Running.
That’s my name—Running…deer.
Dakota Runningdeer.
I got the Runningdeer part from Mama
but she doesn't seem to have to live it—
not like I do.
Did.
Do?
Or maybe in a different way.
Yeah.
She is always doing
going
running around.
But not in the literal sense
like I was.
I was always running to stay ahead
to get ahead
of Indy.
Indigo.
My twin brother.
The family story is that
he was conceived first,
at high noon in the full sun
on Summer Solstice.
Then little Dakota slipped in at midnight
under a cloud-veiled cresent moon.
Anyone who says conception
is not a factor in your life
didn't have one like mine.
And Indy's.
Always me and Indy.
Dakota and Indigo.
Da and Indy.
So.
My first memory:
running, literally,
as fast as I could to keep up with
get ahead of
stay ahead of Indy
and his long legs.
Another of the family stories
is that Indy was on top inside Mom.
I was upside down,
my head nestled inside her pelvic bone,
the right way for a baby to be
but Indy was standing up
his head under Mom's heart
(she always loved him best).
And then he'd sit down.
On my head.
Now this might sound crazy
but my parents are both doctors
and Mom specializes in birthing
and Dad was (allegedly)
beside himself at finding himself
the soon-to-be-father of twins
and is psychic
and so kept in constant contact—
literally, physically,
and psychically, emotionally,
spiritually—
with us while we were in the womb.
I don't remember him doing that
with Emma
and I wasn't around
when River was in utero
(Dad wasn't really either,
come to think of it).
Montana says Dad walked around
with his hand on Mom's belly
about half the time
when she was pregnant with us.
And he was concerned about breech birth
though Mom says she wasn't
that when the time came
she knew Indy would take a dive
and come out right.
Which he did, but that's his story.
So. I'm always running.
Indy got conceived first
(and sat on my head),
so Dakota's determined
that she will never be last again.
I'm in position to come out first
(which I did),
got a two and a half hour head start
(as it were),
and I've been running ever since.
And tripping.
And falling.
Two very important parts of the story.
And getting picked up
and having my boo-boos kissed
by my loving Da-Da.
So that's it.
That's my whole life story
in a nutshell, as it were.
Details?
You want details?
Oh. Sigh.
Otay, Buckwheat.
I guess.
© copyright 2005 Maggie Wilson
