Sharing Shots with Rudi

Short Story by: Netalie

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“Rudi want a popsicle?” I asked my 18-month-old nephew.

“Yess.” His blue eyes were bright with understanding.

He waddled behind me, following me into my kitchen. Opening my refrigerator, I saw a coconut smoothie.

“Rudi, I wonder if you’d like this...” His older brother and sisters often don’t like the healthy food I offer. Rudi, newer to the world, is far more open and explorative. His big siblings reject figs from Oma’s tree, for instance, while Rudi receives them with excitement, holding the purple fruit with reverence.

I poured the thick white liquid into a small plastic cup and kneeled next to him, gently tipping it into his little mouth. It went down the length of the cup too fast, spilling over his chin and shirt.

Looking for an even smaller cup, I found a shot glass. I poured an ounce into the glass and handed it to Rudi. He enclosed it with all five pudgy fingers. I watched as his toddler hand brought the glass to his mouth, hovering my own grownup hand underneath, ready for the glass to drop. He downed the ounce of liquid and his eyes went wide with delight.

“Mh!” he grunted, pointing up to the smoothie container on the counter.

“More?“ I poured him another ounce.

He drained the glass. “Mh!” He lifted it to me for a refill.

His big eyes watched as I replenished his glass. Pouring some into my own cup, I savored the smooth creamy milk.

“Mh!” Little Rudi was handing me his shot glass for more.

I laughed. “Rudi, you are my favorite drinking buddy.”

Submitted: August 29, 2021

Humor drinking new toddler shot-glass