Unlikely Twins: We Are Brothers

By Dr. Warren L. Naegele

It’s the weekend of the senior retreat at Padre Island and Naomi Watkins, the daughter of Rev. Harry and Sarah Watkins, is enjoying the respite. She’s feeling good and has too much to drink. And although she’s engaged, she has sex with two different classmates. Nine months later, Naomi gives birth to bio paternity twins, one conceived by the white father and the other by the black father.

Unlikely Twins tells the story about the four families involved, the church congregation, and the challenges stemming from Naomi’s choices. It shares the heartache, the embarrassment, the hurt, and the healing.

In this novel, the characters must confront their assumptions about race in order to build genuine relationships—the nature of which takes a surprising turn. Individuals and families must set aside their differences to support one another, and in the process, they find this openness has allowed love to blossom. An uplifting tale, it sends the message to all to maintain an open mind and be accepting of others.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: May 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9781489720931

Dr. Warren L. Naegele

Dr. Warren L. Naegele studied grief and counseling ministry and earned a doctor of ministry degree from the School of Theology, Chicago. He worked in parish ministry in Iowa and Kansas for thirteen years and served twenty years as a jail and hospital chaplain in Kansas City, Missouri. Now eighty-five and retired, Naegele volunteers as a teacher in a county jail. He is married and has seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

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Copyright © 2019 Dr. Warren L. Naegele.

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ISBN: 978-1-4897-2092-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-2093-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018968554

LifeRich Publishing rev. date:     04/24/2019

CONTENTS

The Story

People in This Story

The Events

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Postscript

Acknowledgments

Educational Background

AA—St. John’s College, Winfield, Kansas, 1953.

BA, BD—Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, 1958, 1963.

ME—University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri, 1975.

Fellow in the College of Chaplains, 1977.

D.Min—Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, Now School of Theology, Chicago, 1983.

Training for counseling in Stephen Ministry and in Gestalt Therapy, family systems, transactional communication.

Published devotional booklet, A Month of Virtues for Healing and Healthy Living, 2016.

I continue to be a student, and writing this book has been an educational process.

Ministry Journey

Dayton-Dana parishes, 1958–1961

Mission in Olathe Ks. Redeemer Luth., 1961–71

Jackson County Jail chaplain, Kansas City, Missouri, 1971–81

Truman Medical Center Chaplain Kansas City, Missouri, 1981–91

Institutional training for lay and clergy, Pacific Southwest District of Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, 1991–95

Interim pastoral ministry, 1995–2006

Grief ministry training and workshops for Pacific Southwest District, 2006–2010

THE STORY

The story is about biopaternity twins. That means there were two different fathers of twins born at the same time to the same woman. One baby was by a white man, the other a black man. This story is about how the mother, whose father is a minister, the four families involved, and the congregation get to know one another, and their struggles to solve the problems involved.

This story could be true but is fiction and has no relationship to anyone living or dead.

PEOPLE IN THIS STORY

• Watkins family: Rev. Harry; wife, Sarah; daughter, Naomi; sons, Mike and

• Matthew

• Blackstone family: Arnold; wife, Susie; daughter, Audrey; sons, Arnold Jr.

• and Andrew

• White family: James; wife, Jenny; daughter, Izzi; son, Joe

• Williams family: Harry; wife, Harriet; son, Shawn

Others include the golf partners, Paul and Jesse, Rosemary, and Ruth Lopez.

THE EVENTS

• the golf game where the grandpas meet

• Andrew and Joe at high school

• Padre Island

• off to college

• Naomi’s letters

• confrontation with Shawn

• letters of Naomi to Joe and Andrew

• the birth of the twins

• Naomi’s letters of announcement

• Andrew home for spring break

• how to stop the gossip

• James finds out the truth

• Watkins and Whites meet

• Thanksgiving dinner at the Blackstones’

• Christmas Eve service

• birthday party for the twins

• the families plan a wedding

• the cold wedding rehearsal

• the wedding and reception

• Joe meets his son

• Joe picked by a pro team

• the accident

• Joe’s rehab in San Antonio

• Andrew and Naomi’s move into a duplex

• Joe’s job interview

• the start of a new career

• postscript

CHAPTER 1

My story begins in the middle of lives. Three men are doing what some like to do when they have many other things to do. They get out of the house and play their favorite game—golf. The only thing that would keep them from playing on their regular day would be a violent rainstorm.

