The Not so Total Strangers

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The train standing on platform five is the 9:40 pm from Chicago Union Station due to arrive at Penn Station at 7:30am the following morning.

 I dragged my overstuffed suitcase into my compartment and with effort, managed to lift it up to the overhead rack. Slumping down onto my seat, I closed my eyes and sighed deeply. A voice cut into my now relaxing body. “Man, that suitcase looks like it contains all your worldly possessions.” “You have no idea sir, just how close to home your comment is.”

I thought no more about my travelling commentator until I happened to glance at his face. I choked and started to cough uncontrollably. My fellow passenger was my double. His facial features including my bulging eyes, aquiline nose, and bald head exactly reflected my own.

We stared at each other for about 30 seconds when my fellow traveler spoke. “My name is Alan, I just hope that’s not your name” “No my name is Brian, Brian Strachan. I was adopted as a baby, and to be honest I think I have just stepped into the Twilight Zone.”

“Me Too. Are you travelling to the big apple for business or pleasure? ““Business, I think.” You see, I’m headed to a conference geared towards finding any lost relatives from the Korean and second world wars.”

“Let me ask you a few questions then you ask me. That way perhaps we can find out what caused our possible, if not probable separation either at birth or certainly at a time that was too early for you or me to remember.”” Fire away Alan, I’m dying to find out if we are really brothers or if this is some freak accident of nature.”

Alan replied, “As far as I am aware, I was born on Friday September 10^th, 1943. My biological mother died giving birth to me, so I was placed in The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ orphanage, as there was no father to be found. How I got to the orphanage, I have no idea and obviously no memory as I was placed in the orphanage straight after my mother gave birth to me. At least that’s what the sisters told me.

No-one ever mentioned the possibility of having an identical twin brother.” “Wait a minute Alan, do you by any chance have a birthmark on your neck?” “Yes, I do, it’s shaped like a thick coiled snake.” “Oh my god, this is too fantastic. Look here, I have an exact copy of yours. “Alan and Brian continued to stare at each other in shock. Brian spoke first. “Alan, I don’t know about you, but It would be great if we meet up in Manhattan and looked into our situation further.” Alan replied “That’s a superb idea. I must attend a three-day educational conference for High School principals, but I’m also visiting family for the week, so I’m sure I can find the time after the conference.”

“Sounds good to me,” Brian replied. “Let’s find a time and place to meet.” Alan answered Brian” I have an idea, why don’t we meet at the Latter-Day saints’ center. They have family records for all non-Mormons. “That’s a great idea” Brian answered, Do you know where they are situated?” “Yes, Alan said their offices are situated at 129 Columbus Avenue on the 4^th floor. I happen to have potential clients for my business situated a block away” “Okay Alan, when are you free?” Alan replied, I am busy at the conference until Wednesday; after that, I have four days of tourist vacation as this is my first time visiting New York” “Okay, let me check if the Mormon offices are open next Saturday. If it is perhaps, we can meet there. “Sounds good to me” replied Alan.

Upon entering the room, they walked over to an official looking man standing by one of the computers. Brian spoke first. “I wonder if you can help us. As you can see we are identical  twin brothers, although we are as yet only 99% positive about our situation.” “You see Alan butted in, we just met yesterday on a train ride from Chicago.” “Wow! “Replied the man. “Well, you have certainly arrived at the right spot to retrieve your family histories.”

“How may I be of assistance” asked a smiling man wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and black tie. Alan replied, “We are pretty sure we were separated at birth, and we are trying to find our separate family histories in order to find a family connection.” “Okay,” the man answered. “Please follow me.” He led us to a different room which contained a weird-looking machine. It may have been weird looking, but it contained an enormous amount of information concerning family histories from as far back as the first century CE. We both looked at the Mormon with interest. “Can this machine give us the answerers to our questions.” Brian asked. “Oh yes” replied the man. What would help me is if you could give me any background information as to your family history as you are aware.

“There’s not much to tell” Brian Replied. I grew up in the orphanage I already told you about. The sisters treated me kindly, and the horror stories you hear and read about didn’t happen to me, or anyone else in the orphanage All the sisters were kind and encouraging. I returned to the orphanage or what was supposed to be the orphanage. Long gone, where it once stood is now a unattractive high rise building.  

“The interviewer then asked Alan the same question. Alan replied “I only know my parents told me I was adopted from the agency. Until now, I never realized I had a twin brother, and I’m 99.99% positive that Brian is my twin brother.” The interviewer replied “Unfortunately it’s almost impossible to check who both your natural parents are, or were. I suggest you find a private investigator.” Brian and Alan left the building and walked to a nearby Starbucks. They both ordered coffee and a cheese Danish. Brian spoke first. “So, where do we go from here?” Alan replied, “Let’s swap addresses and arrange to phone each other.” They then parted ways with the decision to pursue their research in their hometowns. Unfortunately, they never found out the exact truth of their situation.