The Mockingbird's Ballad

Lou was soon asleep. Solon kept vigil until dawn.

===

"What we gonna name our team here, Lou?" Solon sat in the old cherry rocker holding one of the twins. Lou held the other to her breast and he was heartily enjoying his first breakfast. Mama Bear had put an end to discussion of the names for the baby during Lou's pregnancy.

"Don't do that, Little Sister! Bring bad on them. Ain't a human being till we hold 'em. We wait till its real. No bad spirit in this house while I'm here, Lordy, such talk. No, no Mockingbird, you mustn't, now you listen to me." The old woman had gotten as excited as Lou had seen in years.

"Yes, Mama, we won't," Lou assured her, "You got the first born, husband. What you want to name him? We got lots of good strong names in my family - John, Norman, Alexander, Joseph, Thomas, Amos." Through her tiredness she radiated joy and love. Solon smiled back into Lou's warm, brown eyes with unrestrained appreciation and love.

"They're all good, Lou, real good. But let's set this one a new heritage." He paused thoughtfully. "I favor James."

Lou waited a moment, turning the name over in her mind. "Well, he haven't had one. He, they, both of 'em, are something special after all this time. Thought you were just a dried up old man there after awhile. And now two - boy children!" She blushed with her joke but stuck to it and played it out. Looking seriously at Solon for a couple of seconds before laughing out loud, bouncing the baby. "Oh Lord, that hurts," she quickly recognized. Solon smiled back sheepishly then threw back his head in a full joyful tribute.

"Serves you right mocking your virile husband woman." The baby in his lap, wrapped in Mama Bear's special quilt made and saved since the wedding for this use, looked startled and Solon stopped his frolic and tended the wrap and his boy. He returned to the business at hand.

"James, Lou, for Jesus' brother - not that the other one there is the Savior - but because James' Letter says, 'Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only . . Faith if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." I like that. Dead faith without doing something for others and God. What you think?"

"I like it fine, real fine, Solon," she said and did. "How about James Taylor Stevenson? Taylor for the governor! Why not since we're plowing new ground!"

"And for old Zach! Yes, Lou, that's a good name."

"What about this little sweet, puny one?" Lou said with tenderness.