Based on a true story...

I walk into the room and I notice a change in the usual atmosphere: No one is using the TV. The rarity of this made me consider something. Should I blow off my duties and take this opportunity to laze around for an hour?

"Go ahead, Nina. You've been working all day! You deserve a break!" says a little "me" on my right shoulder. Her hair is long and wavy, her cheeks are exceptionally chubby, she has lime-green braces, and no make-up. She's wearing embroidered jeans and a rainbow T-shirt. I can't help but be reminded of me when I was young. She smiles at me, then her expression falls as she looks at my left shoulder.

"What are you thinking? Do you know how much you still need to read and write for English? And might I remind you that you turn 16 in January and you STILL haven't finished your Divine Nature project for Personal Progress? You're not getting any younger!"

This "me" is wearing a gray, plaid dress and heels. Her hair is cut short and she's wearing bright red lipstick. She's taller and thinner than the other me, and she's sporting a pair of earrings that look like old-fashioned clocks. She's holding a leather-bound book as she looks disapprovingly at me.

"It's Saturday. And I'm almost done with that project. Can't I watch a little?" I try to reason with my left-hand me.

She rolls her eyes and says "Fine... You could do something worthwhile with your free time, you know. Like taking a walk, or painting, or reading..." She continues to mutter suggestions for responsible things I could be doing.

I look at the right-hand me. She sticks her tongue out at my left-hand me and points to the remote. I turn the TV on.

"Oooohhh Sonny With A Chance is on! Maybe Chad'll be in this one. I like him!" says Righty, obviously excited. I get excited too, but then Lefty shakes her head.

"He's in every episode. And I don't know WHAT you see in him. He's an awful actor, he's kind of annoying, and he's not even cute... You could be reading Jane Austen right now. Mr. Knightley? Now THERE'S a real man." Lefty says smugly, waving her leather-bound book.

I feel conflicted when she says this. They're both right. He is an awful actor and he does annoy me. But... I still love him.

I turn Disney Channel on. Righty rejoices, and Lefty rolls her eyes. I watch as Chad comes on the screen. Righty gives a happy squeak and then looks closer.

"What's wrong with his hair?"

"His bangs are long." I say.

"Why?"

Chad answers the question for Righty. "They're Buh-BANGS! I invented them for my new movie. Bangs and Fangs, where we all get bitten by vampires... and get really great hair." He flips his Buh-BANGS out of his eyes and stares off into the distance.

All three of us begin laughing, harder than we had in months. Both Righty and Lefty have to grab my earrings just to stay on my shoulders. We all have tears running down our faces and are clutching our stomachs.

"HA HA, oh, my tummy, ha ha ha, hurts from laughing!" Squeaked Righty. We laugh well into the commercial break, and it's almost back by the time we calm down.

"Okay, THAT was hilarious." Lefty says. Righty and I agree, and continue watching the rest of the episode, still giggling from the thought of Chad's new hair.

It's nice to get along with myself. My responsible and childish sides almost never agree, but we seem to unite in the face of humor. We can all appreciate a good joke. That's what I realized that Saturday and I don't think I'll forget it any time soon.