Dear Everyone,

It is with pleasure and sisterly pride that I am announcing the arrival of my 6-hour-old brother. He is 3.5 kilos (Maman thinks that makes 7 pounds and 13 ounces), and about half a meter. His name is Zalán for now, but we may change our mind by the time the registry office opens Monday morning.

Whatever he will be called, I am glad he was finally born. I was shipped to my grandparents three times over the last two weeks, because each time Maman thought it was B-day. Fourth time lucky, as we learned today. When I came back tonight he looked small and blue – but he is the only brother I’ve got and I am really proud of him!

Zalán is much younger than me but he is already a freedom fighter: he insisted on being born at home despite a recent ban on home births by the pocket-minded medical community. Call me a closet-commie, but even the all-powerful politburo didn’t go this far – to prescribe where you can be born!

The books say that I will now be jealous. Maybe later on I will be. But what the books don’t know is that I am now completely in love with my father. I figure that if Zalán keeps Maman busy, Apu will spend all his time with me.

It’s getting late, and I’ve got to go to bed now. I’ve attached a picture of me and my brother – though in the last minute Maman climbed into the background. More pictures are uploaded to www.msevigny.com.

Visitors are welcome, but call first because we may be sleeping. We are looking forward to seeing those of you in Canada in June.

Lots of “puszi” and “becs” from all four of us,

Délia