Opposites

The twins were identical in appearance but completely opposite in temperament. Mary was quiet, gentle and reserved, while Martha was loud, a smug know-it-all who craved attention and loved to party.

Mary and Martha were invited to a wedding celebration by their long time friend, Daphne, and assumed it would be a small affair, but were surprised to find 300 people attending. The noise was deafening as the DJ blasted his music to the delight of the young crowd singing along to the lyrics and gyrating on the dance floor.

Martha, rather the worse for drink, staggered over to Mary’s table, where Mary engrossed in her thoughts was wondering if she would have to wait for Martha until the bar closed and no more drinks were served. “I have a message for you” Martha slurred, “you’re not the one to tell me how to behave, you’re not my conscience, and you don’t judge me”.

Mary, calmly looking her sister in the eye, knowing she was going to make a scene, replied, “Why do you always have to be so unkind, I have never judged you, I have always loved you, perhaps it’s your conscience beginning to stir and you’re not content with your current lifestyle.”

Martha, raising her voice, started to attract attention, and Mary reminded her that as Daphne’s guest at the wedding she needed to rein it in and not cause a scene. Martha, shrugged, staggered away from the table and disappeared on the dance floor while Mary decided to go outside and get some fresh air.

It was a warm Summers night with a myriad of stars in the sky, and Mary welcomed the peace and quiet away from the blaring music. She knew she had to make a decision soon about whether to cut her ties with Martha and live her own life or to try and help Martha achieve some stability in her life. She sighed and went back inside.