Twin Boys

"It was from that brunette, Micki. All the memories of the week we'd had came flooding back and I could hardly understand the note I was trying to read it so fast. What it amounted to in a nutshell" - "It came in a nutshell?" asked Kim. Doris shot her another one of those squinted eyeball looks and Kim said, "Sorry, Jonas, you go on with your story. I won't say another word. Not ONE more word outta me, no sirree." Jonas continued, "Well, it seems Micki had been engaged to Nick but was having second thoughts so she came down here to camp for a week to clear her mind. She met me and that decided her. She figured she better go on home and call it off with Nick. Problem was, when she got back he'd set up a Surprise Ceremony. She walked into a house full of relatives and friends and a wedding gown all ready for her to slip into. She figured she better just go with that plan instead of upsetting all the other apple carts and she'd always wanted to let me know but just couldn't bring herself to send the many notes she had written. Turns out she should have trusted her instincts cause Nick turned out to be not such a good guy after all and soon got worse. Course the boys came along 'bout 9 months after the wedding. They kept her pretty busy but things with her and Nick just got worse and worse." Patsy spoke up, "What'd she name the boys?" From the floor came a chorus of two, "Rick and Dick." Patsy looked at Jonas and then the 2 men on the floor. "You mean," she pointed at the floor, "That's them?" "Yes," answered Jonas, "That's them." "How'd they get HERE?" Patsy asked. Patiently Jonas said, "That's what I am trying to tell you." "See guys, I am NOT the only one who interrupts. Patsy just spoke right up there and Jonas was trying.." Kim quieted at a look from Shauna. Again, Jonas continued, "When I got the note she was planning her escape and was hoping against hope I would remember her. REMEMBER HER? How could I have ever forgotten her? I welcomed her and the boys and we set up camp, so to speak right there over the General Store and had a wonderful life. Once Nick saw she wasn't going back he set about getting custody of the boys. He failed but he sure made our lives miserable and we worried like crazy whenever the boys went to visit him that he would leave the country with them. The boys grew like weeds out here and my land I have never seen two more opposite brothers. Rick, there, doesn't have a mean bone in his body and would give you his last dollar. Dick, now, Dick doesn't have a mean bone in his body either, but he would gladly TAKE that last dollar. He's always gotta make it rich quick scheme, especially if somebody would just loan him the money. When he got to be about 16, he went to spend a couple weeks with Nick and just didn't come home. Got himself into a few scrapes with the law and ended up a guest of the state for a few years. Then he bounced around from place to place until about 2 years ago he wound up back home with us. You know how rumours and the gossip fly in small places where everybody thinks they know everybody else's bidness so it hasn't been easy for him but I am pretty proud to say he's been doin' a right nice job around here. Between the 2 boys Micki and I have been able to pass on most of our work load and we're even planning a trip to Alaska. On one of them cruisin' ships. So as far as you gettin' all worked up over Dick, I reckon it was just a waste of time. You might as well turn them fellers loose and I'll show you how to tell 'em apart."
The girls silently traded glances but you could see their minds whirling. Finally Judy spoke up, "Well, if Dick is such a good boy now, how's come he let us think he was Rick?" "Yeah, said Kim, "And why did he have to ake his phone call outside so we wouldn't hear? Are you SURE, Jonas, that he's turned the tides and is living right? Cause if he hasn't we can have Doris toss him over her shoulder and dump in the truck and as soon as we get it started we can haul him in. Or Judy can take him in in the mini bike." "HA! Not alone, I'm not," spoke up Judy, "One of you has to go with me!!" "And where would we ride, the handle bars?" asked Shauna. "No, silly, I have a cart in my truck." "Now Girls," came from Jonas, "You can trust me. You know that. Just let the boys go and we'll all have a nice game of Monopoly."
"Don't do it," came from the floor. The girls eyes all jumped to the speaker. "Don't let him loose," said one of the men with a toss of the head toward the other man, "Dick and Jonas aren't what they seem. Most of what Jonas told you is true, especially about Mom and us moving here and then Dick moving back with Dad, but there's more he's not telling and it would be in your best interest to leave him tied right where he is." Jonas spoke again, "Now Dick, you just stop that. Things have been going so well for you and here you are causing trouble again." Girls you go ahead and let them boys loose. That's Dick acting like he's Rick, again. You just let them boys loose." "Call the other rangers," said the man on the floor. "Now, let's don't be causing trouble for everybody," said Jonas, "You just turn them boys loose and we'll go on home and straighten this out."
The girls looked to each other for suggestions. Judy dug around in her bag, finally saying, "There you are," to whatever item she had in her hand, "I've been looking for you." And she pulled..............