Chapter 11

The twins and Bitty were watching the sunset above the lovers from the salon. From up there, the twins could see that their parents were kissing again, and now they were having a tickle fight. They were discussing this in Twinbabble® while Bitty kneeled on the couch with them, watching the sun slowly sink into the west and listening to the twins converse. It sounded like baby talk, but they could understand each other. Yi-jin came up behind them and said, “What ‘cha talking about?”

The twins looked at each other, then at Yi-jin. “Things,” said Sandy.

“Nothing,” said Madeline.

“Nothing,” they said together.

“They have their own language,” said Bitty. “Only they can understand it. Maybe they’re French.”

“No, I don’t think they’re French squirt. Come on guys, help me put up these decorations.”

Sandy and Madeline looked at each other. Decorations are some of their favorite things, but papa wasn’t here to lift them up to put up the decorations. Their mom was dominating his time. They looked through the items that Yi-jin placed on the table in the Salon, garland and streamers and shiny gold twirly things that hung from the ceiling, and a few round Christmas ornaments, all of her decorations were gold. But one was green.

“Missile Toast!” the twins gasped.

“You know what this is?” asked Yi-jin, surprised the twins could name it.

“Yeah!” exclaimed Sandy. “It worked for mom and Mister Paul. He’s now our papa!”

“We think Aunty Lucy and Mister Gus need some more. They’re not married yet,” added Madeline.

“Oh? Did Aunty Lucy and Mister Gus stand under the mistletoe?”

“Missile TOAST!”

“Sorry, when did they stand under the missile toast?”

“Right after the wedding,” said Madeline.

“We still had our pretty dresses on,” added Sandy.

“Pajamas,” said Madeline, “our Christmas fairy pajamas.”

“Dresses.”

“Pajamas.”

“DRESSES!”

“PAJAMAS!”

The two little blonds started quibbling in Twinbabble® then paused. “Pajamas,” said Sandy like there was never a question.

“That’s only a week. Give it time.” Yi-jin shook her head with a smile. These kids are a riot.

Soon the garland and the ornaments were up, the gold of the decorations glittered and were reflected by the abundance of stainless steel in the salon’s décor. The missile toast was hung over the hatchway leading below deck to the cabins.

The twins hadn’t been down in the cabin area yet and were eager to explore, so they zoomed down the gangway to see what was down there. There was a pleasant room with a gigantic bed and the walls bent in at the front of the boat. “This is the VIP suite; your Aunt Macy and Uncle John will be sleeping here when they get here tomorrow. Here’s their potty...” she was interrupted by Sandy closing the door and mounting the ‘throne’. When she was done, Madeline took her turn. “You guys, why didn’t you say you had to go?”