I met Karen and Leanne at one of my photo exhibit during my first year of college. I was showing some candid shots of people in odd circumstances. Their beauty took me aback, and like everyone else I thought they were identical twins. The only people that knew different, were the administration clerks or people trained in identification.
I made no effort at all to acknowledge their beauty though they were breath taking. Certainly not Playboy models, or women one might see on Vogue but quite beautiful in a down to earth way, and I was certain that they were tired of being told; how beautiful, or how cute, or how much they look-a-like, and didn't care to here any of that from me. I later learned much to my astonishment that there were two years, two states, and two sets of parents between them.
With their clothes on they looked exactly alike to the untrained eye, even when clad only in shorts, they maintained their mirror-image appearance. It wasn't until you could look inside their panties that the differences became evident. I know what you are thinking, one had a penis well you are wrong.
To describe one is to describe the other, Karen was the older and the alpha mate; they both had outgrown pigtails yet they both wore their shoulder length blond hair in pigtails. Their eyebrows faint, thin and un-plucked still accented their deep blue eyes. Their thick red lips matched their plump cheeks natural reddish hue.
Even in the dead-of-winter they wore short sleeve cut-off t-shirts showing off their creamy skinned bellies with their wide and deep belly buttons, not a hair or stubble to be seen. Their skirts were always just above the knees, but a few times I caught one or the other bending over exposing their smooth shaved legs. Their clothes were always the same. I used to muse to myself that they would argue with each other about weather or not they would wear a bra over their pert thirty-two c. breasts and often wondered who wanted to do what and why. Did one of them want to cover up their thumb-tip sized nipples, which grew larger when they bristled?
They were both very athletic, yet they still had what I affectionately call 'baby fat' giving a soft roundish flavor to their appearance. They spent a lot of time in the gym and their bodies made that quite clear. Neither were ripped, but their muscles were built up. They could out run with speed or in distance most of the jocks. They were instrumental for the volleyball team's record breaking four year winning streak at the state championships, and one victory at the nationals. The team went three years in a row without a single lose, breaking the old record by one and a half seasons.
I often fantasized slipping my opened hand between their thighs, well... because they were so open and shapely, they were enticing with almost enough room. They sported my favorite kind of bottom I call it 'the wide smiler.' They had a twenty-eight waist over a muscular thirty-six buttocks that sagged upward, if you will indulge me, with a wide valley between their cheeks. God I tried to steal a few pictures of them walking together with their sweet bottoms swaying, but they always-seemed ready for me. Like I had a neon sign brightly flashing look out your butt's on candid lens. Stealing pictures of people being remarkable weather in looks or action is my favorite hobby, more accurately an addiction that has caused more than a little trouble.
However it was academia they excelled in; Leanne's major was 'English lit.' and Karen's was 'Computer Sci.' they both have had several essays on topics concerning their majors appear in many literature and computer publications. They are also paid tutors, not by the school, but by the students whom they help.
I always thought it was a little odd that I rarely ever saw them together at school or at school functions other than the volleyball games, the discussion group they attended, study hall, and going or coming from gym class. I shared a networking class with Karen, and a journalism class with Leanne. I did mind my Ps and Qs in class. I never once saw them being physically familiar.
It was my photo exposé on couples that locked us into an inevitability of becoming friends... close friends. The kind you can tell anything to and just know that it would never be said again. I can tell this story now only because they told me to.
My part of the story began the last year of college right after my exposé. After a series of near misses and bumping intos I thought it best at least to offer up the social civilities. Which soon gave way to brief conversations about me; my majors, or how my classes were going, or just the plane how are you doing today. They did not ask me that question, like so many people do when they mean 'Hi.' They stopped and waited for an answer. One week I saw them meandering through the gallery looking at the photos of couples on display over and over. Closing time neared and all the visitors were gone.
Karen walked up and asked, "Did you shoot all of the photos on display?"
I said, "Yes. The whole show is devoted to my work on couples being couples. I will be on display here for ten more days." I struggled to maintain some semblance of composure, though I am sure a drool escaped my lip as I talked.
"I see you've pretty much covered all the possible combinations of couples, and you've not shown any favoritism." Karen pleasantly observed.
"Favoritism is not journalism, and all couples have many things in common. That is especially true of the ones trying to maintain a long term relationship. It doesn't matter if they are same sex, or same race; co-ed or co-racial." I explained assuredly.
"Long term relationships?" she sounded pensive and added, "Relationships seem to be dropping like flies today! What do you or would you attribute that to?"
"In a nutshell; communication or the failure to do so, the inability to accept the differences and embrace them or the lack of motivation to do so." I answered with conviction and asked, "Do you have a favorite? I've seen you here with your friend slowly milling around the show the last couple of days."
"Yes the one over there by the window, the one of the two women. The one standing looks sad. Who are they and what are they doing?" Karen asked empathy ringing in her voice.
"Oh I don't know who they are, and for me to tell you what they are doing would steal the value of the image from you," I assured asking, "What does it mean to you?"
"I think the older woman is sad because, she wants to tell the younger one that she loves her and can't." She related with a small tear gracing her left eye.
"I never saw that till now. You could be right, or she could be sad looking because she has told the one of her love. See how her hand is touching the hair, ear, and face at the same time. And look her other hand is on her shoulder. It looks like one has just spoken and the other heard. Here I've gone and broken a rule please forgive me."
