Nancy’s Younger Brother

A Story by Willys Watson

When Nancy was five years old her Mother told her they had been blessed with an unexpected, but fully welcomed, son the decided to call Brian.

At the time Nancy couldn’t fully articulate what she was feeling. And of the things that bothered her was her was most of her attention was being given too Brian. Nancy understood this, but still, although Nancy would never admit it, she was a little jealous of him.

All for this started to change when Brian was starting to learn how to walk without down. And this happen during the school break.

“Nancy, you could be a big help to me now,” her Mother told her.

“How, Momma?”

“A lot of reasons, Dear. You know I a took a leave from my teaching job, but that leave will only last until Brian is free. Right now you can help by watching Brian to make sure he doesn’t fall doesn’t and hurt himself. And when he’s doing well enough, will let him use the child walking trainer seat.”

“Like one with wheels on each side that makes it easier to move around?” she asked her Mother.

“Of course. And when he’s a few years older and I’m teaching again, and you Dad is at work, there is so much you can teach him when we’re not home.”

“Really?”

“Of course. And if Brian is advanced and willing, you can start trying to teach him how to read.”

“At what age, Mom?”

“It depends. You’re already reading at a second grade level. But it’s not just reading. You can help teach Brian how to inner-act around people of all ages.”

“Like Grandma and Grandpa”

“Yes, but be already knows them and is comfortable around them. I’m thinking about people he doesn’t know well. More like you are because you’ve never had that problem.”

“Thank you, Mom, but what about other things?”

“It’s never to early to teach him about Nature and how important it is to everyone.”

“I would that because I know that. And my friend Joey knows that.

“One more thing I will suggest for now. When Brian is walking naturally well on his, knows how to dress himself and use the toilet by himself, it would be nice of you to introduce him to all the neighbors we know and trust.”

“Like Mrs. Beck, that woman who was a Teacher at one time.”

“Exactly.”

“I’m so happy I listen to you, Mom!”

“And I’m so proud of who you are, Nancy. And so is your Dad.”

As Nancy and her Mother watched Brian, who was three years olds now, kicking a smaller rubber ball around the back yard, her mother turned to Nancy.

“At the end of the school year, Mrs. Chambers called me and told me you were the best student in her class.”

“I hope she didn’t tell the rest of the class that.”

“No, she didn’t because the school year was over for the Summer, Nancy. And I want to thank you for helping learn to read.”

“Momma, you helped, too.”

“I got the easy to read books, but it was you he responded to better.”

“Mom! He know the easy words when he sees then, like house, car, cat, horse, boy, girt, boat and words like that. But Brian is fun to be around when you’re not home. He can act silly and cool and funny now, Like when he makes funny faces or burps as loud as he can,”

“You did the same, Nancy, so go watch the movie.”

I guess so, but is it okay if Brian and I go visit Joey now, because Joey has a bunch of animated Brian might like.”

“Of course, as long as it’s not a scary or too serious for his age one.”

“How about that taking cat movie or the film where a race car learns how to be a nice guy?”

“Either one is fine, And I’ve seen and like that car movie. You, me and your Dad watched it together,”