Chapter 87: Growing family

The twins were slowly, painfully learning to walk. It took a lot of patience and a lot of cooperation. Jerry was learning to work with his brother, instead of against him. Jerry would struggle to his feet, only to find Joey tangled up with him; down they would both go in a heap.
   Joey and Jerry liked to play with the goats and chickens. Mary watched carefully to make sure the twins were not injured. "They're so cute!" she beamed. Joe nodded. Standing, the twins were as tall as their favorite goat, Matilda. They pulled at her tail, but Matilda didn't seem to mind. She seemed to understand that the twins were special humans who needed her care.
   “I Suwannee,” Marge said. “I never seen no goat take to chillen as that one did to these.”
   Jerry even tried to mount Matilda, but of course it didn’t work; there was no room for Joey. Joe solved the problem by getting another goat. He lifted the twins onto the backs of the goats so they could ride in tandem. It worked perfectly, despite the worried protestations of their mother. The twins giggled and laughed out loud. It was the first time either Mary or Joe had seen Jerry so excited and happy. "Tiiaa," he cried, trying to say the goat's name.

   Marge watched with concern. “Frank died afore we had young’uns of our own,” Marge explained without being asked. She hovered over the twins like a plump mother hen.

   Joey worshipped Jerry, in spite of his twin's rough and sometimes cruel tricks. Anything Jerry did was fine with Joey. Jerry always took the lead in the in the games they played. Their baby babbling was slowly turning into words. The first clear sound Joey made was not "Mama," and not "Da-da." It was "Jerry!"

   A few weeks later, they were all sitting in front of the TV after enjoying Marge’s Southern dinner of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, squash, black-eyed peas and cornbread. There was a show about the daily lives and tribulations of a family of dwarfs, and how they managed living in a world of “big” people.
   Marge became serious and turned to Mary and Joe. “I heered about a group that helps folks with Siarmeses twins,” she said. “I don’t want to butt into yore business, but mebbe they could hep you. Lord knows you could use some hep raisin’ them young’uns.”
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   When one twin got sick, the other immediately joined in. They were fortunate to be in generally good health, but they frequently had difficulty breathing, especially when they came down with flu or cold.
   “You know,” Mary suddenly said one day, “we really could use some money to help raise these kids -- especially now.”
   “What do you mean?” Joe asked.
   “Now that we’ve got another one coming along,” Mary replied, and winked at Joe.