Geovahn and Stephane Nelson. - Elgin Taylor photo

Geovahn and Stephane Nelson may not fit the bill of identical twins. Nevertheless, they share many things in common, added to this is the special bonding that seems to be the hallmark of twins.

They were born on July 11, 1995. Geovahn, the firstborn by 15 minutes, is actually the smaller and shorter of the two. He is also referred to as 'Little' while his brother is nicknamed, 'Biggy'.

Both are grade six students at Spanish Town Primary School in St. Catherine who eagerly await the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) in March this year. They are hoping to attend a 'good school which is, as Stephane explained, a traditional high school.'

They both mentioned mathematics as their favourite subject.

Fun loving

Play is viewed by both boys as an essential part of their social interaction. Stephane likes football and currently represents his school in an Under-13 competition. Geovahn also likes football, in addition to basketball and rugby.

Geovahn is seen as the prankster and sometimes gets into fights with his brother. They said that in terms of wins and losses they are about even. However, they said that soon after these skirmishes they are back to being friends.

Both boys enjoy watching television, especially music videos. Their favourite type of music is rap/hip hop, followed closely by dancehall. Geovahn likes Biggy Small and Tupac Shakur, while his brother enjoys the music of 50 Cent and Ludacris.

Home duties

The twins live with an extended family in De La Vega City which includes their mother, Sela Morgan and two other siblings. Their father currently resides in England and they keep in regular contact by means of the telephone.

Sela revealed that her sons perform chores around the house, for instance, washing the dishes and cleaning the house. She said that Stephane also enjoys cooking. She said that they are very loving and provide a lot of fun around the household.

On weekends, she facilitates their attendance at Children First to learn about the computer. She said that she is aware of the importance of reading in their academic development and that she is currently 'working on that area'.

"When I grow up I want to become a soldier," said Geovahn with a gleam in his eyes.

His brother, Stephane, gave the question some thought before adding:

" I would like to become a football star and teach the skills to the youth dem in my community. If that fails, then I definitely want to become a lawyer," he emphasised.

Their teacher, Sylvia Brissett, believes that if they focus and work hard enough at their studies, they can achieve their goals.