BY JULIA GABURO

When the alarm clock rings at 5:00 in the morning, Claire Mongenas gets up for swim practice. She leaves the room but forgets to turn the light off. Several seconds later, it looks like Claire is back in the room to turn off the light. But this time it’s not Claire; it’s her twin sister, Ingrid.

They’re made from the same DNA, have the same features and are the same age, to the day. Twins may look the same, but many multiples at MHS are quick to point out their differences.

“People think we only do things with each other. But we do things without each other all the time,” says sophomore Caitlyn Iredale, whose twin Natalie is her only other sibling.

The twins are eager to clear up misconceptions about what it’s like to have a duplicate copy.

According to Caitlyn and Natalie, the most annoying thing is when people ask the girls why they aren’t wearing matching outfits.

Caitlyn agrees, “They think we’re attached at the hip.”

Junior twins Claire and Ingrid Mongenas also point out that they do not enjoy being compared: who is smarter and who is better.

Claire says, “Twins are the same people, but Ingrid and I are not identical in any way.”

Freshmen Nick and Haley Weston believe those of us who aren’t twins are most ignorant about twin telepathy.

“I think the biggest misconception is the idea of twin telepathy and the idea that twins

look alike. Twin telepathy doesn’t work at all!” Haley says.

Nick agrees, saying, “I don’t know about other twins, but Haley and I can’t read each other’s mind.”

However, on the topic of twin telepathy, Ingrid and Claire have a different opinion:

“We randomly have spurts of it.” Ingrid says, “We often think the same exact same thing or start humming/singing the exact same thing.”

Perhaps because of the small-town environment or because the theory that twins are different proves true, none of the sets of twins complain about being mixed up.

“We don’t usually get mixed up because most people say we look nothing alike. Occasionally someone will say we look exactly the same though,” Natalie says.

When mix-ups do happen, they can be awkward, according to Ingrid, who says, “I sometimes just go with it, I feel awkward correcting them.”

Though it may seem like being a twin can sometimes be a hassle, the pairs all insist that they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Haley says, “The best thing about being twins is that we are a team. Sometimes we drive each other nuts, but when the other needs you, we are always willing to help. It’s awesome to always have someone that you can rely on other than your parents.”

Nick agrees, saying Haley helps him a lot with sports.

“We can help each other with all kinds of problems from homework to practicing lacrosse with each other,” he says.

Not only are they a team, the twins all described having closer relationships with their co-twin than their non-twin siblings. Haley and Nick ascribe it to being together all the time while Claire and Ingrid say it’s because they are the only girl siblings in their family.

Nick sums up what seem to be the feelings of most twins:  “It does have it ups and downs but most of the time I think it’s more fun to be a twin.”