johan
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Post by johan on May 1, 2007 6:10:31 GMT 1
They walked through the cobble street's streets of the town, it was a lovely day in spring, and the year was 1913. Both figures were young seventeen, teenage boys in the prime of youth filled tender beauty; their hair was a fiery red, and their eyes emerald green. The two eyed boys who walked side by side this day were the best of friends, as well brothers, the fact they were not only siblings but twins was clear because they were identically. Johan was the oldest of the pair by almost a day but you couldn't tell. It was very hard to tell them apart at all in fact, this sometimes annoyed them, but they ever seemed to get mad at each other very often.
They were each other's only playmates for a while. Before father moved here he was a doctor out west while their mother was a missionary to the native people which lived in those wild desert lands in the mountains there. They had lived in a settlement there among other pioneers, in that small town where the roads were made of dirt they the only boys their age. That place was s different from where they had spent their teenage years. This picturesque New England town just outside Boston was anything but wild, everything here had perfect order, and the yards all manicured the trees surrounded by iron fences.
This Massachusetts town was nothing like the hoe they had known out west, and they didn’t fit in here. No they were strange, they spoke with different accents, and their hair was such a strange bright color, and they were the only twins in the town, another fact which caused them to stand not. It isn’t easy being an adolescent and different, the boys just didn’t fit in. At least they had each other, as always.
Their lives were good, there father owned a successful practice and a nice house in a good neighborhood. Of course their wealth made them the target of jealousy as well as ridicule. Those Thomas twins spoiled brats, they always have nice cloths and pocket money, but you know they are nothing but wild children. I heard they lived with Injuns out west who were cannibals, I heard that before they came here they didn’t go to school which is why they talk so funny, but that doesn’t explain why they look so odd, my grandmother used to say in the old days they burned redheads as witches don’t be silly boys aren’t witches, are they? The twins knew well the gossip which went abut the school yard, but they ignored it, it was alright to be different.
They didn’t mind that having more money set them apart either. They had money to buy what they wanted, this day they were going to go buy some soda pop at the local store which is where they were currently walking to, and side by side beneath the side of the evenly spaced fenced in oak trees.
"So? Are you excited, going to Boston and all for the weekend? You’re lucky that Uncle Edmund's taking you in his automobile imagine riding in car for that long it will be fun." He wasn't jealous of his little brother for going, after all it as Jonah who was the artist, so he'd be the one who would love seeing the art show, and it was he who had the opportunity to enter his own work in it. Jonah had won first place in a state wide youth art contest open to anyone from twelve to eighteen, and the prize was to actually have work displayed. His brother was ecstatically about wining and Johan shared his joy, no jealousy between these two.
Besides Johan wouldn’t have wanted to be an artist, not nearly enough attention to be gotten by having your painting hung up somewhere, no he liked acting, since birth he had possessed a flair for theatrics and the dramatic. It was a good outlet for his need for attention certainly better than getting himself and his identical counterpart into trouble. Yes he’d always led them both into trouble when they were young, and the shyer less intrepid Jonah always followed the lead of his impish older counter part.
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jonah
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Post by jonah on May 1, 2007 6:11:44 GMT 1
It seemed rather pointless to Jonah that his brother would ask that question, after all, he had been saying for nearly a week how excited he was to go to Boston, as well as wearing a rather silly yet cute grin the entire time, just thinking about going, seeing the artwork, seeing his own there. That was what separated the two, their father would say, that the way to tell them apart was just by making them smile; he said that Jonah had a cute and innocent smile, one that perhaps a child would have when he shows off how he lost a tooth. But Jonah hadn’t lost any teeth for quite a number of years, yet he wore the same smile.
Johan on the other hand smiled like a cat who just gulped down a pet bird, smug yet obviously guilty of something. Of course his twin was more likely to be smirking as to be grinning. A perfect little devil, a right imp, that was Johany cake alright. He’s be the one to worry their mother into an early grave, or so their mother liked to say. But then she said that of both of them at times, because whatever one did so to would the other.
They would play tricks on people, switching places in school, and there teacher would often get their names mixed up when reading or writing their names, so it made switching all the more fun. Jonah played his part in all their mischief, though everyone assumed it was Johan’s idea, he had the personality for it, the spunk, the spark. But Johan was sweet, despite his knack for trouble despite everything, and even if some bit of trouble had been all Jonah’s doing his brother would gladly take the blame.
