Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 108124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
“What’s derogatory? Is that like purgatory?”
“No, it means—”
“Why do people like boobs?” he interrupted. “The boys told me they did.”
I chuckled. “It’s just something they like because they don’t have them, maybe? Well, guys do have breasts, but typically not large ones…most of the time.”
“They said Uncle Levi’s friend had fake boobs! How do you get those? Can I get them? I don’t want them for me. I just want to know if I could, like, buy them for Uncle Levi for Christmas.”
Bending my head back in laughter, I couldn’t contain myself long enough to address that before he posed another question.
“Where do babies come from?”
Shutting off the water, I wiped my forehead with the back of my arm. “What made you bring that up now?”
“Well, when those boys were talking about boobs, they started telling me where babies come from, and I want to see if they’re right.”
Shit. I swallowed. “What exactly did they tell you?”
“I want you to explain it first.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s weird, and I don’t want to have to say it out loud if it’s not true.”
As I stood there with my mouth agape, unable to figure out what to say, Levi walked in.
He threw his keys on the counter and looked between the two of us. “What’s up?”
Alex turned to him. “I just asked Mom where babies come from, and I’m waiting for her to tell me.”
Levi’s eyes widened. He and I stared at each other with an oh-shit look.
This was a talk I’d always hoped Alex would have with Tanner, and I was certainly less than prepared to be having it now.
Levi cleared his throat. “What brought this on?”
“It started because of that girl with big tits you were with.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Levi shook his head. “Back up. And who taught you that word?”
“The kids at the playground. They were talking about some girl you were on the Internet with.”
Levi sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. “This is a conversation I wasn’t planning to have today, but if you want, let’s all sit down and talk about it.” He turned to me. “If your mom is okay with that.”
I nodded.
The three of us took a seat at the table. I had no clue how this was going to go down.
Levi twiddled his thumbs while I bounced my knees up and down. Alex just kept looking back and forth between us, waiting for someone to answer his damn question.
“Okay, Uncle Levi’s going to explain everything,” I finally said, turning to him. “Right?”
Levi’s eyes went wide. “I am?”
“Yeah, I think it would be nice if it came from you. You know, man to man.”
I watched as Levi’s ears turned red. Then he proceeded to grab his phone and scroll.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Googling birds and bees talk.”
After a few minutes, Levi flipped his phone around and faced it toward Alex.
I momentarily panicked. “What are you showing him?”
“Relax. It’s an e-book for kids about where babies come from. We’re gonna read it together.”
I exhaled. That was actually an amazing idea. I pulled my chair around to their side of the table. Over the next several minutes, I watched as Alex’s uncle read him every page of the book, which illustrated the anatomical differences between males and females and explained the process of how babies are made in as innocent a way as possible.
I watched and listened as Levi stopped to answer each question Alex threw at him. For someone who didn’t have kids, he certainly handled this situation like the champ he was—unlike me, who had totally frozen.
“How old were you when you found out where babies came from?” he asked Levi.
“I think I was about eight when my dad told me. So, only a little older than you.”
“Thank you for explaining it, Uncle Levi.” He stood up from his chair. “Now I’m gonna go puke, cuz it’s sort of gross to think Dad did that to Mom.”
Levi patted Alex on the shoulder. “You do what you need to do, buddy.”
After Alex ran out, I shook my head. “You totally saved the day there. Thank you. I don’t know why I froze up like that. I’ve often thought about the moment he’d ask me, but I totally wasn’t prepared.”
Levi shrugged. “I winged it.”
“You did amazing.”
“Well…anything for him.”
“That was a conversation he should’ve had with his dad. But if not with Tanner, I’m glad it was with you.”
“It’s the least I could do for him.” He paused. “Speaking of Tanner, have you heard from him at all?”
“No. Not in the past couple of weeks. I do expect him to check in soon, though. He doesn’t usually let it go past a few weeks.”
Levi shook his head. “It’s shocking to me that he hasn’t tried harder to be a better father. It makes me feel like he’s struggling more than I realize. Only someone terribly wrapped up in their own head acts like that.” Levi rested his head in his hands. “I do worry about him.”