dollars later, I left with a stack of books, including a signed first edition of "Starstruck," which the clerk assured me was popular with "smart, space-loving kids." I also had a bagful of advanced puzzles from the hobby shop next door. As I loaded my purchases into the car, I felt strangely satisfied. This wasn't part of the business plan, wasn't necessary for our charade to succeed. But it felt right. Few hours later, my phone had buzzed with a text from Ava:

Alice hid a laugh, laying Millie down and tucking her between the sheets, with Hoppy by her side “Want to do the honors?” “Okay, okay…” he snorted, and Alice had to admit that it was a funny image to see that huge man, still with broad shoulders and a firm appearance despite everything that had happened to him, sitting in his wheelchair with the colorful book in her hands and an upset expression on her face “Once upon a time, there was a mother duck who was very excited about the birth of her five little eggs. One after another, they were born, cute little yellow ducklings that said quack quack...”

I kept my eyes closed and willed my body not to give any indication that I wasn’t deeply at rest. “Okay,” I heard him mumble before closing the door. My stomach sank. I shouldn’t have pretended to be asleep. Now he was gone—oh. I felt a hand on my stomach and the rustling of the sheets as he sat by the edge. Relief, sweet strong relief washed over me. Maybe my plan would work. “Mummy’s asleep, isn’t she?” Is he... is he talking to my stomach? Okay. “I bet she’s tired. Don’t be too hard on her, okay? I know she’s stubborn and all, but let’s take it easy on her, okay?”

Unlike how he is to other orphans that are younger than him. "Why aren't you reading books just like you always do? I'm sure it's more fun rather than sitting here on the bench with me." He buzzes. He knows that I love reading books? "How come you know that I always read books?" He just winks at me before looking away, causing a ticklish feeling in my stomach fused with nervousness. I don't know how to describe it, but is this the butterflies in my stomach? They're not really in my stomach, right? "You should get inside. There's strawberry ice cream for everybody, and I think you'll regret if you won't get one." I stand in front of him. Making it look like I want to get his attention, but th

Abdominal pain. "Oh," I pretended to be in pain, making Solomon stop. "What's wrong, he asks?" With a concerned look as he put me down. I made a large rock as a chair and touched my stomach, doing as much acting to be in pain. Those lessons at private schools paid off. I wasn't a professional, but I could fake pain like having a period, but in this case, having a baby. "My stomach hurts," I hiss and try as much be overreacting to fool a man. "Can you find a doctor or someone?"