All afternoon, Wayne cried for the soft toy Simba he had played with earlier while in the doctor’s waiting room.

He wouldn’t stop, wouldn’t sleep, wouldn’t play with any other toys. His fever had abated, but he had napped in the car on the way home, he was hungry, he ate, and then he had renewed energy to cry and cry for Simba.

Alan jumped into the car, drove to Walmart, bought a stuffed lion cub, but it made Wayne even more hysterical- he threw it to the ground screaming- it wasn’t the right shape.

Alan’s face darkened. Jodi looked at him, and that familiar knot of anxiety and terror tightened in her chest. She picked up Wayne and said they’re going for a walk so Alan could get some work done.

She blamed Wayne for it, she couldn’t help it. But it had started when she was pregnant with Wayne- Alan had been nothing but a kind decent man before. She was at the Family Clinic for her regular check up, and the nurse had asked her if her husband ever hit her. She was startled- she had no bruises or anything, how had the nurse guessed? Then the nurse told her they were supposed to ask because many men became violent after their partners became pregnant.

“Oh that’s interesting!” Jodi said in a light if shaky voice.

“I know right? You would think the opposite” the nurse replied and they moved on.

Jodi knew once Wayne was born, Alan would change back. But he didn’t. She understood, Wayne was such a needy, demanding baby, after all who could blame his dad from snapping from time to time, with all that work and worry.

Now Wayne was almost two years old, and it showed no sign of stopping. In fairness to Alan, Wayne was just as demanding as he was an infant. Look at him, still sobbing while toddling ahead “Shimba!! Shi…hi…himbaaaa!” Jodi tugged his bright red leash so he wobbled even more. She fought the urge to tug really hard so Wayne would fall and smash his head against the pavement, and she could go home without him. Surely Alan would change back once Wayne was no longer with them. They were almost home, at the front door, and she hesitated, even though it was freezing and in her haste to get out she had forgotten her gloves.

“Shi…i..i..mbaa!” called out Wayne. God please let him sleep once they got in. Please let Alan be in a good mood. She fumbled at the door with her key. “Shimba!” cried Wayne delightedly, no longer crying. Something big, yellow, and furry jumped by her, knocked the door down and went right inside, Wayne was clapping his hands and laughing. Jodi heard Alan scream and then a big young lion, no longer a cub emerged from indoors with a bloody muzzle and claws, he bent down and nuzzled Wayne, leaving blood on his face, and then bounded off.