“Ow!” I grabbed my cramping belly and slid to the kitchen floor. “What wong, mama?” she asked, hugging me. “Mama’s not feeling well.” “Bubbles?” “Sure. Bubbles are over there.” I gestured towards the container, near a squashed raisin. “Open!” I opened the container. She grasped the wand and blew a raspberry. “Mama do it!” she ordered. Still in pain, I sat up and blew, bubbles flying. She opened her arms. “Yay! More bubbles!” The cramp subsided as more rainbow bubbles floated over the dirty floor. I couldn’t clean or more bleeding and cramps would come. I breathed and blew again.
Shana Naugle is an adjunct professor and a mother.