A child played around his house with a wooden sword, lost in his imagination as he enacted the role of a gallant knight. His name was Samuel, and he was nine years old. He was the son of a merchant, and normally, at this hour of the day, he would be assisting his father in their workshop. However, today was different. His mother, also a merchant, wasn't feeling well, so it fell upon Samuel to keep an eye on his baby brother.

  As Samuel swung his wooden sword, pretending to fend off an imaginary nemesis, his mother emerged from her room, clutching her baby belly. With a tired sweep of her eyes, she scanned the room and asked, "Samuel, where's your brother?"

  Samuel glanced around the room, realizing that his brother was nowhere to be seen. With most children, the silence would have alerted him to their absence, but his little brother of his was different. Before his mother could voice her concern, Samuel quickly interjected, feigning knowledge of his brother's whereabouts. "I'll get him right away," he said before hurrying out of the room.

  A few years ago, Samuel was what’s called an only son. Back then he remembered how he had always dreamt of having a little brother or sister to play with. His wish had been granted when his parents blessed him with a baby brother. Samuel had hoped for a brother over a sister, longing for someone to play and rough with like the other children.

  Alas at his arrival and in the few years following his arrival, his little brother, though small and frail like most babies, was different from what Samuel had expected.

  Contrary to his mother's prior warnings about having a baby brother, especially about the incessant crying that she said were a very normal baby-thing, Samuel's brother rarely cried. He was a silent baby, often content to observe his surroundings without making a fuss. As he grew older, he remained quiet, speaking only when necessary. Sometimes, Samuel would forget his brother was even in the room, as his presence blended seamlessly into the background like it just did.

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  Samuel hurried through the house, the gentle patter of his small feet echoing on the wooden floorboards. He searched the usual hiding spots for his baby brother – their room, the garden, even the kitchen – but found no trace of him. He debated calling out but decided against it, not wanting a scolding. Instead, he pressed on until he finally spotted him on the house's veranda.

  "There you are, Clive," Samuel exclaimed, finding him standing in the middle of the patio. "What are you doing? Mom's been looking for you."

  Clive, no older than four, didn't bother to respond, simply shifting his gaze away momentarily before returning to whatever held his attention. Samuel followed his gaze upward, puzzled. The sky was as blue and clear as ever, devoid of any noteworthy sights, not even one of the three moons.

  But Clive, no older than four, remained silent, merely casting a fleeting glance in Samuel's direction before returning his gaze skyward. Curious, Samuel followed his brother's line of sight, but found nothing of interest in the clear blue expanse, not even one of the three moons, the third one being the most prominent in the sky around this time of the year hovering above their head, often casting a temporary eclipse at midday.

  "Hey, what are you looking at?" Samuel asked, only to be met with silence and, this time, not even a glance. Frustrated, he sighed. "Fine, don't tell me. I'm going back inside."

  When Samuel had wished for a little brother, he had hoped for a playmate, a friend, a best friend even. Instead, he got Clive, who not only refused to speak to him but also showed little interest in playing together. Samuel felt a mix of anger and disappointment towards his brother, hoping that the baby their mother carried would be more enjoyable company, whether it were a boy or a girl.