Pencil Shorts: Collection of Short Stories

Issue 1: Two Halves of The Moon

Two Halves of the Moon

The sun shines brightly up overhead as my mother delivers my younger brother - no wait, I mean my younger brothers. 

My name is Alice and I am 19 years old. I am an only child. 

That is, before my brothers- Danny and Benny were born when I was eight. They look alike in every angle; the only thing that is different between them is that Benny is mischievous and that Danny is quiet.

 Identical or not, though, I hated my brothers.

Why?

Mom and dad, who always plays with me and gives anything I want, never seem to notice me anymore; whenever they talk to me, all they say is I’m a big sister now and I will have to take care of my brothers. They don’t take me to school or pick me up from school anymore; I had to go without them (our driver accompanies me). Mom or even dad doesn’t help me in my assignments either. At home, they always order to go and get different things for my brothers’ needs. They don’t buy me new toys anymore. And the worst of all, they scold me! When I fail to get whatever they asked me, whenever I get a low score, or every time I cry because they won’t buy me what I want; they never did that before! I hate them; I wish they would just disappear.

When we were growing up, Benny and I always get into fights, he would often go to my room, destroy my toys, draw in my notebooks, eat my snacks, pull my hair, and put various things and insects on my desk. And what’s worse than that is my parents always blame me for what happens and punish me! Oh God, Why does it have to be me?! 

While my hatred for Benny soared up high in the sky, I learned to like Danny. He tries to help me, and make me smile. He never pulled my hair nor did he put disgusting things on my desk. And he often get between me and Benny when we are about to break into fights. He became my best friend.

When I finished my elementary school, I tried my best to act more responsible. But even though I did, I still can’t escape from my Brother Benny’s mischief; they started their schooling in the same school that I attend and our parents told me to look after them. Because of this, I was once again disappointed with my life. Benny gets into fights with his classmates and even his upper classmen almost every day. And I was more known at school as “sister of the Benny the naughty” than by my own name Alice. 

After a year of being called in the principal’s office in place for my busy parents, I just couldn’t take it anymore. 

“Benny, do you enjoy putting our entire family to shame like this?” I asked with a tired look on my face. 

Benny just kept quiet and stared at the floor blankly. As we ride back home, we were quiet. We didn’t quarrel like we did every day. Since then, Benny was never called into the principal’s office anymore. But I noticed that there was something off. Benny, who is usually playing with his circle friends, just sat around the corner at recess with only Danny beside him, reading the same book he does. He also seemed to be lifeless. He never annoys me anymore, which is a good thing, but he even stopped talking or looking at me. I began to feel guilty on what was happening, is it because of what I said? 

One Saturday afternoon, Mom and Dad were out (as always) so I was in charge of the house. I talked with Danny in my room so that no one would hear us. “Danny, can you tell me why Benny is always alone?” I asked him. 

Danny looked at me with a frown, “I thought you hated him, sis. Why would you be concerned about him?” he said. 

“Well you see, I said something bad to him and I am feeling kind of guilty.” I said. 

“Oh, so that’s why. You know sis, you’re probably right. Did you know that Benny never told me any of his problems? And that he is not as bad as you think he is? On the contrary, he is actually our hero.” Danny said.

 “What? But he always eats my food, pulls my hair, and he annoys me. Also, he usually gets into fights. How in the earth could he be a hero?” I said.

 “No sis, Benny loves you. You just misunderstand his ways of getting attention. And he is a good boy; He always shares, always protects me and the other kids from bullying. He eats your food because he didn’t have any. And that mom said he could. I tried to give him mine but he wouldn’t hear of it.” 

“But how come he doesn’t have any? And why does he always get into fights?”

“He doesn’t have any because he gives his food to the other kids- those who forgot their snacks or those who originally doesn’t have one. He usually gets into fights because he protects me and the others from the bullies. But, as you can see, his ways aren’t so brilliant.” 

I was shocked of what I heard; the Benny I knew was actually the opposite. Tears of regret trickled down my cheeks. He doesn’t deserve what I told him. I straightened myself and made a decision. 

“Where’s Benny?” 

SCREEEEEEEECH! BAM!

I flinched.

“What was that?” I looked out the window and saw Benny lying on the floor with a pool of red blood around his head.

I grabbed my phone, dialed the emergency number and rushed outside with Danny behind me. Benny’s eyes were closed; in his hands was a packed sandwich. I lifted my head and saw a beggar just across the street. My ears felt like splitting at the sound of the siren. My heart feels crushed. And everything around me seems to be spinning. My eyes saw nothing but Benny, my poor misunderstood brother.

“Cut it out Benny, you’re just playing, right? Open your eyes and annoy me. I won’t mind, promise. You can pull my hair as long as you want. Just please… wake up already.” I said as I sit beside his bed in the brink of tears, his hand enclosed to mine. 

Benny’s condition is bad; His legs are broken, his left arm is dislocated and his ribcage also got damaged. Every after school, I go to the hospital and talk to him.

The doctor said that his whole body is paralyzed with shock but his mind is active so we should speak to him, and motivate him to continue on.

I never thought that I would be the one who will be pained.

But I was.

No one was probably more hurt not being able to protect him than me, not even our mother. And I would never have thought that I would be the one who will help him back on his feet. I prayed every night and I did everything I can so that he will wake up.

It took so long that I began to give up but Thank God, he finally recovered!

From that day onwards,even though many of my schoolmates call my brother naughty, I was proud to be his sister;  I won’t ever want to have any other sibling except for them.