"Of course I'm excited," He chirped to his brother, "I've always wanted to do something like this, and now I get to. But I will miss you though... what are you gonna do while I’m gone?". It was a valid question, after all, the most time they had ever spent apart was one night when Johan had broken his arm and had to stay in a hospital, and even then Jonah had begged to stay the night.
They were born together and together they stayed. They had shared a bed for man years growing up, and still did though they had separate ones, they would always climb in with each other. It was easier to fall asleep listening to each other’s breaths and heart beat, for their hearts beat at the same time in the same rhythm, and the first sound they had ever herd in existence was their mother’s heart then each other’s as they snuggled close in the womb. Still at night they slept holding each other, they just liked the closeness the warmth, it was as though they were meant to be like that, side by side, always.
It'd feel weird, not having his older sibling there in Boston with him, 'his shadow' as their father called the two of them. Not bothering to distinguish which one the shadow was, they were each other’s shadow. Though Johan tended to the leader he would just as soon follow Jonah, and though they were different in many ways in more they were the same. Which is why their father hardly bothered to distinguish between them at all.
Now as he stood grinning to his brother who returned it, their shared joy making him smile for once in almost the exact same ways so they were truly two of a kind, he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of worry. Jonah was so excited to go the city, he never been in one so large before, there mother didn’t like the boys going into Boston on trips, it was too dangerous. Of course she would be fine if either of them got into Harvard or even Boston University next year, then they could go. Jonah wasn’t afraid of the city, he wanted to see it, streets filled with automobiles as well as horse drawn carts and carriages, huge buildings, people, he only wished his brother could see these sights with him.
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johan
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Post by johan on May 1, 2007 6:13:28 GMT 1
Johan did not see the worry in his brother’s eyes which was hidden behind his grin. No he only laughed at the other’s comments "is having your work featured giving you an ego already, what will you do without me? You speak as though we are lovers." He hopped up onto a stone fence and placed the back of his hand on his forehead as if in swoon, dramatically he said in a feminine voice "Oh Jonah what will I do without you simply pine a away," Johan then swung down on a lamp post at the end of the fence, right into his brother’s arms holding him as though he were some forlorn lady begging her beau not to desert her.
Jonah pushed him off, and Johan was laughing all the more as he smiled at his little brother, "the question you should ask is what will you do without me there to keep you out of trouble,” The statement was ridiculous because s they both knew perfectly well it was Johan got Jonah into trouble most of the time, but he did get him out of it as well.
“I’m serious though; we may have braved the wilderness of the wild west, been among Indians, and braved the perilous journey home.” His brother rolled his eyes, they’d never been out into the wilderness alone when they lived out west, the hardly went beyond the town’s edge and there was always someone with them. The Indians they knew there mother was missionary too and the tribes were friendly and liked the twins. As for their journey home it had been by train, which was exciting since they had never ridden on a big steam train before, but it could hardly be considered perilous. Let it never be said that Johan couldn’t tell a story.
“The point is, this is something we’ve never done, and we’ve never been in a city before. A big city like that, after all, could be dangerous. Oh but now I sound like mother.” He said now laughing at himself, it took a while for him to regain composure before he finished, placing a hand on Jonah’s shoulder he said, “seriously my dear brother, be careful, I don’t know what I would do without you, if anything happened to you. Oh God I am turning into our mother. But all the same,” He smiled at him fondly.
A cool spring wind blew through ruffling their hair and blowing some of the flowers off a bush across the street so that the pedals danced and swirled in the wind. Jonah stared down the street as these flowers were scatter about, how far did the road go beyond where he could see. How far would his brother really be from him he’d never been to Boston he didn’t know?
What was he going to do when they were full grown and then married? They’d always said when they very little, after their mother informed them that they couldn’t marry each other because that was against two of god’s rules (three year olds didn’t understand such rules yet or what love or marriage really was so would say such silly things), that they would marry and raise their children in houses side by side, and that though cousins their children would be as close as they were as brothers, or at least hopefully. But now while they were young, Johan didn’t want to think of being parted from Jonah anytime soon.
