46 replies to this topic

[Brett]

All right, I offer this only because we haven't done one in a while, but there is a caveat: I made it up myself, so it might suck. It also might have holes that I didn't anticipate.

Away we go.

A mother and son (Mark) are taking the train out from the city to "meet a friend," the mother says. The mother, perhaps as old as 80, feels guilty about the visit, but she knows it's time. There may not be another chance. The son, about 50, senses his mother's distress, but she's refused to answer his questions, so he rides with her, silently.

They arrive at their destination, a small house in a rural town, and the mother and son approach the door. The mother rings the bell, and a young man (Tom) who appears to be about 20 answers the door. The man at the door vaguely recognizes the woman, and he is angered. Before he can speak, the mother says, "Tom, I know. But wait. There's someone I want you to meet." She turns to her son, and says, "Mark, this is Tom. [And, to Tom] Tom, this is Mark. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to introduce you. Mark, I brought you here to meet Tom because he is your brother. Your twin brother."

How is that possible?

[Cubbie Blues]

I'll start out with the obvious one. Where they test tube babies?

[SirCub]

Awesome, this one sounds intriguing. I'm sure it wouldn't be that simple (or convoluted), but the first question has to be:

Is there time travel involved?

[Cubbie Blues]

Awesome, this one sounds intriguing. I'm sure it wouldn't be that simple (or convoluted), but the first question has to be:

Is there time travel involved?

Or theory of relativity. Did one brother travel in a spaceship going close to the speed of light causing him to age slower than his brother on Earth.

[hansman1982]

They are actually close to the same age - however, the adopted son led an easier life and looks younger.

[Spencer]

Did one of the brothers have Benjamin Button syndrome?

[Brett]

I'll start out with the obvious one. Where they test tube babies?

No.

[Brett]

They are actually close to the same age - however, the adopted son led an easier life and looks younger.

I like that, but no.

[Brett]

Awesome, this one sounds intriguing. I'm sure it wouldn't be that simple (or convoluted), but the first question has to be:

Is there time travel involved?

Or theory of relativity. Did one brother travel in a spaceship going close to the speed of light causing him to age slower than his brother on Earth.

You guys suck. Haha.

Yes. That's obviously the biggest chunk.

[Brett]

Did one of the brothers have Benjamin Button syndrome?

As indicated by the above answer, no.

[Cubbie Blues]

never mind

[Cubbie Blues]

So, we know that the brother that looks 20 years younger than the 50 year old brother is the one that traveled close to the speed of light. That makes him 30ish. Not that it makes a difference but that also makes the mother no more than 30 when she gave birth.

Were the boys babies when Tom traveled?

[SirCub]

Does this story take place in a future (or alternative) reality where space flight is fairly common?

[Brett]

So, we know that the brother that looks 20 years younger than the 50 year old brother is the one that traveled close to the speed of light. That makes him 30ish. Not that it makes a difference but that also makes the mother no more than 30 when she gave birth.

Were the boys babies when Tom traveled?

Yes.

[Brett]

Does this story take place in a future (or alternative) reality where space flight is fairly common?

Yes.