i&,;
Section B
The News-Journal
Thursday, March 21, 1985
EditorUk ? Columns ? Features ? Classified ads
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County twins retain close feelings of ties
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By Sony* Falls
Propertius, an ancient Latin
poet, had this to say of twins: .
A ship Is safer when two
cables hold it, and- an anx
ious mothert if she rear
twins . has less to dread.
Propertius, most likely, never
fathered twins, and most assuredly
trying to keep up with four busy
little legs.
However troublesome they may
seem to be at times, twins must
hold a special place in parents'
hearts, just as they seem special to
the rest of the world.
Their uniqueness is reflected in
their rarity; only one set of twins in
every 96 births. To the rest of us,
twins represent an oddity,
something that makes the single
born person curious. What would
it be like to, be a twin, we ask
ourselves. How would it be to look
into a mirror and see yourself and
your brother, or sister, reflected?
According to Josh Pate, a Hoke
County twin, this sometimes grows
weary. Being a twin "...makes it
hard to be your own person." His
brother Jay agrees stating that
rarely are twins considered in
dividually, instead being referred
to collectively as "the twins, or the
boys."
Josh and Jay, sons of Judge
Being a twin "... makes it
hard to be your own
person . "
Josh fate
1 \ . '
High and ta tnost people look ex
actly alike. Not so to themselves,
however. Jay maintains that as
they've grown older, they have
changed in their looks. (Well, you
could have fooled me.) In
dependence, says Jay, also comes
with age. "When we were younger,
we depended on each cither more,
but now we enjoy being more in
dependent."
In spite of such longings, for
freedom, the brothers still enjoy
playing jokes on classmates and
teachers. Confessing to switching
classes or seats in elementary
school, Jay says, "We still do.
We're planning to do it next
week." Hoke High teachers, look
out.
The early dependency that Jay
spoke of is evident in the Bowden
twins, aged seven. RoneUe and
Terrell enjoy being together and
especially like being dressed the
same. Although Ronelle loves piz
za and Terrell, bologna and
cheese, they both enjoy the same
kind of ice cream. Insists Terell,
"We don't fight together."
Small arguments probably don't
count in this brotherhood.
However, it must be reported that
a quarrel did erupt concerning
their birthdate. Ronelle insisted on
March 26, while Terrell was sure
June. tUKDnr out mis little
discrepancy proved Ronelle to be
correct, and the two left for class,
fast friends. Ronelle and Terrell
are the sons of Mrs. Linda
Bowden. They attend Scurlock
Elementary.
If being a twin looks like fun,
the McFadyen twins prove that to
be true. Casting mischievous
glances at each other, they recall,
incidents of switching identities in
elementary school. Tom and Jim,
sons of Mr. and Mrs. Neill McFa
dyen Jr. are sophomores at Hoke
High. Avid sportsmen, they are
participating in different sports
this spring. Tom is on the baseball
team, while Jim is running track.
The twins agree that being a twin
has its advantages. Says Jim,
"You can always send your
brother to see what you look like.
"Yeah, explains Tom, "Once Jim
wanted to see what he looked like
next to his car, so he had me stand
next to the car."
Tom and Jim have no definite
plans for college, but both have
entertained thoughts of attending
different schools which, they
realize, may tend to estrange them,
to a certain degree.
Lawana and Jawana Cooper see
nothing in the future to separate
them. Although Lawana wants to
pursue a modeling career and
Jawana has her sites on nursing,
both think that they will always be
dose.
The two girls, daughters of Mr.
and Mrs. Clyde Cooper are in Uth
"You can always send your
brother to see what you look
like. "
Tom McFadyen
grade at Hoke High. Exact replicas ,
or eacn oTnery incy- Ull'ISllig^
alike. A shopping trip results in
two of everything.
The girls have pulled their share
of tricks also, "...especially on
teachers," says Jawana, but it is
aggravating for friends to mistake
one for the other.
Since both work at a local fast
food restaurant, this also creates
some puzzling looks from
customers, the girls admit,
laughing. It's obvious that, to
these two, being twins is a joy.
But what do age, marriage and
families do to twins and their
closeness? Nothing, says Shirley
Potts. Because she and her
brother, Shelby Calloway, were so
close as youngsters, marriage did
not sever their relationship. Even
now, there is an attachment that
extends to the physical side. "If
one of us gets sick, the other one
will in four or five days," says
Mrs. Potts.
She recalls their relationship
during earlier years. "I'll never
forget Shelby when he decided to
get married. He asked me, 'What
do you think Mama will say if I get
married?' And I said, 'What do I
think Mama will say? What do you
think I'U say?' "
This unmistakable bond be
tween twins is surely a miraculous
thing. The idea of always having a
partner, a buddy, or at times an
opponent, surely has its appeal. As
Josh Pate summed it up,
"Everybody ought to try it, at least
once!"
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Ronelle and Terrell Bow den are good buddies.
Independence comes with age, say the Pate twins, Josh and Jay.
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"Do you think Hook Mk? her? ' Uwmmm Cooper turns to be asking, ofl