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jonah
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Post by jonah on May 1, 2007 6:15:15 GMT 1
Jonah couldn’t help but laugh, his brother always knowing what to do or say to lighten the mood or bring a smile to Jonah's face, which wasn’t all too hard. Jonah loved the way he’d tease him about everything, and of course Jonah would respond.
"You know you'll miss me, you loser," he teased, " you may say I sound like some forlorn lover but I think is just because you’ll miss me.” He laughed again at his brother’s warnings, “you do sound like mom, exactly like when she used to scold us about playing in the desert, saying the snakes would get us, and since when do you worry at all?” His heart was filled with merriment from their jokes and his own excitement, but still he was touched that his brother cared though not surprised. Jonah smiled sweetly retuning the smile his brother gave him, “I’m glad you care, but there’s nothing you need to worry about, except being bored stuck at home while I’m off becoming famous in Boston, you'll be sitting here, wishing you could be there to bask in my glow."
He ran and jumped in front of his brother, holding his arms out as wide as he could, "Better do all the basking you can now while I’m still here," he said, "don’t worry, when I become the next Leonardo da Vinci or Michelangelo, I’ll still let you come and see me in my art studio. I may even give you my autograph when I am a sensation sweeping the art world". As he said this he swept his arm out ward.
Their laughter rang out once more and Jonah too looked to the road and the horizon. “What were you looking at before? What did you see down there; you know what I see, the future, out there waiting for us both. The whole world waiting with open arms.
“This is only the beginning, think of it, I might be a famous painter and you an actor or we may both go to medical school together as father wishes, though I don’t want do that anymore that I want to be a preacher as mother would like. But where ever we go it’ll be an adventure, our adventure.”
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johan
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Post by johan on May 1, 2007 6:16:50 GMT 1
"If only I didn't have to bask down wind of you, will put your arms down please," he said wrinkling his nose, which he held pinned shut between two fingers. Jonah enjoyed teasing Jonah about anything and everything. Though he was actually delighted by the other’s enthusiasm, it made him feel uplifted as well.
Johan then added, "Oh and in case Mr. wonderful artist still cars, its true, I'll miss you, and I do worry, but I have things to do here. I can live without you.” He said, he certainly wouldn’t die of boredom, he’d find something to do. Maybe he’d ask Jenny Bradley if she would go for a walk with him, he’d seen him looking their way, checking out both the twins, and Jonah wouldn’t care if he made a move to court here. Jenny was new in town and had never been mean to the twins. Of course Johan didn’t really like he to much, he didn’t like girls to much. Neither did his brother, they both knew the truth of what neither would say, another of their secrets.
They preferred boys, but dating was fun, they liked being admired for a change. Maybe they would both date Jenny switch place on dates just to se if she noticed. They were not cruel but toying with people could be fun. Dating was fun anyway just spending time liking and being liked even without that strong of an attraction.
Johan’s thoughts were interrupted by his brother’s arrogating sounding hoped of fame, “Jonah you haven't even seen anything done by Leonardo or any other painter for that matter how do you know you'll be as good. Not that I don't have faith in you I do.” He hastily added he wouldn’t intentionally tear his brother down; he teased him but never enough to really hurt his feelings.
Johan smiled when Jonah told of his own success and spoke of their future. Yes it sounded so great. Theirs was the an unadulterated enthusiasm of the young who have never know hardship and can only see brought things ahead, the naive certainty which accompanies youth’s sense of invulnerably. Life was there’s the world their cup to drink from, and it was there world.
Johan s excitedly added, “And think about next year when we turn eighteen and finish schooling Aunt Maharet said she would give us both money for a trip to Europe together before we begin college. Imagine us traveling roads as distant and ancient as those that are way across the Ocean, some roads as old as the Roman empire. We're sure our family has this weird tradition of a nice aunt taking care of everyone. You know mom would never give us the money to go, she’d be too afraid something would happen. But of course Aunt Maharet can talk her into anything; she thinks it’s a good idea after all. Oh things will be wonderful."
They had reached the center of twin and now navigated through slightly busier roads, though not very busy. The general store was now in sight, and a good thing to, the sun was high in the sky now, and it was growing hot. A nice soda would be great just now. Though it was only spring recess it felt like summer, the boys had that kind care free spirit in their hearts this day.
