Two Strangers of Brothers

Chapter 8

It's so dark, I can barely see. We exit the movie, beginning our walk down the sidewalk, the theater lights disappearing behind us.

We just caught a late movie. Mom hasn't come home and Isaac suddenly announced he was taking us out. We stole some money from her drawers and walked down here. Sure, we'll get in trouble later, but right now we're having fun, and that's all that matters.

I grab a handful of popcorn from the bag we had bought but not finished. Andrew skips down the street gushing about how great the movie was. His blonde hair flows in the wind and it's all the light I need. I smile as I watch him, he does a spin and laughs about something. He launches into talking about something random. He doesn't shake. He doesn't cower or hide behind his hair. He's not quiet. He's practically screaming. It's like he's making up for all the time he lost keeping silent in the house by screaming and singing now. His blue eyes dance over us as he runs ahead of us before jogging back. He's so full of energy. I like him better this way.

Isaac smiles up at the dark sky, the wind brushing hair out of his face. He seems so at ease, hands in his pockets. He doesn't have to constantly keep his eye on us right now. He can act like a kid his own age. Right now he's with his friends and they've just finished watching a movie on their way home. He can laugh with them and make stupid jokes. He's not a ten year old that has to be a father. Maybe they'll have a sleepover. It doesn't matter to him because he's having fun.

My legs work overtime to keep up with their long strides. I don't mind, though. I'm just happy that my two older brothers aren't stuck up and let their five year old kid brother tag along.

"Ooh, look! It's a fountain." Andrew points to a huge fountain that has a huge stone heart that spits out water. He runs over to it and we follow after him. He places his hand in the water, swishing it around.

"Do you guys want to make a wish?" Isaac asks. He reaches into his pocket to pull out Mom's wad of cash.

"But we have no coins," I say, peering into his hand. He smiles at me and winks, bending down.

"It doesn't matter. Dollar bills are actually better." He hands both me and Andrew a five. "They're worth more than coins. You know how much five dollars is? That'll definitely make your wish come true." He takes one for himself and closes his eyes. I glance over at Andrew who follows suit, closing his eyes. His lips move over words that I can't hear. I stare down at my five and then at my brothers.

I love them a lot.

I close my eyes and make my wish, throwing my five into the water. I open them, watching as the soggy bill wades in the water, bumping into the other two bills.

I turn. Andrew and Isaac are looking at me. Clear blue eyes and forest green. I give them a smile.

"Come on. Let's go home," Isaac whispers. He holds his hand out to me and I take it. Andrew takes my other hand and we begin walking.

"I think we all wished for the same thing," I finally say. Isaac's hand gives me a squeeze and Andrew smiles down at me.

My feet come to a halt and I suck air into my lungs. My hands squeeze at my knees as I bend over. I don't really know where I am, but the music sounds like it's getting closer.

I don't care if I'm going to die, or if I'm going crazy.

I look up wiping at the tears in my eyes.

I just realized something.

We were never funny, Isaac and I. Our jokes were always stupid and lame. It was Andrew who made it funny with his musical laugh. He was the one that made everyone want to laugh. He always made you feel like you were funny. That's one of the things I love about him.