Now, I’m not going to tell you anything about golf. It is about two of the golfers’ sons. It’s what happens in the lives of those boys and their families that makes this story.

Arnold, Paul, and Jesse, three white guys in their forties, are about to go out on the Sam Houston Golf Course in San Antonio, Texas. They are still in the pro shop when Fred, the pro shop manager, now in his sixties, with graying red hair, a former pro golfer who is not known for his gentle ways, says, Hey, would you guys mind having another gentleman join your group this morning?

They look around to see who Fred might be asking to join the group. There is only one man there, a tall black man.

After a short silence, Paul quietly says to Jesse, Why not make this an all-American team? We’ve got me from Iowa, you from Mexico, and Arnold, the Texan, so why not add someone from Africa? He is saying this with a little crooked smile and out of voice range of this newcomer. He is showing his prejudice. This will be a new experience of a relationship that may or may not work out.

Yes! They nod. It would be rude not to accept this new person.

Arnold looks at his two regular partners with a look that says, How is this going to work out? He and Paul will no longer be able to tell some of the jokes of their prejudiced past in the presence of this new golfing partner. He knows that he is better equipped to handle this new relationship than either Jesse or Paul, so he will invite James to ride with him in his golf cart.

The black dude exits in a hurry to get his Ping clubs from his blue Mercedes in the parking lot. It is now evident from his golf clubs and car that this man has been a success in his business or life.

As the man approaches the first tee, Arnold motions to him. Come ride with me. He knows that his two partners haven’t totally accepted blacks on equal terms. ‘I’m Arnold. Glad you could join us today. We like to play early, before it gets too hot."

Hi. I’m James White. He is over six feet tall and is a good-looking, athletic man dressed in tailored, tan golf shorts and a white T-shirt with a college football logo on it. Thanks, guys, for letting me join you this morning. I enjoy playing in the early morning as well. His black mustache and long sideburns set him apart as a distinguished gentleman.

Arnold is dressed in his regular gray golf shorts with a blue T-shirt. He is less than six feet tall, has a good tan, and is about fifty, with thinning brown hair. He says to James, We’ve had a regular foursome for years, but our fourth moved to Wichita, Kansas. We’ve been hopeful to find a fourth. Maybe you’ll find it so much fun to play with us you might decide to join our group. He is saying this but inwardly thinking, This black dude won’t be back after today. He is thinking about his relationships with black friends before. Would this be different?

I enjoy playing golf with other people, because if I make a hole in one, I want to make sure it’s recorded, jokes James. I’ve only recently taken up golf. I’ve taken a few lessons from Fred, which have really helped my game. I’m not sure I’m up to making a commitment to any group yet, but we’ll see how it goes. I’m originally from a small town in central Kansas. My wife, Jenny, has put up with me for over twenty years. She was born and raised in Newton, Kansas. We were married there by her dad, who’s a preacher.

Paul is listening and watching. He’s almost fifty years old, five feet seven, and always wears the same brown cut-off shorts and a cap with a Titleist logo on it. He speaks up after James hits the ball fifty yards past his. Wow! What a drive! Do you always hit the ball that far?

No. Sometimes I hit it a bit farther. James laughs. The humor just seems to roll out of his lips. Those are the first but not the last words that will make the golfers break out in joviality. It’s evident after the first few holes that James is a much better player than the other three.

Jesse, the fourth in this group, has just turned forty-nine. His birthday was last week. He has a full head of black hair, and he’s proud of his Hispanic background and his potbelly. I got this belly before I got old from the beans and beer I enjoy. He laughs as he shares this piece of news about himself with the group. Jesse owns a farm near Castroville.

Jesse wears the same light-colored, baggy shorts every week. As they are riding down fairway three, he whispers to Paul, This black dude is really good. Maybe he can teach us something. I wonder if he’ll ever want to play with us again. Jesse has experienced his own racial prejudice in this Texas town. He knows a little about racism.