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jonah
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Post by jonah on May 1, 2007 6:17:32 GMT 1
Jonah stuck his tongue out at his twin when he made the comment about him smelling, but put his arms down all the same. Too bad a retort escaped him, he wanted to say something along the lines of, at least I bathe, but they bathed together, a habit they picked up as children and had secretly never dropped. Washing and splashing each other was fun, and there were ties when they were like one person, whatever they did it was together, as if they were one soul in two bodies or two souls that could have had one body and not minded.
The younger twin only sneered slightly when his brother suggested he wouldn’t equal the great art master’s of history. "I will be as good, if not better!" he said, "the Louvre will dedicate an entire wall to my work and everything..." Jonah eyes seemed to glaze as he dreamed of this, imagine being great standing out. Not being just one of the strange Thomas Twins, he’d be Jonah Thomas one of the greatest painters of the twentieth century. Let it never be said that Jonah didn’t have at least a slight ego, or at least was big dreamer.
H went back to his brother's side, some how feeling shorter than Johan, even though they were identical twins and exactly the same height. It was probably the mentality that Johan was older. That Johan was wiser, and that he was forever the baby brother. Johan sure seemed to want to look for him a though he was most of the time.
"And I want us to tour all of Europe," he added, "see England, the palace and parks, then go to France, Pairs, and oh and all the things in Italy we could do, we could see all the famous artwork, the leaning Tower of Pisa, wander the streets of Rome... I want to do it all with you, Johan... though I can’t believe Aunt Maharet would pay for it. She loves to spoil our family, and doesn't seem to ask much in return." It was strange to him, mysterious in a way as was their aunt.
The had only really met her once when they were young, about five or so, shed come to visit stopping by her way to California or so he remembered mother saying. Maharet was mother’s aunt but not really, a great aunt, a distant aunt, or maybe they just called her aunt, he couldn’t really remember.
But he did remember that he thought it was strange she looked younger than mother, but then again she didn’t when he saw her eyes she seemed older than even the old wise woman in the Navajo village where mother taught the bible, and the old Navajo woman he’d thought had to be the oldest woman in the whole world. Yes, Maharet was strange, yet there mother seemed to respect her.
They’d been spying and overheard mother express her concerns to ant Maharet about the boys being so close with the Indian people. She had found out about them going to watch the dances, though didn’t really understand what it was they saw exactly. There mother thought it only heathen ritual, but the twins saw, well they saw something else. Then aunt Maharet had seemed the spying, and when their eyes locked it s as if she understood what they saw there. She had told mother that them going did them no harm.
They hadn’t seen Maharet again, only received the occasional letter or telegram, but she paid attention to them none the less. It amazed Jonah that even though they weren’t that close she was going to give Johan and him such a generous gift to celebrate their graduation.
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johan
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Post by johan on May 1, 2007 6:20:30 GMT 1
"Well isn't it part of her job to spoil from what mom says there was always in the family who was aunt Maharet, so that person just chooses to be like a godmother to everyone, not that I'm ungrateful, I think its wonderful we're so lucky. And wonderful we get to travel together, because no matter how strange any foreign land is I'm still with you so it’s like being home, or something." For indeed they had always been together as though they were attached through nothing physically linked them.
Some siblings would push one another away out of rivalry but these two clung to one another. There mother said when Johan was born he wouldn't stop crying until Jonah was born as well and placed beside him in the cradle where they embraced one another as best as infants could always close, each other's shadows.
Sometimes it was like they had a world to themselves, when they were little even before they could speak they could communicate to each other, this continued sometimes they wouldn't speak at all just silently in "their way", of course their parents didn't understand this and encouraged them to talk normally. They wanted their children normal. So it became their secret, their secret that they could speak without saying a word, that when one twin feel the other would feel his pain in empathy, that they were as aware of one another as they were themselves.
This was one of many secrets. There mother had a missionary when she was a young wife caring for two young sons. It was then that they had visited a Navajo tribe. The Navajo were different in may ways, there mother said explained that Navajo traced family through the mothers, and the grandmother was most important of all, and that they had a different religion a false religion that worshipped spirits, that's why they were there to save them.
The people of the tribe were fascinated by the twins, they had never seen people with red hair like that before, and twins are sacred to their people. One of the elders told the story of the twin heroes who helped to create the world, there mother wouldn't have liked them being told such things. But what she really wouldn't have liked was that they were aloud to see a dance, they hadn't understood how important this dance was, it was part of their religion, to call the spirits, to bring rain, to relive their myths.
