The Truth Always Comes Out
The truth about Jim and John's birth was just two blocks from where they lived. They had grown up believing they were fraternal twins but soon learned that it was not the case.
Because it was obvious that it would never be otherwise, there would be no question about it. The truth would require decades to emerge, putting pressure on a well-respected institution.
Twin Brothers
The Lambert brothers were from Cincinnati, Ohio. Their parents, Sue and Olson had no other children.
As twins do, they formed a close bond during their childhood by doing everything together. As movie buffs, John and Jim had no idea that their lives would soon resemble a movie.
Bullies
Due to their differences in appearance, other kids teased them constantly at school saying that they were not twins.
Despite this, the brothers did not lose heart. Having the same birthday, they were without a doubt twins, and no one would be able to split them apart.
Things Got Better
They would see things change for them as they grew up and graduated from college. Despite their closeness, each of them had friends of their own.
It was common for them all to hang out with each other and for the brothers to be asked the same question about whether they were really twins. There was a point where Jim got tired of it.
He Had Enough
One day, Jim couldn't control his temper. Several of their mutual friends went out for drinks when one of them took things too far.
After drinking heavily, he made a joke about the twins' mother. They would hear him make crude comments about their mother sleeping with two different men when she became pregnant with them. Jim's blood began to boil at this thought.
Remaining Calm
Just before Jim punched him out, his brother stopped him. Of the two, John was always calmer.
Since it was just a joke and their friend was drunk, he told him not to take it too seriously. Nevertheless, John soon learned his brother was suffering a great deal from this problem.
What Was On His Mind?
Jim was visibly upset when they returned to their dorm room. His brother sat down beside him and started speaking with him.
Jim refused to discuss the matter. The past few months had been challenging for him. In the end, he was convinced by John, and what he told his brother shocked him.
He Had His Doubts
There was some doubt in Jim's mind as to whether they were actually brothers. There was a feeling inside him that he did not belong in their family.
That was a ridiculous thought, John told him. It goes without saying that they were family, and no doubt brothers. What explanation could he give for the fact that they shared a birthday and were born at the same hospital?
The Pictures
Under his bed, Jim retrieved something. Prior to them leaving for college, their mother had made them a family photo album.
Taking a look at the photographs, Jim flipped through the book. When John looked, he saw something for the first time that he wished he hadn't seen.
How Could It Be?
As John gazed at the photos, he couldn't take his eyes off them. The fact that he hadn't seen it before surprised him. Perhaps Jim was right.
As Jim pointed out, it was only John who resembled their parents and not him. However, it wasn't possible. The kind of thing that happens doesn't happen. John thought it happened only in movies.
Accepted
John and Jim decided to leave well enough alone. They didn’t know if what they were speculating was even true, and they didn’t want to upset their parents with questions.
They vowed never to speak of it again. They did their special handshake they learned as kids and put the matter to rest. Little did they know that it would come back to haunt them again.
Someone Familiar
It would be two years before the brothers would be hoisted into the spotlight. Their friend Amy would see someone familiar at another college. She had been visiting her cousin at Xavier University when she spotted someone familiar walking down one of the hallways.
She called out to him, but there was no response. Amy decided she needed to find the guy. He looked just like John. Was he secretly taking classes here as well?
The Mystery
Amy searched the college grounds and eventually found the guy she was looking for. It had taken her most of the day.
She called out to him, “Hey, John, I didn’t know you went to Xavier as well.” The guy just looked at her. He was clearly confused. He didn’t want to be rude, so he just said, “Hi, um, I’m not John. My name is Danny.”
Mistaken Identity
Amy couldn't believe what she was hearing. This guy standing in front of her was clearly her friend John. Was he just being mean and trying to ignore her?
Amy then replied, “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else.” The guy just smiled and went on his way. Amy was dumbfounded. But then she thought about something she read years ago, each of us has a doppelganger somewhere. The guy was certainly John’s doppelganger.
Telling John
Amy decided to let the guy be on his way. But she knew she had to tell John what she saw. She knew he was a twin, but maybe they were triplets.
When Amy got back to her dorm room, she decided to call John to tell him what she had seen at the other college. Surely he needed to know. This could be a long-lost family member of his, and he wouldn't even know. She had to tell him.
