Starlight and Sunlight

Dad was in Iowa again for the week.
It was gift day for Puck. Francis had won him a stuffed tiger shark at the church’s fall festival. And Linnea had won him a stuffed puffin, a yellow punching balloon with a smiley face on the front, and a slide whistle, because one of Puck’s new favorite things was the whistle in the toy drawer at the house. Puck was very pleased.
All morning, the rain fell in silver splashes. Thunder rumbled in the west.
The big news of the day came in the afternoon. Starlight and Sunlight were delivered early in the morning, weighing 6 lbs., 9 oz., and 6 lbs., 2 oz., respectively. Starlight the elder, and Sunlight the younger. More Snicketts girls to add to the clan.
While news was passed around from hour to hour via Grandma Snicketts, Puck was busy with his aunts and uncles. When caught eating tiny plastic beads in the living room by Carrie, Carrie plopped him into her lap and began to chant to him:

“No eating beads,
“No eating beads,
“Beads are not food,
“Beads are not food,
“No eating plastic,
“No eating plastic.”

That evening, Collette joined Mom, Carrie-Bri, and Linnea, in visiting the twins at the hospital. They brought gifts: a cherry blossom gift basket from Bath & Body Works for Nerissa, and a Blockbuster gift card for both her and Bristol.
The twins were beautiful little things, so tiny and warm and sleeping peacefully. Mom cuddled Starlight, and Collette held Sunlight. Steady streams of visitors had been coming and going all day, so they didn’t stay for long, but they were able to talk to Bristol and Nerissa. Bristol was even wearing a pink collared shirt in honor of his new little girls.
“They’re very pretty,” he said.
They were very proud. The babies were healthy, and happy to be in the world.
Mom and the girls ended the evening with a visit to Rose’s place of employment. They ordered wraps, Mom a hand-squeezed lemonade, and Collette an orange crème cooler.
It was a good day.