"That electric shop test tomorrow is going to be a tough one," Franks declares sensing his twin's worry as they ride the Connellsville bus home near the end of their first year at South Union High School.
"Yeah, and Mr. Salitrik is out so the sub'll be clueless," Francis mopes, a breeze from the open window cooling his dripping forehead. "Hey, he won't know if you do eighth period for me!"
"I don't know Mo," counters Frank using his private name for his brother. "Mom doesn't need more problems at home."
"Hi-de-ho Bro," chuckles the more assertive twin to conclude the discourse. "As Pop would say, our only trouble would be getting caught."
Twins can be alike in appearance and very different in personality and interests. In their case Frank was fascinated with taking things apart and putting them back together to figure out how they worked. Francis loved inventing new games for those same things so they still had a grand time first playing and now working together.
Frank and Francis had always been assigned to the same class at Lafayette Elementary. High school brought their first chance at academic differentiation, and Frank had excelled in seventh grade mathematics and industrial arts, Francis in the creative arts. His stick work on the snare drum had landed him first chair percussion.
"Why Francis, what brings you to eighth period band with your brother's trumpet?" entreats the music director with a firm hand on the thirteen-year-old's bony shoulder.
"Um...Frank couldn't make it," Francis whispers, his squirm giving away the lie.
"Well then mister, I'll see you both in the Principal's office right after school."
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