Oh, Brother…

(My brother and I look nothing like one another. We are in a hotel bar in Oman in the 1990s, talking to a large Australian gentleman.)

Gentleman: “So, where did you two fellers meet then?”

Me: “Well, actually, we’re brothers.”

Gentleman: “Oh, I see. Like that, is it? Guess it’s got to be difficult for you folks living in a conservative Arab state.”

Me: “You mean, for related people to be in the same country?”

Gentleman: “Yeah, yeah. Like that. It’s got to be hard. In your situation I’d tell people I was sharing a room with my—” *air quotation marks* “—’brother,’ too.”

Me: “Um… Yeah, except we really are brothers. Same parents and everything.”

Gentleman: *with a wink* “Yeah, kid. Stick to your story…”