The Dinner Date
Amy invited John out to dinner that evening. They were good friends, and people always thought they were dating.
They went to a nice Italian restaurant downtown, and she thought John looked really nice. They had a lot in common and didn’t waste any time talking about everything they could. Then Amy decided to bring up the topic of the stranger she saw.
Something Of Importance
Amy felt weird about revealing who she saw, but there was no turning back. This had to be done. It could be important.
She told John that she saw a guy that looked identical to him at another college when she visited her cousin. She said she thought he should know. But John’s response was not what Amy was expecting.
Unexpected Reaction
John looked at her and then did something Amy was not expecting. He burst into fits of laughter. Was John okay?
John couldn’t believe what Amy was telling him. It was impossible. Of course there are people that look like you, but someone that is identical? That was not possible. He had a twin. He was tired of this. He didn’t need more drama in his life.
Refusal
Amy insisted. She wasn't trying to make him uncomfortable and she didn’t want to cause any drama in his life, but she saw what she saw.
She then told him she was willing to prove it. But he had to come with her to the college, and they would then look for the guy. John refused her offer.
A Compromise
John told Amy she was surely mistaken, but Amy was adamant that he should go and see for himself.
John said it was crazy. He wasn’t going to drive all the way to another college for nothing. He needed proof first. He asked Amy if she could possibly get a photo of the guy. That proof would then convince him to go.
Plan Of Action
Amy thought about it, she knew it would be hard, but there was no other way. She had to convince John that this guy was his double.
She contacted her cousin and asked her to please try to take a clear picture of her classmate. It would prove difficult and weird for her cousin, but eventually, Amy would get exactly what she wanted.
The Photos
As Amy was lying in bed that evening, her phone buzzed erratically. She had just settled down with a book to unwind from her busy day.
When she saw who it was, she smiled. It was her cousin and she sent the photos of her classmate. This was it. Amy clicked on the photos and they were perfect. It was just what she needed to convince John.
The Reveal
Amy couldn’t wait to see John. She finally had the proof he had asked for. She waited for him outside on a bench.
When John approached her, she could see he was hesitant to see the photos. She handed him her phone. John was speechless, he couldn’t believe it. He was looking at a carbon copy of himself.
Secret Research
John was amazed. How could this be? Who was this guy that looked exactly like him? He needed answers.
He thanked Amy and asked her to send the pictures to his phone. It was time to do some research of his own. But it would be in secret, he couldn’t tell his brother Jim about this just yet. He first had to make sure.
Undercover Brother
Since the brothers shared a dorm room, it was hard for John to keep something like this from Jim. He knew Jim was always asking questions and if he found out about what he was researching, it would break his heart.
John decided to take some time during the day to work in the library away from the prying eyes of his brother.
Operation Investigation
After one of his classes, John quickly made his way to the library. This was one of the days that he had some time off and he decided to use it to work on his secret project.
Why were the hallways so long, he thought. He needed to sneak away quickly before Jim accosted him. He was almost there, he could see the library and then he heard his name. He stopped dead in his tracks.
Own Language
It was Jim. He knew he couldn’t get away from him. They were not only brothers but twins. Sometimes, one knew what the other was thinking.
John and Jim had made up their own special form of communication when they were young. They loved to see people’s faces when they spoke their own language. Their parents were always amazed. This was one of the times when John wished his brother was not in his mind.
Jim Catches Up
Jim came running down the hallway to catch up to him. John had to think. What would his excuse be? What would he tell Jim?
“Where are you going, bro? I called you three times and you didn’t turn around.” John was sweating profusely, he couldn’t think of anything to say and he knew he couldn’t lie to his brother.
The Lifesaver
Just as John opened his mouth to speak, Amy was standing in front of them. She was staring intensely at both of them.
It was then that Amy said something amazing. “Hey John, we’re late for our study session in the library, let’s go. John couldn’t believe that Amy had saved him like that. He owed her his life.
The Search Begins
John told Jim he had to go and would see him in the dorm room later that evening. It was time to figure out what was going on.
Amy accompanied him to the library. He didn’t know where to start. He typed in their names and surnames, followed by their date of birth and the name of the hospital on the pc. He did not expect the information he received.