The wind catches Jesse’s broad-brimmed hat, which he has firmly tied down. His head turns nearly sideways. Darn wind is like a Texas tornado, quips Jesse.

Paul, whose balding white spot seems to grow bigger each month in his thinning, graying hair, is wearing his big, white, rimmed, bleached out cap that has side flaps to cover his ears. He replies, Might be interesting to invite him to be our regular fourth. Eh?

At the end of the eighteen holes, Arnold says to James, Want to join us again next week? We need a regular, and we’d love to have you join us. He is saying this without really checking with Jesse and Paul, thinking they will go along with this invitation.

Yeah. Maybe I will. (The maybe looms large in the minds of the guys.) Thanks! I’ve enjoyed playing with you guys. Even though James has a much lower score than anyone, that isn’t discussed.

Okay. See you next week. All wave at James as he leaves and walks toward his Mercedes.

I’ll make you a bet, Paul quickly says to Jesse when James has left, that James doesn’t show up next week.

How much you wanna bet?

Fifty cents.

You’re on! Both are laughing, expecting never to see James again.

* * *

The next Thursday morning, all four men are on the tee at eight. This July day is cloudy, muggy, and hot. It’s obvious to Arnold, Jesse, and Paul that James is a ten or less handicapper. They’re more than a little surprised to see him join them again.

Without notice or fanfare, Paul slides out a fifty-cent piece from his baggy shorts and hands it to Jesse. Okay, you won this one, but we’ll see how long he’ll play with us.

Glad you could make it today. I thought you might be discouraged by how poorly we played, Arnold says, and shakes James’s hand. As they get into their carts for the game, Arnold asks James, How long have you lived in San Antonio?

We’ve only been here for about a year. Our family moved from Pensacola, Florida. I’ve retired from the navy. My wife, Jenny’s, dad’s a preacher at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Newton, Kansas. Most of her family still lives there. We both grew up there. What about you?

I grew up on an Iowa farm, near Farmington. Some of our winters were really long. After graduation from Iowa State, I had a chance to move here. I met and married Susie, who is a native of San Antonio. We’ve lived here since. My wife is a nurse at the Methodist Hospital. She has never experienced a really cold winter. How are those Kansas winters?

"Some of those in Kansas are really cold. Probably not as cold as Iowa, but I hated the snow that fell on our Thanksgiving Day football game when I was quarterback at Newton High School. I nearly froze my hands during that game. We also had some cold games when I played quarterback at Kansas University in Lawrence, Kansas.

Wow! You mean to say that we’re playing with a celebrity? Did you play golf there too?

No. I was too busy with football and dating my high school sweetheart. Jenny and I decided to get married as soon as we got out of college. We wanted to have three kids, but in our family, it was better to wait until after you were married to have kids. They chuckle. We waited. James pauses for a moment before sharing more of his family story. We’ve got two, and that’s all we’ll have. Our daughter, Izzi, is going to be a senior at Roosevelt High School, and Joe is an eighth grader.

As they ride from hole to hole on the course, they continue to share family information.

It’s now Arnold’s turn for bragging rights. Susie and I have three kids. Arnold Jr. is a junior at a university in Irvine, California. He’s studying to be a teacher, or maybe a preacher; he hasn’t really decided yet. Audrey will be a senior at Roosevelt High School this fall. She’s maintaining a four-point grade average. You could hear the pride in his voice as he related this. We hope she will get a scholarship. It’ll save us lots of dough if she gets it. She wants to go to Texas University in Austin after graduation.

* * *

At the clubhouse after the game, a beer and sandwich become part of the day.

Jesse is drinking a beer and looking at James as he says, I’m not quite as dark as you, but I’m from the ancestors who fought in Santa Anna’s army at the Battle of the Alamo. We won that battle but lost the war to Sam Houston and his army, or this city would still be a part of Mexico. Jokes and family stories become a tradition that brings the men closer together as friends.

Arnold asks James, Does your son like sports?

"Yeah, he’s a chip off the old block. Thanks for asking. Seems like I love to take the time to share the joy I have in watching my son play. He did great in little league football.