Normally whites were not allowed but the shaman wanted to them to see, the twins, and the twins saw, they saw the spirits as they always had seen things. But if another knew she would be very upset, such things were heathen, witch craft. The twins had their secrets.
Johan had always suspected it was the influence of the tribe that prompted the mother to want to return her family to civilization. Or maybe it was concern that her boys played with each other but had few outside friends. Either way even as young as they were when they came back Massachusetts they understood it was somehow to do with them, and they had been more outsiders here than anywhere. But they had each other they always would.
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jonah
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Post by jonah on May 2, 2007 0:37:06 GMT 1
Jonah made a playful face at Johan, "Now who's speaking as if we were lovers?" he said, smiling at his 'reflection'. That's what they were to each other; reflections. One felt pain, the other felt pain, one was hurt; the other was hurt, two separate bodies, two connected souls. And that's the way Jonah wanted it, to always have his twin with him.
But he knew such things couldn’t happen like that; they were nearly eighteen, Johan would find someone he fancied and soon, they both would right, this phase of not liking girls would pass, it had to right. Then they would find someone they liked well enough so they could eventually settle down. Mother certainly wouldn’t’ hear of anything else.
What would she say if she knew? That they were going to hell for one thing. Jonah wished so much they could just be normal, and they weren’t, nothing about them was. Not the way they looked, the things they saw sometimes, and they were twins. But of course Jonah wouldn’t trade being a twin for the world, even for being completely normal, liking girls included.
When they’d first realized they weren’t attracted to girls they/d both assumed it was how everyone was, right, but they’d sooner realize there was something decidedly wrong with it, or in most peoples views Jonah had nearly cried but Johan had comforted him, pointing out they were probably already going to hell for witchcraft since they saw things when they were little anyway so worry. He’d joke, but Jonah had always been slightly frightened by their mother’s fire and brimstone warnings.
Johan said if it seemed natural then no one could say it wasn’t, he said taboos were just stupid and they should do as they wished. Oh course Johan had a knack for talking, and just that, talk. Neither would have dared act on any feelings for their own gender or even have told anyone, they were each other’s confidant.
In the mean time they just wouldn’t worry about their feelings and desires. They’d find someway to deal with that problem, maybe once you were married you started loving your wife or something, neither of the boys would dare ask what it meant that they fancied other males over any of the girls in town.
No they would act out normal lives, or try to. They were nice enough or least Jonah thought they were. Soon they would have girls, and it would be great. It would be just like everyone wanted; what they should want as well. Soon Johan would have a girlfriend, maybe that Jenny girl. Then the two would spend less and less time together until the other just became a familiar face in the crowd? Isn’t that how it always worked? Oh, but he didn’t want to think about that, he wanted to always believe his shadow would be there with him, that they'd always be friends, be together, share their secrets, talk without saying a word, it's what he wanted.
Even as a child this was so, Jonah having proposed to his brother, saying that he wanted to marry him so they wouldn’t have to be apart. Yes, they were young, but it was the idea of this bond between them that could never be severed. "Promise me while I’m gone you won’t run off and find yourself a lover, okay?" he said, "I need to approve of them, you know..."
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johan
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Post by johan on May 2, 2007 1:15:42 GMT 1
“Since when would I need you’re approval? I am the oldest after all baby brother,” he teased, indeed he was the oldest but no one could tell, they were the same age really in that they had existed for the same amount of time, so what did time of actual birth matter. Well it mattered because it gave Johan something to tease Jonah about.
“And really, a lover? How could you suggest such a thing?” He said in mock shock then giving the other his most angelic look. “What would our mother say; I mean certainly I may court someone, but a lover?” He laughed slightly there mother had such high expectations for her good Christian gentlemen sons
Johan’s tone then became more serious as he said thoughtfully, “actually I was thinking about taking out Jenny, its funny you should guess it. But why do you care, are you jealous?” His angelic look soon turned jealous as he spoke, “because if you do like Jenny I had an idea. You know she fancies s. and I do mean us, she couldn’t tell us apart to save her life, unless it was just a lucky guess. So what if we both dated her, we could switch places on her, see if she noticed?”
