It was a Friday evening in June, and my twin sister Toni and I were at the Marina Pub, enjoying what would likely be our last outing of the year with colleagues from work. We were both teachers at the high school a few blocks away, and over the past school year, it had become a tradition for many of the teachers to meet at the pub after work to enjoy a few cold beverages before starting the weekend.
Toni and I were 25, and each had our dream job - she taught music and I taught art. It was a small high school, so we were each responsible for the entire curriculum in those areas, and took our work very seriously, striving to share as much as possible of our respective art forms with the students. On this particular evening, she was sharing with me her nervousness and anticipation about the upcoming end-of-year concert, when her chorus would be performing one of her compositions, songs set to poetry of e.e. cummings. She was very proud of her work, and of the energy her students had put into it, but nervous about the performance nonetheless.
It was into this heady conversation that one of the less inspired bar patrons interjected, "Hey, am I seeing double, or are you just happy to see me?" After that brilliant line, which probably made sense only to the truly smashed, he promptly stumbled over his own feet and crashed to the floor, much to the delight of several onlookers.
This was nothing new. We had learned not long after turning 21 that whenever we sat in a bar together, hot young twins, we would be subjected to the most ridiculous come-ons and predictable lines ever conceived. It didn't stop us from going out, either to spend time with friends like tonight, or in hopes of meeting eligible bachelors, but it did sometimes get pretty old. Sure, we were attractive - 5'8", reddish-brown hair, green eyes, 34C tits, and nice legs, if I may say so myself - but just because we were twins, did we really have to put up with this? A nice gentleman who could actually make conversation would be nice once in a while.
The drunk guy had been harmless, but now we were approached by another dweeb who thought he'd try the direct route - a twin 'single-entendre'. "Hey, girls - how 'bout you come back to my place and we make a sex sandwich!"
"Alright, Michelle," Toni said to me, "that's it - let's call it a night."
"Yeah, you're right. Hey guys," I waved to our colleagues a few seats down at the bar, "we're heading home now. Have a good weekend, we'll see you on Monday - last week of school!"
As we headed out the door, I heard a voice behind us, "Excuse me, miss, I believe you left your purse?"
Toni, realizing when she felt for her missing bag that her purse was the one in question, turned first. When I heard her utter "wow" under her breath, I turned as well. In a few quick strides, he had caught up with us - a dashing, slightly older man, clearly dressed for yachting. Not that I knew anything about how one dressed for yachting, I'd hardly ever been on a boat! But he looked like the classic image of the gentleman sailor, strong but lean, well-dressed and confident.
"Here you go, miss. And best of luck with the premiere of your work at next week's concert. Forgive me for eavesdropping, but e.e. cummings is one of my favorite poets, so I admit I was listening to your conversation."
"Oh, I don't mind. Thanks for noticing that I'd left my bag - losing it would have made for a lousy evening! My name is Toni, and this is my sister Michelle," she said, reaching out her hand to shake his, and then gesturing to me.
"Nice to meet you, ladies. My name is Jack. I'm just in town for a few days, mooring at the marina here."
With a wink, Toni asked him, "So you do have a ship here, you're not just dressing the part to pick up girls?"
Smiling, he replied, "Well, I wouldn't call it a 'ship', but yes, I do actually have my yacht moored here. I spend a few months of each year on the water, and this year my travels brought me through your lovely town.
"Wow, that sounds like a great life," I said, with honest enthusiasm. "You know, I've always wanted to know more about boats, what it's like to be out on the water."
"Well, would you be interested in joining me on board tomorrow afternoon? It's supposed to be lovely weather, and I would be delighted to have the pleasure of your company."
Toni and I shot each other a glance and made the decision quickly. It wasn't a difficult one - grading papers and doing laundry, or spending an afternoon on a yacht with an attractive man. "Sure," Toni was the first to get her mouth open, "we'd love to!"
