Water pours from the shower head, busily striking the bottom of the fiberglass bathtub with a loud, hollow spatter. Metallic vibrations from the worn out exhaust fan adds to the noise - making conversation difficult in the tiny bathroom. Twin boys, age eight, performing their Sunday evening ritual, struggle to communicate.
Their father, in an adjacent room, overhears this conversation.
BROTHER 1, standing outside the shower; speaking at normal volume: Jack, did you know that we're animals?
BROTHER 2, inside the shower, speaking at normal volume: What?
BROTHER 1, louder: Did you know that we're animals?
BROTHER 2, louder: What?
BROTHER 1, nearly shouting: Did you know that we're animals?
BROTHER 2, nearly shouting: We're not animals - we're mammals!
BROTHER 1: What?
BROTHER 2, louder: We're not animals - we're mammals!
BROTHER 1: Mrs. Graves said we're animals.
BROTHER 2: No, Mrs. Graves said we're mammals.
BROTHER 1, softer and sounding perplexed: Mammals? That's weird.
Father smiles, wishing he had a tape recorder to play back this moment for them someday. ~L
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