Bruce Cameron - May I Present Mr. and Mrs. Barracuda

W. Bruce Cameron

My 8-year-old nephew, Ethan, has an Ultra-Black-Ops Commando Infiltrator Action Figure that comes with a Gatling gun and assorted other wholesome weapons. The doll’s name is Lt. Cobra Barracuda.

“It’s not a doll, Uncle Bruce,” Ethan says scornfully.

Ethan’s next-door neighbors are twin 10-year-olds, Jenna and Jaynee, who have long been playmates of his despite the fact that they are girls. Ethan recently went to a birthday party at their house.

“Which one of them had a birthday?” I asked him.

“They’re twins, Uncle Bruce,” Ethan answered.

The J-Twins, as they are often called,...