When Simon Tam was six years old, the sister he had been waiting for finally arrived, and when he was brought to see her, he wrapped his hands around the bassinette and peered down solemnly at the sleeping baby within.

“I’m going to take care of her, right?”

Simon’s parents glanced at each other and then laughed warmly while the nanny smiled discreetly behind her hand.

“Yes Simon, you’re going to take care of her,” Simon’s father said, as he wrapped an arm around his wife’s shoulders, “She’s your mei-mei, and you’re going to be a wonderful big brother.”

Simon reached out a hand to touch the baby’s cheek and the three adults stepped forward to stop him, but instead of waking, the baby turned her head towards her brother’s hand and let out the tiniest of breaths.

Simon withdrew his hand and then looked up at his mother.

“What’s her name again?”

Simon’s mother knelt down opposite him on the other side of the bassinette.

“River, Simon,” she said, as her eyes swept down over the sleeping baby. “Her name is River.”

“River,” Simon repeated.

Simon’s father cleared his throat. “Well, I think that’s enough for now,” he said, and the nanny stepped forward to lead Simon away. He hesitated slightly, and his father smiled down at him.

“Don’t worry Simon, you’ll see her tomorrow.”

Simon looked up with large eyes at his father. “Because I’m taking care of her, right?”

His father chuckled, “Right.”

THE END.