The smell of spring was in the air, signaling my birthday. Flowers, pollen, freshly mowed grass, and rain. Today's the special day I turn ten, and my parents decided to celebrate it in a local park. They wanted to make it fun since a person only transitions from single to double digits once in a lifetime. Most of my new friends and a couple of old friends came by as well, for that I was glad.
"Ashy! Ashy!" I beamed at my older brother who was a few meters away from me in the field.
"Hey Melly," Ashton smiled down at me when I caught up.
"So, Ashy...Did you get me a present?" I asked him, panting for breath.
He pretended to think about it for a minute before he gave me another wide smile--teeth and all. "Maybe."
"Did you buy me a puppy?" I asked with a bat of my eyelashes. I've been wanting a pet for god knows how long, and knowing Ashy like I do, I know he would do anything for me.
"Nope." He said popping the 'p' at the end.
"Is it a guitar?" I guessed. I really had no idea what he got me this year, and I love how he keeps it a surprise for me to guess.
"Technically I didn't buy you anything lil' sis." Ashton crouched down so he was on my level. My heart fell a little.
"That's okay, there's next year." I told him, hugging him so I could hide the little bit of disappointment I felt. Ashton always gets me the most interesting presents and I love them so much in fact that I think that's the only reason I look forward to my birthday or Christmas anymore. It's not a big deal, but it would be nice if he gave me something.
"Instead I made you this..." When he saw the disappointment I felt he pushed me away from the hug slightly and held out a small mason jar with a bunch of glass stones and wires inside that he had hidden behind his back.
"Thanks, you shouldn't have." I smiled up at my brother. You see what I meant by interesting gifts?
"You don't know what it is, do you?" He asked when he noticed the confusion on my face.
"It's a cookie jar?" I guessed yet again.
He laughed. "No, it's a sun jar. You put it out in the sun all day, and then at night you can see it light up." He explained.
"Ohhh." I stared at the peculiar present with awe. There was a short pause that we didn't talk.
"Ashy, can I ask you something?" I broke the silence after a while.
"Sure. What's on your mind, Melly?"
"Do you promise to always be there for me? Do you promise never to be mean to me?" I inquired feeling uneasy about having to ask it.
"Of course I promise, why do you ask?" He furrowed his eyebrows at my sudden questions.
"It's just that my friend had this fight with her brother and they're not good friends anymore." I shook my head at the thought of us not being so close anymore. It was terrible what I witnessed when I went over to her house the other day. He looked at her coldly, and would snap at everything she said or asked. She treated him no differently.
"I promise you, Melly, that I will always be here for you." He smiled reassuringly.
"Thank you Ashy." I smiled in return.
"Anything for my baby sister. Now let's go, we have a killer party to get to." He picked me up and threw me over his shoulders.
"Ashy! Ashy, put me down!" I giggled, pounding on his back playfully.
YOU ARE READING
Let Me Be Your Hero
RandomMelanie is in need of a hero. Her life is a whirlwind and her bad luck always slaps her in the face. Her sister is wicked, her brother hates her, and she loves a man who won't give her the time of day. Despite all her hardships she will need to face...
