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I'll never forget that day, the day the twins came to town. Some would say they are identical but not I. Oh no they were far from identical. Riding down Main Street, left on First Street. The City Manager and Councilmen had voted to change Front Street to First Street not long ago, takes getting used too.

Good ole Southwest Florida, most people are aware of South Florida, hell Miami’s not the only place South in Florida. Here in Southwest Florida, things are just a bit slower and less immigrants, if you know what I mean.  I’m on my way to the Arcade Theater, just down the road a bit.

And there it was cruising down First Street, a red Mustang Convertible. A dark haired man behind the wheel couldn’t be more than 40 years old and three passengers must be his wife beside him, curly hair spilling out of her scarf, with dark Hollywood looking sunglasses. But it wasn’t those two who had everyone’s attention that warm summer day. No it was, those twins in the back seat, sitting pretty.

As the family excited the car and the four of them came my way, I could hear them talking, but I couldn’t understand a damn thing they were saying, must be a foreign language. But that didn’t matter much because my eyes were glued on those twins. They were dressed exactly the same, as they got closer they switched to English, the girls were whispering and giggling with one another. They were beautiful and to see just one of them would stop a man in his tracks but two, was heavens gift to us all.

Now don’t let me steer you wrong, they were twins, they were identical and they were indeed beautiful, but they were different. One of them had a sway to her hips like a full grown woman of the night, as she removed her sunglasses and scarf, bountiful waves spilled down her back, like a river of silk. She shook her head and adjusted her river moving slowly passed the line I caught her eye and I think she winked.

While I tried to remain nonchalant her twin passed by, she was different…some would say she had a sweetness to her, like a slice of cherry pie after dinner on Sunday. She had the same eyes, but no sway. She removed her scarf and shook her hair just like her sister, but she kept her sunglasses on. She was more of a mystery compared to her twin.  She smiled as she passed me, a silent greeting.

The family walked right pass the line of ticket buyers at the Arcade opened one of the doors and went inside. As the door shut I realized I was holding my breath. Exhaling I thought about the vision I had just witnessed, wondering if anyone else was as captivated as I was.

The line was moving slowly, when it was finally my turn at the ticket window, the theater doors opened and out came the family. I just stared opened mouth, as the girls embraced and parted. I strained my ears to hear what they were saying. I could not tell them apart, now that they both had removed their sunglasses, but I could see that one had tears in her eyes as she turned to walk away, I tried to stop staring. Stealing a glance at the dry eyed twin I saw she was smiling, oh I thought I know which one she is, recalling the smile she had given me earlier.

She stopped smiling and caught up to her sister, saying softly, “don’t cry Sugar, just wish me luck tonight it’s my debut.” And Sugar responded.  “Oh Spice, I am crying because I am so happy for you.”

I thought I was hearing things, what unique names for twins, Sugar and Spice, and then I thought again… I could tell them apart, I knew full well who was sweet and who savory was. At that moment, I looked in the face of Sugar as she was walking away, and I thought I saw a sway to her hips. Suddenly, she turned looked me right in the eye and winked “what,” I thought for sure she was Sugar, but now after the wink… I realized something, she was just like Spice they were identical.  

Laughing aloud, I said “I will never forget this day.”