The Brother I Never Had

Not really a story, more a short thinkpiece on what it might have been like to have had a sibling. My stream of conciousness took me to a place I wasn't expecting to go.

 

In my imagination, you would have been two years younger than me. Tousle-haired, lean-faced, razor sharp, with a name like Tom or David, let’s say Tom.

 

As we grew, Mum and Dad would have both had to work to provide for the extra mouth, your mouth. And I would have had to pick up the slack of caring for you. I’d have been at your beck and call, running here and there to meet your every wish.

 

I would have tried to be the model elder brother; patient, kind, caring. Not fussing (or, at least, not showing it) when you broke my favourite toy or tore my new book.

 

You’d have known how to play me and Mum and Dad to ensure you got the best of everything. I’d have been the plodder, while you got the praise for your latest, brilliant, piece of school work. 

 

I’d have tried to teach you soccer, not that I was skilled. But, anyway, you wouldn’t have listened and would have gone ahead and done things your own way. And I’d have been the one told off for taking you home with dirty clothes after you’d finished fooling around.

 

My few friends, you’d have tried to make yours. Maybe, putting me down in front of them. And, by our teens, you’d have tried to steal my girls; not because you wanted them, but just because you could.

 

I try never to hate but, perhaps, by twenty, I’d have hated you. The kid brother who could do no wrong while, somehow, I could never get it right. And, at that point my heart would have hardened. Reconciliation in later life? I don’t think so. Sibling rivalry? You bet!

 

Perhaps being the only child hasn’t been so bad after all.

Reviews

[Dara]

This really made me smile thinking about my young grandson who, at 5 years of age is quite happy to be an only child, so he says. Who knows how he will feel as he gets older but your words are a great indication. Great write! Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[Les]

Thanks for your kind words Dara. I’ve never minded being without siblings. I suppose the only downside is the presumption that every only child was bound to have been spoiled by his/her parents. 🥺

[barleygirl]

Thank you for finally writing the truth about siblings! *smile* In a way, I was imagining that you were trying to talk yourself OUT of wanting a sibling. I was the youngest of 9 & I probably did some of the very things you are suggesting would be par for the course, with a little sibling bugging one. This shows great imagination in a bit of a scornful tongue-in-cheek way. Love the sassy attitude (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Donna]

I like this one a lot. I don't know what it is like to be an only child, but I would think it gets kind of lonely, but on the other hand, having a brother or sister could be good but also bad. Some don't even speak to each other and some are very close. It could go either way. I like the way you wrote about how you see it.

[Les]

Thank you Donna. I guess I've never missed what I've never had. I hope you are well.