It had been a long day at school for Emma. She plodded wearily up the stairs to her bedroom her backpack drooping off her right shoulder. As she pushed open the door to her bedroom she was startled to see Kitty jumping on the bed.
“Kitty,” Emma said sternly, “You know jumping on the bed is illegal, not allowed. You might bump your head and hurt yourself. You might break the bed!”
Kitty bounced onto her backside then fell backwards to lie on the bed with her arms outstretched. “Why do you always fuss at me?” She asked. “I am always doing the wrong thing. Zebra could come jump on the bed and you wouldn’t fuss at him.”
Emma propped her backpack by the corner of her bureau and walked over to stand by the edge of the bed. “What are you talking about?” she asked Kitty.
“I’m talking about how I’m the one that always gets into trouble. When Sea Otter won’t play nicely you always say ‘Now Kitty be agreeable’ and when Snow Leopard leaves the plastic horses scattered around the room you say ‘Kitty help clean up that mess’. Last week Zebra was jumping on the bed and I got in trouble for tattling about it.”
Kitty began to cry tiny, pitiful kitty tears. Emma stroked her head and said, “Kitty you are mighty upset. I fussed at you about jumping on the bed. Do you think that was a good thing to do?”
“No,” sniffed Kitty as she crossed her arms and screwed her lips into a big pout. “I know I shouldn’t jump on the bed but I am tired of behaving right when everyone else gets to do what they want.”
“Snow Leopard did help clean-up the horses,” Emma replied lying down next to Kitty. “And Zebra had to sit in time out for jumping on the bed.”
“But it seems to me like I’m the one who always gets in trouble,” Kitty sniveled.
Emma scratched Kitty between the ears and said, “Kitty you are the oldest you know and that gives you extra responsibility.”
Kitty covered her eyes with her gray paws and big tears dripped underneath her paws and ran down her nabby gray cheeks. “I don’t want to be the oldest.”
Emma patted her head for a minute while she cried. “Kitty,” she said softly, “You just are the oldest because you were here first. We can’t change that. You will always be the oldest Sometimes, you know, being the oldest isn’t so bad. You always get to go on special trips with me because you’re the oldest. You get to spend the night out and go to concerts. You sleep next to me every night. There are lots of good things about being the oldest.”
“But sometimes,” Kitty whispered, “I want someone older to take care of me.”
“Well,” Emma sighed, “This is the way it will always be Kitty. We cannot go back. You will always be the oldest and have special responsibilities. I will always depend on you and expect an extra lot from you. The younger ones like little Harp Seal will always look up to you and learn from you.”
Kitty wiped her eyes. “OK,” she said. “I will do my best. Every now and then will you still hold me and rock me like you used to do?”
“Sure,” said Emma, “But no more jumping on the bed!”