Ditta Sylvester, Contributor

Sylvester

Slosh, slosh! Nice. Here we are, my brother and I, swimming and bouncing around in this warm, safe place. It's great in here, but I am still dying to get out into that big world of yours and meet you guys. We need more space, you understand? My brother doesn't say much, but he likes to kick and bounce around in our Mommy's nice jell-like juice. I think I will be the talker and he the athlete when we get out there. Heck, I am talking to you already!

We don't have names yet, so for the purpose of conversation, I'll be Twin A and my brother Twin B.

From what I can gather from the voices coming in here, our mom is a nice, young girl. Her name is Karen. My dad? Well he's a bit of a puzzle. His name is Mark and he is supposed to be some kind of important, rich person. I like that! B and I will have lots of nice toys and things to play with. But from what we can hear, Dad has some other lady called a "wife" and that seems to be posing a problem. Guess B and I will have two mommies, which is fine by me.

birth control

I'll find out more about that and "birth control" when I get out there. That's a phrase we hear often from outside there.

Stop that, B! Stop kicking!

He always gets upset when our mommy shouts and she is shouting now.

"I won't do it, Mark," she says. "I won't!"

"Well if you don't, you are on your own. I cannot afford this scandal." That's our dad. "Why didn't you use birth control, Karen?"

He sounds real mad. Now he is making our mommy cry. Wait! I think he is leaving. Yes. Mommy seems to be alone now, but for B and me. She is still crying. I want to hit that man for hurting my mommy!

"Hush my dear! Never mind."I think that's the voice of our grandma. She's quite nice. "Never mind," Grandma says again. "Maybe he is right, you know. You are still young. You could have children when the time is right."

What is she talking about? We - B and me - will be Karen's children! But Grandma is still talking to Mommy:

"Having them will hold you back for sure. What about your studies?" Grandma asks.

Mommy says nothing. (Who are "them" and what are "studies?") Well at least she has stopped crying now. Then she asks,

"So you believe I should really let the doctor do it?"

"Yes dear, you have to," Grandma tells her. "Mark has no intention of leaving his wife or helping you in any way. How will you manage by yourself? I don't make enough to take care of you, me and two children."

"I wish Dad were still with us!" Mom says.

exciting

I wish so myself! Can you imagine losing a granddad before you even get born?

"Well, we can't bring him back, Dear," Grandma sighs.

Silence. Then Mommy says very quietly,

"Okay."

"'Okay? You mean you'll do it?" Grandma asks.

"Yes," Mom answers. "As you say, there seems to be no other way." She sounds real sad.

"Good," Grandma says, "That is the right thing to do. I'll make an appointment with the doctor for tomorrow."

Isn't that exciting? We are going to see the doctor! B and I like the doctor. He treats Mommy very nicely and is always concerned about how "those guys" (B and me) are doing. He touches and rubs Mommy's belly very gently and sometimes he asks:

"You two okay in there?" I wish I could answer him. The doctor is so nice and funny!

Well, tomorrow should be quite a big day for us so I think I'll take a little sleep now.

eating for three

We got to the doctor's office some time about midday. I know that because Grandma just asked Mommy if she wanted her to get her some lunch.

Mommy said, "No, thanks."

Then she said something which I still can't quite figure: "At least I won't have to eat for three anymore."

I thought Grandma would say something to explain that remark, but she only sighed.

"Karen Jennings!" somebody calls.

Mom gets up. We are going in to the doctor now.

"Hello. I am Doctor Julius," a man says.

I don't know this voice. He tells Mom to lie on the bed. And guess what? This is not our nice doctor! Well, B and I will just have to see what this person is up to, I guess.