by Scott Zeilstra

My birthday. April 12, 1989 although I was due on the fourteenth, my sister's birthday. She was disappointed that my mom couldn’t wait two more days and not only that; she brought home me, a brother instead of a sister. My mom woke up before the sun had risen or the birds had woken and knew this was the day. They arrived in the dark and went straight to the delivery room. Joel or Scott, Joel or Scott was the debate. They finally decided on Scott because Joel was too confusing. One syllable or two? Scott E. Zeilstra. E. stands for nothing because we were sick of the ‘Edward’ family middle name. A few hours after birth, my breathing stopped. Turning blue, the nurses took action by putting me on a breathing monitor which I had for seven months. I never had any problems but it was there as a precaution. Coming home the day after being born to a five year old brother and a hostile eight year old sister but my aunt consoled Kim by telling her that she felt the same way when her mom brought home a third brother.