Jonah then rolled his eyes, “of course I know its mean, but when you think about we’re lying to her anyway if either one of dates her. You know what I mean,” Neither of them liked to state their secret out loud. “If we date a girl knowing we aren’t really, well for girls you know, and we are going to date girls, I mean it won’t hurt right, well it’s tricking them anyway, and this would just be more amusing.”
Pretending he didn’t care about using someone or toying with their feelings made him feel better about doing it. It’s not like they could just not date girls, and they were slightly attracted to them right, they could pretend. If they didn’t then, if mother knew. What else were supposed to do? So Johan pretended not to care about anything and at as though every thing were all a game to him.
“Anyway lets not talk about this, you don’t have to worry about anything, you’ll be gone for what two days, I’ll hardly elope with anyone in that amount of time don’t worry. “ He took his brother’s hand then, and leaned in kissing his head. “you don’t have to worry about me leaving you to suddenly follow some girl like a love struck pup.”
He then released his brother’s hand, and simply smiled at him. “And you don’t let some Boston girl sweep you off your feet I wouldn’t want to here you ran off with someone.” It was ridiculous they both knew their jokes. Neither of them would ever want a girl like that.
Maybe their jokes were to cover up that they really were scared because they wouldn’t fancy anyone like they were supposed to. Maybe they were just as afraid they suddenly were and then they’d be torn apart. Well that was only natural but since when had they ever been natural. Even though it was wrong, they had an instinctive sense they were different from everyone else in more than obvious ways so how could they lead a normal life.
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jonah
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Post by jonah on May 3, 2007 0:57:10 GMT 1
Jonah smiled at his brother, "Oh, dont worry about me," he said, "I wont run off with someone in Boston... I run off with someones.". He laughed slightly, running ahead of Johan afew yards, "But dont worry, I'll always have room in my heart for you, Johan," he said in a slightly dramatic voice, putting his hands over his chest where his heart was. "My first and true love will always be you, big brother," he said teasingly, a fake southern-belle accent, "your luscious locks of hair, manly physique, oh, i just feel faint just thinking about you...". He playfully swooned, fanning his face with his hand, mocking Johan as brothers always do.
No, neither of the brothers were truly interested in girls; Jennie was pretty, Jonah would give her that, but date her? No, he wouldnt, and probably not really even just to trick her, that'd be rather mean he rationalized. Besides, no one really bothered either of them about not having girlfriends, but there were always subtle hints, their other friends pointing out girls to them, talking of them as if the female were a piece of merchandise, trying to sell them to Jonah and Johan. "Oh, look at so-and-so, she just got out of dating you-know-who, and she's really sweet" things like that. And then their father talking of some of his younger female patients, saying 'how sweet she was' or 'how she's new in town, so perhaps they should show her around' things like that. The two put up with the hints, nodding and 'uh-huh'-ing every offer, but doing nothing to act on them.
The small store they two had been on their 'quest' to, was now insight. "I'll race ya!" Jonah cried out, already ahead of his brother and running as fast as he could. It wasn't hard for him to win as he opened the door, Johan running in behind him.
The store was more like a larger version of their father's doctor's office, though made of wood instead of the cement. In the back was the few iceboxes, lining the walls, that had the glass bottles of coca-cola gleeming behind them, the rest of the store filled with rows of groceries all leading up to the front counter where there stood a row of barstools incase you wanted to pull a seat up and enjoy the cool air instead of standing out int he sweltering heat, which was what the twins took the opportunity to do every so often.
"And Jonah wins!" The younger of the two cheered, spinning around in a circle, "but cheer up, Johan, keep on trying and one day you'll beat me.". He wiped off his forehead, going into the store and looking around; same old, same old.
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johan
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Post by johan on May 3, 2007 1:48:04 GMT 1
“And Jonah cheats because he had a huge head start,” said older twin rolling his eyes as he pulled up a chair beside his brother, “but cheer up maybe someday you’ll be good enough that you can beat me and still play fair.” Yes defiantly the same old same old for them. He pulled his lucky bottle cap opener from his trousers pocket and opened both their bottles before taking a long swig of his drink.
