When Chalk and Cheese decide to mix


The twins are back at school. This year is a bit of leap for them from primary to secondary and the sections have been shuffled pretty drastically. As a result they left all their friends behind. 

A surprise...
However something quite spectacular happened - something that we have successfully avoided for the past 6 years - they have landed up in the same section. This happened only once before when they were in nursery and such was the mayhem they created that the teacher begged us to ensure it never happened again.

Why we never want the kids in the same class
Not only are we worried for the teacher’s sanity, the Husband and I, dreadfully dread the C word - The Comparison. Up until now they have been very secure in themselves and their capabilities. I am afraid to rock the boat. Then there’s the other thing - Competition. The whole world does not matter to them but they compete with each other passionately. This has often lead to tears for one or the other.

But sometimes we have little choice
However, when I suggested I’d get one of them to change their section, in a rare show of extreme bhaichara and solidarity they broke off from their squabbling to protest in unison. An onlooker would have branded us evil parents trying to separate the joint-at-the-hip twins. So we have finally decided to let them be together and watch how it goes.

For now they are sitting together and coming home with new stories everyday, laughing good-naturedly at each other.

- She is the blackboard in charge, he is in charge of the morning prayer.
- While she sits like a lady with back erect and hands crossed (that’s how one should sit in class, says she), he sprawls on his chair (how can we concentrate if we aren’t comfortable, asks he).
- He lost his locker key on day 1, she discovered her key could unlock his locker too.
- She almost dozed off during Marathi class and he nudged her awake.
- She forgot to take her pencil box, he lent her a pen.

He resents it a bit that she gets more than her share of attention from the teacher purely because she is ‘better behaved’ - those are his words, not mine. Other than that it has been largely peaceful.

Change can be good
It’s been almost three weeks. I waited to do this post lest I jinx the whole camaraderie thing. It’s so good while it lasts.

This got me thinking and I wondered what it would be like if I shared a class or a workplace with my sister. I’d like it I think. Maybe that’s only because I don’t get to see enough of her.

What about you? Would you like to be in the same class/office as your sibling? Would it be one big party everyday or would the closeness get to you after a while?

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