Working (It) Out

When they dreamt, they often experienced the same dreams; every morning, like detectives, they would compare notes. 

Research has demonstrated that most twins have a secret language, but in this case, Gerald & Geraldine shared their ability to have dreams that were extremely similar.  Their dreams brought them together, something that, from as far as they could tell, was a part of them since birth.  Although they couldn’t recall early moments, they joked about coming pretty close to remembering things like first steps and streams of pee flying through the air.  Their mom says that Gerry was the first to laugh, and Gerald, hearing this laughed enthusiastically. After that, their laughter was always in unison, each laughing uncontrollably, feeling the same bellyache from limited oxygen, both falling to the floor, groaning for the other to stop, and in some cases, forgetting what was so funny.  Gerald being the first to crawl, first to walk, helped Geraldine take her first steps weeks later.  This alone was fascinating because they both walked in the same deliberate manner and appeared to float across the room.  So it didn’t come as a surprise that at eleven, when Ms. Demma noticed their light of foot, asked to them join the dance troop that their school hosted. From there, the trajectory of their schooling would be centered around dance and all of the demands that go with it, from competitive dance, and for Gerald, the mocking from his male classmates. 

When Joy first saw her children dance, she didn’t expect to be so moved by so much emotion.  As they leaped across the tiny school staged, she squeezed Stephan’s hand tightly, causing him to turn to look at his mom, who had tears running down her face.

He rarely saw his mom cry, but when he saw her cry, she was unaware. Usually late at night sitting at the kitchen table with bills sprawled out across the table, with a barely eaten dinner, and her head buried in her forearms. But this time, he knew these tears were different and knew that, like him, she was experiencing true happiness and hope for all of them. 

Up until that performance, she saw dance as a babysitter, for she was thankful for all of the demands of dance, the afterschool training, the weekend away trips, and in general, knowing that her children were safe.   Not consumed by the evils of the city that could entice young children into mischief.  

Some years later, they would both cry at a performance.  This particular year, his mom seemed to cry more than usual.  Just weeks earlier, they had lost Joy’s mom.  Stephan had found his grandmother sitting in her chair in her tiny subsidized apartment, tv audio blaring and a small lit tinsel tree surrounded with presents for him and his siblings.

Gerald and Geraldine, both thirteen, were given an out by Ms. Demma, stating that they didn’t have to perform for the holiday pageant, that if they would like, they could sit this one out.  Each in unison both said they’d be okay and that they really wanted to do this.  As the curtain opened, Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” echoed through the auditorium, and the eighth-grade choir sang in unison with Donny’s sultry voice.  Both Gerald & Gerry danced toward each other from opposite ends of the stage, meeting in the center, both dressed in colorful winter gear.  Gerald with a red velvet cap, and Geraldine with a knitted ski cap with an oversized pompom trailing down each side of the hat.  As they danced towards each other, they mouthed the words “This Christmas.” Each shimmied their shoulders towards each other in a soulful back in forth motion, feet in tow, each exchanging glances, turned to the choir, arms waving.  And in one quick swoop turned to face the audience, as the medley switched to “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” the Jackson Five version, both clapping, got the crowd clapping.  Stephan and Joy jumped out of their seats, clapping and crying, moving to the beat, singing offkey at the top of their lungs, and then the slow rhythm of the next song’s drum.  The lights dimmed, and only Gerald & Geraldine could be seen on the stage as George Michael’s voice echoed “Last Christmas.”  And to Geraldine and Gerald’s surprise, the whole eighth-grade class joined them on the stage, surrounding them.  Moved by this, Gerald & Geraldine, unable to keep the beat, swayed side to side, with tears streaming down their faces.