While most people are given their first roommate as freshmen in college, I was lucky enough to have mine since the womb. Now I understand that it’s not every day that someone crosses paths with a twin and there aren’t multiples of everyone running around, but hearing the same comments and questions for 20 years straight gets annoying. To help all of you mere singlets of the world, I’ll answer your questions now, so maybe you can save a future twin from your truly irritating and exhausting interviews.
1. They find out you’re a twin, then they feel compelled to tell you about every set of twins they’ve ever met.
No, I do not somehow know your identical twin cousins twice removed who are volunteering in a third-world country. But thanks for asking. Seriously people, just because twins have a deeper connection than the average siblings, this does not mean all twins do. Relax.
2. “Do you guys look alike?” Or in my case, “You guys don’t really look alike.”
Most people with siblings, multiple or not, fall victim to this question from either parents' friends or an annoying family member. I know you all have them: the one who shows up to every family party but you avoid them like the plague because all they do is ask you unnecessary questions you never want to answer. Yeah, that's you when you ask us this. Just because we shared a womb does not mean that we were born from a photocopier.
3. “Do you have matching clothes?”
Due to the fact that our mom thought twins in matching outfits was the cutest thing ever, we spent most of our childhood matching. So as a senior in college, the answer is no. There may be times when we dress alike on accident, but we prefer not having our cheeks pinched by every old woman that sees us anymore.
4. “Who is older?”
Do not ask me this question unless you plan on hearing about years of twin rivalry. We all know we share a birthday, but the seconds count. This is the most coveted position for any multiple, so tread lightly…
Which leads me to the next question:
5. “Do you guys fight a lot?”
Being a twin is like being married with no chance of divorce. You love each other to death but bicker like an old married couple. My twin and I will beat the sh** out of each other on the daily, but mess with her and all I can say is good luck.
6. “Do you have twin telepathy?”
For most twins, the answer is no. Just because two eggs were fertilized simultaneously does not mean we’ve developed mind-reading abilities. And no, do not pinch me because you think my twin will feel it. It does not work that way, and I will probably end up wanting to punch you. On the other hand, after living with your other half for your whole life, we do exchange the occasional look of horror when we both realize our mom just got home and we forgot to do the dishes.
7. “Do you guys have the same friends?”
Although being together all the time does attract many of the same friends, we have different hobbies, things we're involved in, likes, dislikes, etc. Most of the time we will make separate friends and when we meet these friends, we will judge them. Because why have a twin if they can’t question every individual move you make?
8. “Wait, does your twin go here?”
In college (and even in some high schools), twins will break away from one another in hopes of finding themselves. We share enough to begin with, an education doesn’t have to be one of them.
9.”Do you like having a twin?”
This is probably the most popular “twin question” of the bunch. Since I don’t exactly remember any past lives I may have been a part of (Queen of England, thug, karate master, etc.), having a twin is all I’ve known my entire life. If I asked you if you like water, you wouldn’t know how to answer because you need it to survive. So my answer is: She is the orange juice to my toothpaste and the Joker to my Batman, but she is also the ying to my yang and the Salt to my Pepa (yes, I am talking about the hip-hop trio). Having a twin is like having a built-in body guard, cheerleader and motivator. We may fight, but my twin will always be my best friend.
10. “Man, I wish I had a twin.”
Yeah, I know don’t we all. I’m just lucky enough to have one.
