The 7.30 a.m. morning sun brightly shone as nine-year-olds Nincy and Nancy ran to the breakfast table where their elder brother was reading the morning papers.

The twins had just finished dressing for school and what remained was taking breakfast before leaving.

"Mike," Nincy looked at her elder brother as she took a sit on one of the distressed pine chairs of the dining suite in the house, "Tell Nancy that I am the prettiest and most smartest today."

"Are you kidding?" Nancy protested at the twin sister, "I am the prettiest, and usually the most smartest."

"The most smartest! Who do you think you are, Jesus?" Nincy was now relatively critical.

"Oh, and I also get to be always the most clever." Nancy's tone assumed a level of pride.

"You idiot! Who had 92 percent in English and 95 percent in Science?"

"And who topped the class, you moron!"

"And who is capable_"

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME!" Michael put down the newspaper, looking at both the sisters gravely, "It's like every time I am here you always try to poke me!"

"It is this good for nothing idiot_" Nincy spoke but was harshly silenced.

"It is all of you!" Michael harshly said, "And where did you get such abusive words! If I hear you say them again, ever again, I will beat up your mouths, and I am not bluffing!"

"The story of my life." Their mother came in from the kitchen with the twins' breakfast, "Michael, I get this every day. You shut them now, the next minute they start all over again." She served them breakfast.

"Mike, at least tell us who is the most prettiest and smartest." Nincy quietly said.

"You really want to know what can perfectly answer that?" Michael looked at the sister, who promptly nodded in excitement, "The mirror will give you the perfect answer. Go and stand closely in front of it together."

The twins exchanged looks as their mother laughed.

"By the way, Michael." She said, "It's lovely you are here today. I have an important meeting this morning and will be glad if you drop them to school."

"No problem." Michael agreed to the mother’s request, "Are we taking public?"

"No, no, no, trust me, you will get to school at ten! Out there these two are an explosion." The mother finished her breakfast while standing, "You will take them with my car and bring it to the office afterward." She took her handbag and a file containing documents on the table, "I will be the one taking public." She then turned to the twins, "Nancy, go and get the car keys on my side bed. I think I have forgotten it there."

"Oh, really, mama..." One of the twins smiled cheekily.

"Nancy is going to get it..." The other as well smiled, mischievously.

"... Just point Nancy and she will go get it." The first one said, her smile broad.

Their mother looked at them in true surprise, her handbag paused midway to the shoulder, "Is that a challenge? Do you think I don't know you? Do you really think that, you toddlers?"

"Oh, mum, prove us wrong." One of the twins said in a couth manner, the other laughing impishly.

Their mother stared at them for a while, unsure which of her twins was which. They are godamn still young to know, particularly if they didn't want you to. She moved closer to them with a long look at both.

"Come on, mum!" Michael looked at the mother with a frown, "You really gonna let them play with you?"

"Michael, shut up! I can do this! Just be quiet." The mother maintained at her twins, now closer at them. Everything they had seemed to be working against her; same school uniform, same skin colour, same hairstyle, same eyes, nose, mouth, voice, smile, laugh, and entirely the same face. She never thought even for once such a challenge would ever come, "Okay, ladies." She finally said with resolve, "You tell me who is who, or else there will be no ice cream in the evening!"

"No, no, mum! You are giving up like that?" Michael sounded surprised.

"I suppose you can do better, huh?" Her mother turned to him.

Michael shook his head with a smile, turning to the twins in front of him. They now happily laughed, knowing that the one thing they could always be best at in the family was confusing the rest. They had been searching for an opportunity where they could challenge them. An opportunity where the entire family was present, including their father. But here with their mother and brother, it could work just fine, even if the father was absent.

"Ah, ha!" Michael pointed at one after looking at them for a while, "You... you are definitely Nincy..." He closely looked at her, "... You, missy, I changed your diapers every time, and in doing so, I looked at your eyes. They still look the same. AM I RIGHT!" He gently slammed the table with his palms, scaring the one he had just pointed.

"I am sorry, Nancy." Nincy looked at the sister apologetically, "I told you Mike is good enough to be able to know."

"YOU TOLD ME! All you had to do is never tell until the end, even if anyone knows!" Nancy furiously got from her chair and headed to the mother's room.

"How did you figure it out?" The mother looked at Michael, surprised.

"Mum, I am their brother."

"AND I THEIR MOTHER!"

"Then you really need to know your babies." Michael smiled while taking a sip from his cup of coffee. Her mother smiled back while shaking her head and walked to the door.