Blanche, Unique’s unique mother, had an average pregnancy. Cravings weren’t overly erratic, she gained 30 pounds which was entirely normal for her size, and she delivered Unique exactly nine months to the day after conception.

Most people would not remember the conception. Or not the specific precise time at which they conceived. Especially couples who try and try. But this particular conception stood out. Most likely the only thing to ever stand out in Unique’s life.

She and Roger put Timothy to bed early after keeping him so active all day. He was such a rambunctious little boy.That was the day he discovered butterflies. Barely walking and still shaky on his feet he ran after them. “Flutterby!” Pointing and running. Screaming and laughing. “Flutterby!” Blanche laughed so hard when she first heard her son. Timmy looked at her, pointed his finger and ordered “No laugh Mommy. No laugh.” His personality sure showed early signs of a no-mess, no-fuss boy.

Roger helped him capture his first butterfly. He held it cupped in his hands. Timmy opened his hand hoping to hold it. “Me Daddy!” Roger winked towards his wife and said “Sure Timmy” he opened his hands towards him and the butterfly flew away sending Timothy chasing after it. “Wheeee!”

Rodge joined Blanche who was sitting on a blanket in the shade. He leaned towards her using his shift in weight to collapse on her making her laugh. “My wine! Stop it, you’ll make me spill!” Roger half kissed her, half bit her neck. Positioned like this she could feel him. “Knock-knock,” he said. “Coming!” she answered. That was their secret cue. Their way of letting each other know what they wanted.

Sometimes, in the middle of a dinner with friends, Roger would look at Blanche as she was deep in a conversation and simply utter those two magical words in her ear “Knock-knock.” And she knew it was time to start thinking of heading back home.

They remained on the blanket holding hands, playing with each other’s fingers. Darting, squeezing, tickling – only their fingers touched as they kept a watchful eye over their son. This was the most intriguing and open session of foreplay they’d ever experienced. Her legs tingled as her body warmed to Roger’s gaze. The longer they sat on the blanket the hungrier they got. Finally Roger broke the spell and slapped his hands together. He jumped up and turned towards his wife holding his hands out. She grabbed them and he pulled her up and held her tight. “Knock-knock!” she said. He kissed her and let her go to run after Timothy.

She picked up the blanket, the wine bottle and the glasses and made her way back to the house. He threw Timmy over his right shoulder yelling “Potatoes! Who wants taters? I have a big heavy bag for sale!” He shut the door behind him just as Blanche was setting the table.

Anybody who would happen to walk in would know instantly this couple had no interest in their food. They fed a very tired baby boy who struggled to keep his eyes open. Meanwhile, under the table, their feet touched and she playfully tugged on his leg hair pinching it between her big toe and the second one – what she called the toe claw. He winced every time and she loved it.

Blanche picked Timmy up after wiping his face down, and took him up to his room. She put him in his bed, tucked his blanket in and handed him his favorite blue T-Rex teddy. Turned on the night light and half closed his door. Just before leaving his room she looked at him and he was already fast asleep.

“Knock-knock” Roger yelled from their bedroom. Blanche walked in and found him laying on his back, naked with nothing but a red ribbon bow sitting ever so perfectly below his belly-button. “Coming!” she chanted as she joined him. “I have a gift for you… guess what it is!” She laughed “Oh I can’t wait to unwrap it!” she ripped her dress off and dove on the bed plucking the bow and tossing it across the room.

“Finally time for OUR dinner, I’m ravished!”

Two hours later Timmy’s Mom and Dad were covered in sweat, but very happily smiling. Little did he know he had a baby sister on the way. If she could already speak she would say: “Coming!”

………………………………………
Ever wonder where Unique came from? She came from a hot summer night. If I ever pull through with this novel idea of mine, I am hoping to fit it into a YA category. Is there a rule about sex talk in such novels? Is this a stupid question? Of course I read Twilight but, does it make sense having a chapter leading to her birth?

I am planning on really developing a life story for Unique. There will be random chapters that will be diary entries. Ideally these chapters will be handwritten as if a scan of a diary is directly inserted between certain chapters. But I stalled today wondering if my idea is any good at all.

The entire story starts with the end – when she dies. Then I walk the readers through her life. In the end, it will appear extraordinary not for what she did, but for who she was. I would love to know your thoughts on my intended process.