Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Sibling(s) (05/01/08)
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TITLE: Dan and I | Previous Challenge Entry
By Kristina Funk
05/07/08 -
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Dan and I…well, that’s a different story. Dan likes to tease people relentlessly, and I’m sensitive. I don’t like to hurt feelings; he doesn’t like to mince words. We constantly argued growing up. Dan and I just plain didn’t like each other.
Over the last year, however, we’ve grown even closer. He moved out of our parents’ house and in with his girlfriend, who is ten years his senior and has a daughter. But before he did so, he called me to make me promise I wouldn’t yell at him because he knew I would invariably disapprove. Which I did, but I’ve grown to accept the arrangement. Jodi, the girlfriend, is sweet and nice and a wonderful balance to Dan’s acidity. And Breana, the daughter, absolutely thinks the world of him.
But as I was saying, we’ve grown even closer. Until I found somewhat steady employment again, we had a standing Friday morning breakfast date. My husband Ben and I regularly do things with them – movies, cookouts, you name it. We were even invited to Breana’s ninth birthday party. And in January, when we found out I was expecting our first child, Dan immediately offered to be the “cool uncle” and babysit if we needed a break.
I was starting to wonder what caused this sudden turnaround in his behavior. Then, last week, I got my answer.
Dan and Jodi invited us over on a weekday evening for a cookout – “Jodi went a little nuts at Sam’s the other day,” Dan said, “and now I have all this meat clogging up my freezer. I know you like to eat a lot these days, so I thought you, Ben, Mom and Kevin could come over and help us get rid of it.”
How could I turn down an invitation like that? So over we went, bearing hamburger buns and two bags of chips.
Once everyone had arrived and the food was prepared, we moved to set everything up outside. Dan and I were in the kitchen, gathering up various condiments and side dishes.
“Hey, Dan, where do you keep your forks?” I asked.
“Third drawer on the right,” Dan said, pointing. “Hey, uh, I bet you’ve been wondering why I’ve been so nice to you lately.”
What brought that on? I thought to myself. “Well, maybe the thought did cross my mind a couple of times.”
“We found out not too long ago that Jodi can’t have any more kids,” Dan said. “And it kind of made me sad to realize that Breana won’t ever have a brother or sister. I know she’s got cousins and whatnot, but there’s really nothing like having a sibling. You know what I’m talking about, right?”
“I guess. How many forks do you think we’ll need?”
“I know we only need one for the relish, but you might want to grab a couple extra just in case. Breana doesn’t like eating with her hands.” Dan grabbed a stack of napkins out of a cabinet. “But anyway, it made me think of how lucky I am to have a brother and a sister, you know? And then I felt kind of rotten because I know I haven’t been the easiest person to be related to. I just haven’t been as nice to you as I could have been, right? So I figure if I’m nice now, you just might forget about all that and you might like me a little more.”
I smiled. “No need to worry about that,” I said. “I’ve already forgiven you for all that stuff.”
“You have?”
“Sure. It’s not good to stay mad at someone forever, related or not. Plus I know that no matter how much we bicker and that, we’ll always be family.”
“That’s awesome.” Dan grinned widely. “I’m not going to hug you or anything, but I appreciate that.”
I laughed. “No hug needed,” I said. “Just tell me where the paper plates are.”
As Dan reached into an overhead cabinet to get some paper plates, I smiled to myself. He’s right, I thought. I am truly blessed to have two wonderful brothers.
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I understand a cousin feeling like a sister.
Well done.