The Arrival of a New Family Member

Via an Argument over the Phone

My Brother's Girlfriend On-again, off-again, who could ever say? Were they ever going to — we just stopped asking Then, this year we heard; she was coming to Christmas Mentioned off-handedly, but we, all of us knew That this, this was going to be something new.

My part of an argument (and no, I'm not proud of this) Hey bro, I’m about to walk into the station… I’m booking our seats — Wait, why aren’t you awake? You’re picking us up — The little one and I; Who else, you twit? What, don’t tell me you haven’t got a child’s seat yet? — Ok, I’m hanging up now, this is — ; this is nothing new.

Something New I fumed at the station, I declined his calls I built up a rage then burnt out again, then in came a text: ‘Sweetest, esteemed, dear, sister of mine’ (or sort-of those words) ‘Do answer the next call — for it will be, my own lady-love’ Oh, ok this — this was definitely new.

A New Sister I stared at the unknown number on my phone I breathed in and answered; I just said her name In a few words between us, all my tensions dissolved: She would bring from her family, a child's seat for me And make sure my brother, would meet the train where we’d be.

The arrival of a new family member is usually noted by a wedding or the birth of a baby, but this afternoon I had an unexpected call from my brother’s girlfriend. And after the call, I thought, ‘I just witnessed the growth of our family tree — I have a new sister.’

Because this is one way that someone can announce that they are family: They can get in the muck and soothe the seas, for the well-being of the family that they're choosing as theirs.

Sibling silliness aside; I am grateful I can meet my family over Christmas (as I know many cannot this year).