As they sat their drinking, the owner came up smiling at the boy’s. “Well if it isn’t the Thomas boys, how are you two doing today?” The owner’s name was Mr. James Dinken, he was a portly man with blonde hair, though he didn’t have much hair left around the top of his head though he made up for not having hair on his head by having a very large mustache and bushy eyes brows. He was an amiable enough sort, though his friendliness always struck Johan as somewhat phony. Though he knew his to be nice enough, and the man’s blue eyes seemed to shine with his jolly nature.
“He calls us the Thomas boys because he has no idea which of us is which” said Johan mentally to Jonah, his thoughts taking on the same sarcastic tone his voice would have had he dared to say such a thing out loud.
“I hear that Jonah here won that big state wide art contest, congratulations” He still wasn’t looking at either of them in particular but hoping that one of them would respond.
Johan thought it was funny, how awkward it was for Mr. Dinken that he couldn’t direst his conversation to this as individuals. Of course the only think that could be funnier than leaving him hanging, as it were, was to respond, “oh yes sir, I did win the contest, and thank you for offering congratulations that’s very nice of you” He said beaming to cover up his inner smirk.
“You are so polite Jonah, I’ll have to compliment you’re father on such a fine job he’s doing raising you to be such fine young gentlemen. Ah so when are you two leaving for the award ceremony, the art gallery opening is this Saturday I think the paper said,” he asked conversationally, as he took a rag and began to wipe down another part of the counter.
“Oh yes its this Saturday, I’ll be leaving tomorrow morning early, Johan here is staying behind though. My Uncle is bringing me to Boston and his automobile will only fit the two of us, plus luggage and all.” Explained Johan, thoroughly enjoying tricking the man by pretending he was Jonah. Though his brother’s amusement seemed to have warn off.
The redhead was shooting him disapproving glances, probably bitter to have his lime light taken by Johan. “As soon as he turns his back lets switch seats, then you can be you, lets see if he notices” suggested Johan silently. Oh that would be very funny considering they were different outfits and everything. But he supposed part of being a twin was being mistaken for your sibling, it didn’t bother him that much when people didn’t bother to tell them apart. But fooling people like this was fun.
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jonah
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Post by jonah on May 3, 2007 2:40:35 GMT 1
"Yes, i think that the praise meant for me should actually be for me," Jonah replied in their silent language, shifting in his seat, ready to switch when the timing came. It was amusing to see Johan pretending to be Jonah, but it was rather hard for Jonah to get the compliments meant for him when he wasnt Jonah.
"Oh, an automobile ride as well?" Mr. Dinken said, putting the hand that held the rag on his hip, nodding as if he were impressed, "Yessir, I've never been one to really want to own one of those machines, but i've always like to ride it atleast once before i die... so i better get moving on that, dont you think?". He laughed alittle as if it were an inside joke, the laughter fizzling down into a small chuckle as he turned around, putting his rag down.
This was the opportune moment for the twins, silenty switching seats, the two still wearing the same smile as they had, acting as if nothing had happened. Of course, they were both grinning on the inside, wondering if the older shopkeeper would notice.
"And then again, i want to go up to Boston once more before i die," Mr. Dinken continued, turning back around, resting his elbows on the counter, leaning forward to look at the two, "I havent been there since i was your age...". He chortled slightly, looking at the two for a moment, pausing, blinking stupidly for a moment, looking as if he were silently going over something in his mind. He let out a soft 'pfft' blinking again; they had pulled it off.
"But enough of me talking, you just have a good time up there, alright Jonah?" he said, reaching over and ruffling up the younger twin's hair. "Gee sir, I'm sure i will," Jonah replied, wishing it were Johan that had had his hair messed up. "And you Johan, make sure you dont get into too much trouble, you hear?" Mr. Dirken pointed his rather plump finger at the other male, "Ah! But what am i saying, you were both raised well; I'm sure both of you will be to good Christian boys, just as you were raised...". He now ruffled up Johan's hair, equally messy as Jonah's now.
"Rather dim-witted, isn't he?" Jonah said silently to his brother, "of course, I don't know how he cant tell i'm the better looking of us two...". Even in their silent speaking, the two picked and made fun of the other.
