Chapter 2: Brother, Sister
579 Words
“Let him suck d**k!” My brother’s abruptness what nothing new. I loved his honestly and protectiveness about me.
“Don’t say that Tyler, Mr. Hatfield is going to do it! You should be happy!” I almost shouted, as my voice faded away under the rumble of a car engine. My brother was a car guy, to put it simply. The ‘64 Mustang in front of me was my brother’s life, his pride and joy. He had rebuilt the engine and refurbished the inside all on his own. He loved to tinker with it for hours in our parents’ garage; his way of escape.
“Happy!” He shouted as he turned off the engine and popped the hood. “Happy that my sister’s high school counselor, talked like you were wasting his time. He is supposed to help and support kids going to college, its his freaking job.” He bent over the hood and began to fiddle with some wire and parts. “He pretty much said in no certain terms, that you were not worth s**t. Which you know is not true, right Rosebud?”
His nickname for me, made me smile, only him and my mom called me that. “Tyler, I am average, let’s face it, getting into Earlstone, ugh, no one said it would be easy.”
“Average? Who the hell says that?” He pulled his head up already covered in grease.
“Everybody, you know that!” I sighed and leaned up again the side of the car, mindful to angle myself carefully as not to scratch the car. I had learned my lesson long ago.
“Average, you call yourself average. Tell me, how many high school seniors, or any kid for that matter who does what you do?” He stood up completely and came and leaned by me.
“No one knows anything about that.” I said as my eyes began to tear up. “I don’t plan on telling anyone about that part of my life. There is not a single person outside of this family who deserves to know. No one!” I huffed.
“I understand Rose, I really do, no one understands more than I. But don’t diminish yourself under labels. You are not average, you are extraordinary. You are every day, even if the world never sees it.”
I leaned my head all the way back until it bumped the top of the car. I stretched out and began to count all the holes in the ceiling. Counting numbers centers me. I know that sounds weird, but it helps me focus on something other than the hurt and pain. I must of began whispering when my brother said,
“What are you doing?” He asked in a comical tone.
“Nothing.”
“Rose, I got to ask you. Why do you have to go to this school? My community college is great, I can have a flexible schedule and it’s like one one-hundredth less than the cost of Earlstone.
“You know why, Tyler. Please I am asking you to support me in this.”
“Always.”
He grabbed me in an awkward side hug that caused me to laugh. I looked up at my greasy brother and smiled. His eyes were kind and a beautiful green, just like mom’s. I knew my own dull and average, brown eyes could not compare. We stood together for a moment longer but were interrupted by the high-pitched sound of a ringing bell. Its slow “ting ting” brought me back to reality.
“Got to go.” I gently pushed away from my brother and proceeded into the house. I had a job to do.
- Writer
