Early November everybody at the Ponderosa was looking forward to the upcoming family extension of Adam and Sally. And the parents to be the most. Sally was pregnant with twins. Together with his son Mitch Adam had decorated the nursery.
On Tuesday November 6 Sally wasn’t feeling alright which everyone noticed. She rested a lot and Hoss and Joe Cartwright had gone away for chores. Adam had given his son enough homework to get through the day. Ben was busy with the administration and helped his grandson with his homework in the time.
Around 10.30 Adam came to check on his wife was in bed.
“How is it?”, Adam asked smiling while he grabbed her hand.
“Adam, I believe that they are coming”, said Sally.
“I will call the doctor”, answered Adam.
He got his cell phone and phoned doctor Paul Martin.
“Doc, you better can come to the ranch because it is time”, said Adam.
“How much time is there between the contractions?”, asked Paul.
“Sally, how much time is there between the contractions?”, asked Adam.
“Five”, she said while she just got a contraction.
“Five and it looks like the twins are coming soon”, said Adam.
“I come at once”, said Paul.
“He is coming”, said Adam.
Sally remained notably calm despite the contractions.
“Adam, I hope that the doctor comes in time because I don’t hold the twins inside anymore and I have push contractions”, she said suddenly.
“Just keep them inside for a moment because the doctor is coming”, said Adam.
“I want to keep them inside but they want to come their selves”, reacted his wife.
She got more heavy push contractions but she kept on a brave face.
“Adam, I feel it coming”, she said suddenly.
Adam went to sit by Sally. At that moment doctor Paul Martin came in.
“The twins are coming”, Sally said gasping.
Paul examined Sally and said, “Just begin with pushing.”
She began to push and gave birth a second later to a daughter.
Paul received the first baby.
“It is a girl and very healthy”, he said smiling.
“Our daughter gets the name Lisa”, said Adam.
Lisa got put into her crib.
“There comes the second one”, said Sally.
“Just start to push”, said Paul.
Sally took a breath and went to push again with support of Adam. A moment later they had become parents of a second healthy son.
“This time it is a boy”, said Paul.
“We name him Benji”, Adam said proud as a peacock.
He kissed his wife of happiness. Both babies started to cry. “They are both healthy. Congratulations”, said Paul.
Downstairs Ben and Mitch heard the crying and they knew enough.
“Well Mitch, I think that you are no longer an only child now”, said the rancher.
“I know it for sure”, reacted the boy.
When Paul came downstairs the doctor said, “Mitch, you have gotten a little brother and a little sister and your parents want that you see them now.”
The boy ran upstairs, even though he knew that running in the Cartwright household was forbidden. Ben and Paul watched him.
In the bed room of his parents Mitch saw the twins.
“Doc said they were born”, said the boy.
“Indeed”, said Adam.
Mitch saw the baby’s and was silent for a second. But that didn’t last long.
“What are they small”, said the boy.
“Now yes but they grow fast enough. Just like you”, said Sally.
“You were also so small when you were just born”, said Adam.
“What are their names?”, Mitch wanted to know.
“Your sister is called Lisa and her full name is Elizabeth and your brother has as full name Benjamin but we call him Benji”, said Sally.
Mitch went to his room and came back with two presents.
“For the twins”, he said giving the presents to his father.
Adam unwrapped them and smiled.
“Mitch, thank you for the rabbits. But would you like to do something for us?”, asked Sally.
“And that is?”, the boy asked worried.
“You can draw very well so would you like to make a picture-book for the twins? Now they can’t use it yet but in a few months they can”, answered his stepmother.
“Alright”, said Mitch.
“Go and get grandpa now or otherwise he will see the twins when they are going to study”, said Adam.
Mitch went downstairs again and said to Ben, “Grandpa, you must be quick because the twins will go and study soon.”
The rancher went upstairs and saw his new grandchildren.
“Congratulations both with the twins”, Ben said smiling.
“Thanks pa”, Adam said on behalf of Sally.
Ben was proud as a peacock of his new grandchildren and got to hold them.
“They are called Lisa and Benji”, Sally said Sally who was clearly tired.
“We let you and the twins recover and have lunch. After that Mitch and I will give notice of their birth”, said Adam.
He got the twins and they got put into their cribs. Ben and Adam went downstairs so that Sally and the twins could sleep.
During lunch Adam asked, “Mitch, are you coming along to give notice of the twins at the city hall?”
“Alright. Mustn’t uncle Hoss and uncle Joe be warned that the twins are there?”, Mitch asked on his turn.
“They hear and see them when they come home tonight. I want that your mother gets rest this afternoon. When you were born your mother had it tough already and Sally even had it tougher with 2 at the same time”, answered Adam.
“You have never told me around my birth”, said Mitch.
“Well, your mother noticed that you came when she was helping Hop sing with supper. From that moment till you were born I helped your mother with your birth. We were deliriously happy with your arrival. Though the doctor thought that you would come later but I think that you would love to celebrate Christmas with us instead of a year later”, told Adam.
He noticed that Mitch liked it well to finally have a brother and a sister. Even though they were still very little.
“The twins will ask a lot of time and attention from your parents the upcoming weeks”, said Ben.
“That doesn’t matter because you, uncle Hoss and uncle Joe can help me too with my school work. And otherwise I will ask it Candy or Griff”, reacted Mitch.
He showed totally no jealousy at all to big satisfaction and relief of Adam.
The arrival of the twins made sure for a new and happy time in the Cartwright household.