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johan
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Post by johan on May 3, 2007 3:53:08 GMT 1
“That’s because you aren’t the better looking of the two of us, everyone knows I’m the good looking one. Why do you think you’re an artist and I’m an actor, because I have a face meant for the stage, yours is more suited for radio.” Johan take his brother’s teasing and come back at him like a master. He just sat their smirking for a moment before saying aloud, “I suppose you need to pack your luggage so we should head home, mother wants you in bed early.”
He took his allowance from his pocket and laid it on the counter. Johan payed for his brother, their addicted on allowance as with most things was, what’s mind is yours. “I wonder if Uncle will arrive tonight or if you’ll be dragged out of bed at dawn I don’t envy you there.” He then added silently, “so please try not to wake me, you hold me so tightly at night you’ll have to be careful,”
They waved to Mr. Dinken as they left the store stepping back out into the blaring sunlight, though now the angle of the light was lower. The day had moved on in that same small lazy way place that days always seemed to move around here, so now the lazy sun was beginning to sink.
Across the street Johan saw Jenny walking with her parents and winked at her before turning back towards home, he and his brother walking side by side. Johan didn’t want to appear to eager for Jenny, though he did plan to asks her out, maybe, though it wouldn’t be as fun if his brother wasn’t in on some trick with him. But still dating was something to do.
“Hey why are you willing to play tricks on Dinken but not on Jenny, I mean if she can’t recognize her own boyfriend then it’s her fault isn’t it?” His brother was much too sweet in some ways. But of course he loved him anyway.
Side by side their steps as one they headed towards their home. Along the side walks lined with fenced in well groomed trees, until they went through the gate into their own yard. They raced up the wooden steps on to the porch of their light blue Victorian home, and then went through the large white doors.
Coming in their father nodded in greeting looking up from his paper for a moment before turning his attention back to sports reports. Their mother called, “hello boys,” before telling them to go wash up for supper. She was in the kitchen focusing more on the food she was preparing then the return of her sons.
“Do you ever wonder if even they can tell us apart?” he asked half joking as they headed into the bathroom. But who could blame them, who could blame anyone. As Johan he washed his hands he looked at his reflection then his brother’s, he didn’t even know if he himself would be able to tell the difference.
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jonah
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Post by jonah on May 3, 2007 18:55:12 GMT 1
Jonah had a ritual when he washed his hands; after all, they were the most important thing to an artist, and what with all the paint he'd get on them, he had to scrub his hands a certain way to get it all off. Even when he was just washing his hands for dinner, as the two did now, he washed them the same way, counting the scrubs, getting under the nails, rubbing the soap on his palms against each other. He was rather OCD when it came to things like this as well as how his paint, his brushes, and his paper was set up. He liked things how he wanted, how he thought they were supposed to be. Other than that, he was very much like any other teenage boy.
"I think Dad can tell more than Mom can," Jonah responded, looking up at their reflections, "I mean, there are still times when we can switch places and they might not know, but i think he knows at times... besides, being a doctor and everything, it's got to be like his second nature to remember what his patients look like.". He flicked some water at his brother, getting a few drops onto the other's shirt, playfully smiling as he went back to washing his hands.
"And there's a difference between tricking Jenny and tricking Mr. Dinken," He added, switching subjects, "We're not dating Mr. Dinken... I guess it could be amusing at times, but honestly, I don't want her to think she's getting her first kiss from Johan when it's really Jonah; it kinda takes the magic out of it...".
He pulled his hands out of the line of water, drying them off on the light blue hand towel. There mother was very much into coordinating each room, the curtains matching the towels, matching the rug, matching the flowers in the matching vase. It seemed that each room had it's own color, the boy's room in shades of green. Their mother had once suggested red for their room, as if she thought it'd go with them, seeings as how their hair was red, but the ironic part of it was that red was one of Jonah's least favorite colors. It's not that he disliked his hair, or didnt like red roses, but red just didnt seem to appeal to him.
Their mother called to them, reminding that dinner was waiting on the two, and if they didnt hurry up, the turkey she had spent all day on would get cold and... blah, blah, blah... same old, same old... Their natural responses were "yes, mother" said in unison, even their tones of voices indistinguishable for one another.
"Come on, Johan," Jonah told his brother, standing in the bathroom doorway, "and this time, dont try to hog down all of the dinner rolls... you need to keep your slim form for the stage if you're going to be an actor.". Again, this was said in the ever popular teasing way, as the younger of the two started back down the hallway.
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