(c) Somebody’s Always Hungry, 2011
Nathan says, “Why’d you pick my name?”
In bed, we’re laying four across like thick railroad ties. Nathan and Emma in the
middle, me and Barry risking the outer edges.
It’s pretty quiet. It’s a Thursday, the book has been read, the light turned off;
Nathan’s wearing a T-shirt and boxers in the middle of winter, Emma’s in her
princess pjs that she hasn’t taken off in two days.
“We liked Nathan.”
He’s quiet.
“Don’t you like it?”
“No. I want a different one.”
“Like what?”
He thinks. “…Paul.”
“Paul?!”
He nods.
“Why?” I’m wondering who at school is named Paul, where he heard Paul, why
suddenly Paul.
“I don’t know. I like Paul.”
“Hmm.” I think about it. “I have a friend who knows someone called Paul Small. Isn’t
that a funny name?”
“I like that. Paul Small.”
“Should we call you Paul Small?”
“Yeah. Daddy can be Paul Big.”
“Or Paul Tall.”
Emma says “I wanna be somebody.”
“How ’bout you’re Molly Small.”
“I wanna be Andre.”
“ANDRE?”
“Yeah. Emma Andre.”
“Okay.”
Daddy says “Goodnight Paul Small.”
“Goodnight Paul Big.”
“Paul Tall.”
“Paul Tall.”
The next day it’s raining. We’re outside raking some leaves up off the cement by the
pool. Nathan is trying to fix his bike. He’s sitting on the tricycle, bundled in his
winter clothes, tying some string onto the bike. Mumbling to himself as I pass him.
“I’m Paul Wet right now,” he says to himself. I start laughing.
Later that day I tell him he’s Paul Tired.
Now we’re all Paul something. Paul Grumpy. Paul Hungry. Paul Dirty. For three days
we’re a Paul family. It’s like there’s never been a time when we weren’t a Paul.
Then by the fourth day, he forgets about it. Because once you’ve been a Nathan for
five years, it’s hard to remember to be a Paul.
Excerpt from Juliet’s new book,
Somebody’s Always Hungry
A Good Name: Paul Small
by Juliet Myfanwy Johnson
Nathan at about four
