The nursery was usually a place of soft chirps and sleepy silence, but today, it was filled with the indignant, piercing shrieks of its newest arrival. Kumo, a newborn just a few days old, was in the middle of a spectacular tantrum. His most striking features—a big head that seemed almost too heavy for his neck and enormous, liquid round eyes—were now the epicenter of his outrage. Those eyes, usually wide with curiosity, were squeezed shut in protest, and his large head wobbled fiercely as he cried.
The cause of his fury? A routine health check. The caregiver had dared to gently lift him from his warm blanket to examine his umbilical stump. To Kumo, this was an unacceptable betrayal. He was hasting a tantrum of pure, unadulterated newborn fury. His limbs flailed, his mouth was a perfect, screaming “O,” and his cries echoed off the walls. He was expressing his displeasure with every fiber of his tiny being.
“It’s okay, little lion,” the caregiver, Anya, murmured, holding him securely but not restricting him. “You are so brave and so loud!” She continued her check with efficient gentleness, knowing the storm would pass. His big head required extra support as he jerked it back and forth, and his round eyes flew open for a second, shooting her a look of profound betrayal, before screwing shut again for another wail.
As quickly as it began, the tempest ended. The moment the exam was over and he was swaddled tightly back into his blanket, the screams hitched. He took a shuddering breath, then another. His round eyes opened, blinking away furious tears to gaze up at Anya. A final, pitiful hiccup escaped him.
Then, exhausted by his own performance, he nuzzled into the cloth, his big head finally settling. The caregiver smiled, placing a tiny bottle in his mouth. He latched on immediately, the tantrum forgotten, his world once again reduced to the simple, comforting rhythm of a meal. The mighty protest was over, leaving behind only a sleepy, satisfied infant with remarkably round eyes and a very big head full of strong opinions.
