‘D’ and ‘T’ are brothers. Twins. I spoke with them separately and intended to post the Q&As separately but I think the brother thing is not to be discounted. There’s something interesting going on with siblings generally, how they can grow up in the same family, with more or less the same values, rules and traditions, the same holidays, the same weird Uncle Waldo… and yet evolve quite differently, with different memories standing out, different versions of the same holiday, and entirely different emotional make-ups.

And then there’s twins, who, it’s said, can be raised in different families on opposite sides of the planet and both end up loving the same movies, books, both collecting Romanian coins and sporting Fu Manchus.

And so, because of my interest in siblings and sameness and difference, I decided to present D&T together… though I do wonder if they, if twins, triplets, etc., ever get tired of being seen as a kind of package in a way that other siblings aren’t subjected to. Or is this ‘package’ one of the best parts of twindom, a gift the rest of us can never know…

Unfortunately, that was a question I didn’t ask.

‘D’

How long could you go without talking? Two hours.

Silence or noise? Noise.

How many pairs of shoes do you own? Ten.

If you won the lottery? Take my family on a holiday.

One law you’d make? Make it harder to get guns.

Unusual talent? Drawing.

What do you like to cook? Tacos.

Have you or would you ever bungee jump? I haven’t, but I would.

What’s the most dare-devilish thing you’ve done? When I was ten, I jumped from the top of a 15′ slide.

Do you like surprise parties, practical jokes? No to parties; yes to jokes.

Favourite time of day? When school is over.

What tree would you be? A big one.

What do you like on your toast? Butter and cinnamon. Or jelly.

The last thing you drew a picture of? Me and my dog.

Last thing written in ink. Signed a document for volleyball.

Favourite childhood meal? Ribs.

What age would you go back to if you could? Four.

*Would* you go back? No.

Best invention? Printing press.

Describe your childhood bedroom. Still in the same room but it used to seem bigger. White walls, posters.

Afraid of spiders? Not afraid, but don’t like them.

Phobias? Solitude, darkness.

Most disliked teacher and why? Spanish teacher gave too much homework.

Favourite children’s story? Green Eggs and Ham.

Ideal picnic ingredients? Water, ham and cheese sandwiches, hot dogs, apples, grapes, Sprite.

Is Barbie a negative role model? Yes.

Best thing about Canada? Have family here.

Best thing about people in general? When they’re loving instead of hateful.

What flavour would you be? Orange.

What colour? Green.

What would you come back as? A person again.

Favourite saying: “Shoot for the moon, but reach for the stars.”

**

‘T’

How long could you go without talking?  At most, 3 1/2 hours.

Do you prefer silence or noise?  Noise.

How many pairs of shoes do you own?  About 12. I wear about 5.

If you won the lottery?   Help my mum and dad with whatever they need. Buy cars and a basketball court.

One law you’d make?  I’d remove the Stand Your Ground Law.

Unusual talent?  Writing, basketball and volleyball.

What do you like to cook?  Pizza.

Have you or would you ever bungee jump?  I haven’t, but I would.

What’s the most dare-devilish thing you’ve done?  Acrobatics on park equipment when I was a kid. Hit my head.

Do you like surprise parties, practical jokes? Yes, both.

Favourite time of day?  Afternoon.

What tree would you be?  I’d be a strong tree growing someplace on its own.

What do you like on your toast?  Cinnamon and butter.

The last thing you drew a picture of?   Self portrait in charcoal, to illustrate a story.

Last thing written in ink.  Birthday card.

Favourite childhood meal?   Rice and hamburger.

What age would you go back to if you could?  Four.

*Would* you go back?  No.

Best invention?  Car.

Describe your childhood bedroom.  I remember crawling out of my crib one summer.

Afraid of spiders?  YES!!!

Phobias?  Arachnophobia.

Least favourite teacher and why?  In 4th grade; too slow; ignored people who were able to do more.

Favourite children’s story?  Don’t have a favourite but least favourite is a zoo book with large print that I had to read too many times.

Ideal picnic ingredients?  Sandwiches (chicken, ham, turkey), hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, pizza, wings, pop, water, juice, basketball, volleyball net, soccer ball, Frisbee, football.

Is Barbie a negative role model? Yes.

Best thing about Canada?  The people are friendly and the money is coloured. The loonie and the toonie. I like the houses too.

Best thing about people in general?   Humour.

What flavour would you be?  Caramel.

What colour?  Purple or red.

What would you come back as? A bird, a blue jay or a mourning dove. Wouldn’t want to be a spider.

Favourite saying:  “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.”

♦

—the frivolous five, a series of frivolity