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Real
Sister Story
GABRIELLE & HAYLEY
IDENTICAL TWINS Gabrielle and Hayley are
not exactly alike. Even though they were born eight minutes apart, their birthdays are on dif- ferent days—November 10 and November 11!
Still, these 12-year-olds have a lot in common.
“We’re good friends,” says Gabrielle (who goes
by the nickname Gabri), “and we’re both into
sports”—including cross country, track, and
basketball. Gabri and Hayley also like to draw,
and they play on the same volleyball team,
but Gabri says she’s better at setting and
Hayley is better at overhand serving.
Sports aren’t the only thing these sisters have
in common. “We have a book club,” says
Hayley, and Gabri adds, “We like the same
kind of books.” Also, says Hayley, “We’re both
funny, and we both like making things.”
They’re in sixth grade at the same school, have
the same teacher, and even share the same
friends. In fact, the sisters have so much in
common that it’s almost easier to list the ways
they are not alike. “I like to watch birds, but
Gabri would rather do something else,” says
Hayley. “And I like popcorn,” says Gabri, “but
she hates it.”
When it comes to being twins, “sometimes
people think it would be really annoying to
be together all the time,” says Gabri. Not true,
says Hayley. When people get them mixed up,
it doesn’t bother them most of the time. “We
have switched places on purpose,” says Hay-
ley. “We went into the bathroom, switched
clothes, then started acting like each other.
It worked, and we thought it was so funny
that we had to give ourselves away.” To help
remind people which twin is which, Gabri likes
to wear green because green starts with the
letter G—just like her name.
Gabri and Hayley have three more siblings,
but usually the two of them get along with
each other best of all. For Hayley, having a
twin means there’s always someone around
for doing art or practicing a sport. Gabri says,
“It’s really fun.” And—no surprise—Hayley
feels the same way.
Everyday
Magic
You and your siblings don’t have to wait for holidays
and other special occasions to come around. Magical
memories can be made any day of the year!
Magical Memories
Many families have special things they do again and again to celebrate
meaningful days and events.
Maybe your dad makes a special breakfast
for you and your brother on the first day of
school every fall. Maybe your family leaves
“Boo!” gifts for your neighbors at Halloween.
Maybe you get a new book every year for
Christmas or Hanukkah. These special things
are called traditions. Traditions come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, and they’re different for every family. What traditions does your family have?
Traditions don’t have to be a big deal to be
very special—almost magical—to your family.
You don’t have to make something or buy
something or spend lots of time getting it
ready. What matters is that it means some-
thing to all of you.
Because your traditions are so special to you,
you’ll probably think about them for years
and years. You might not remember what
gifts you received for your birthday, but you
will remember the ice cream shop you always
went to. Maybe you’ll even continue some
traditions with your own children someday.
Sometimes parents have to be involved to
get a tradition started, but not always. You
and your siblings can do some special little
things of your own. And there’s no need to
save them for big days—traditions can be
created for any day of the year. If everyone
