Twins' Double Victory. Karen Jones

I woke up during the night when we heard Mother and Dad arguing, but we put our pillows over our heads and usually fell back to sleep.

      While our parents were preoccupied with their problems, my twin and I were turned loose during the summer to raise ourselves.

      On one sunny morning, we wandered down to the harbor nearby and dumped seawater over the boxed pears that were to be loaded onto a ship. We saw people shaking their heads and acting like they felt sorry we weren’t being looked after.

      That evening, Mother said to Emily and me, “Go into the living room and wait for me there. I need to talk to both of you.”

      Emily rolled her eyes at me before we left our bedroom and headed for the couch. “I bet we’re in trouble for messing up those pears,” she said. “The two ladies we saw staring at us probably told Mother what we did.”

      “Shush,” I said. “She’s coming.”

      Mother pulled a chair up close to my sister and me and sat down after wiping her eyes with a hanky. “You know that your father and I haven’t been getting along very well for a good while,” she said. “Your daddy and I decided to get a divorce. When it becomes final, we’ll no longer be married. Your father moved out this morning to a place he rented on Bainbridge Island.”

      “Do you and Daddy still love us?” I asked, trying hard not to cry.

      Mother wiped more tears away while reaching out to hug Emily and me. “Your daddy and I still love both of you the same as before, and you had nothing to do with our problems.”

      “Will we ever get to see Daddy again?” Emily asked, between sniffles.

      “Yes, of course. An hour ago, your father began bragging over the telephone about making plenty of money from working part time at the logging camp and part time on his new job for his friend, Carl.

      “I wish you could live with me. But I need to find work and a hotel room to live in before this house goes back to the bank because I can’t make the loan payments.

      “Since school starts tomorrow, I suggested to your father that he take both of you, and he agreed. You need to pack up your things now. He’s coming for you tonight.”

      Emily ran for the bedroom, and I followed her before Mother could see my tears. We looked at each other, but we didn’t speak. I wanted to live with both of my parents, and I felt angry.