"My New Brother" was conceived in a Fort Collins hospital the day after my nephew was born. Jessica, my niece, had been imperiously demanding to hold him for an hour. My brother and his wife, having heard about sibling rivalry, were understandably reluctant to begin this new adventure in parenthood.

"The situation began to deteriorate in direct proportion to Jessica's increasing vociferousness. Sensing a favorable resolution, the three year-old perched on several pillows in preparation to receive her doll-sized brother.

"Viewed from the front you can see the beginning of a shy smile, while from her left side, the jealous pout is evident. Jessie is conscientiously doing all the right things: support his head, hold firmly, not too tight now, don't move, use your knee to clamp him in place if he wriggles, don't worry about your sandal falling off, sigh knowingly."