President, Senior Scribes
Buster and Me
By Delbert Blickenstaff 

The water in this swimming pool is just right, and I used to have plenty of room to swim around wherever I wanted to. But a few months ago I got kicked in the head and I realized that I wasn’t alone. And I remember hearing Mom talk about her little “twinnies” so I decided that there must be two of us. She even called us boys, as if there is anything else we could be. 

Mom reads and talks to us all the time, so I have learned quite a lot. For example, I know that Buster (I gave him that name) and I won’t live our whole lives in this comfortable swimming pool. Eventually we will get born, which means we’ll get to see Mom and everything else that she talks about. One person I’m anxious to see is Dad. He doesn’t talk to us like Mom does, but I can tell that his voice is different, so I know he is a different person. 

There are many questions that I want answered and I finally figured out that the reason there is a Dad in he picture is to answer my questions. Buster doesn’t say anything, so I don’t think I’ll get much out of him. And Mom will be really busy because I have heard her talking about bottles, and diapers, and feedings. When will she have time to sleep? 

Well, it’s almost time for us to be born now and I’m looking forward to it, I think. But I’ve noticed that Buster has changed his position, with his head down. Maybe he thinks that if he stays in that position he’ll be the first one out. Well, Buster, you’ve got another think coming. I’ll just stick my right leg down beside your head so you can’t get out. There, now what is the Doctor going to do?

Now there are movements in the walls of our swimming pool which the Doctor calls contractions. They are somewhat uncomfortable, but not painful. The Doctor realized that things were not moving along as he expected so he ordered an ultrasound. Then he found out that my leg was coming down alongside of Buster’s head and he told Mom that he couldn’t deliver two babies at the same time. So he was going to do a C-section. 

Wow! That’s a new word, and I don’t know exactly what it means. But Mom doesn’t seem to be worried, so I’m OK with the change in plans. The Doctor moved us to the surgery room and another Doctor put Mom to sleep. I got a little sleepy too. Then I heard him say that he was going to use a transverse incision. Doesn’t that sound impressive. It didn’t take him long to get both Buster and me out and that was a real shock! 

The first thing I noticed was the bright light, and how cold the air was. But someone dried me off with a warm cloth, put a warm blanket around me, and put a warm cap on my head. I let out a loud WAA anyway, and found out that I could talk. Then I heard Buster WAA also. Wow, what if we learn how to talk to each other. That might be fun. Well, Buster, it’s you and me against the world. With a little help from Mom. 

Delbert Blickenstaff