Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Sibling(s) (05/01/08)
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TITLE: No Regrets...Just Denial and Laughter | Previous Challenge Entry
By Keturah Alvin
05/07/08 -
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“MAMA!!! Kay’s touching me!”
“Stop it!"
"I’m telling!"
"MA-MA!!!!!"
Sound familiar?
My parents had us miles apart. I’m 5 years older than my sister. My brother is 8 years older than me, and 13 years older than our baby sister. What were they thinking? We hated each other!
It depends on who you ask, but I think it’s safe to say that I got the worst of it because I was the middle child. I was the victim.
Since my brother was so much older than us, we really didn’t grow up with him. He was out of the house, away at college when I was 10 years old. But when he came to visit on the weekends, he always sided with our sister. She knew how to provoke me and gain sympathy from our parents and brother. They were clueless, and I never had a chance.
I got in a few good punches. Considering all I had to endure, I’m entitled right? I even went so far as to stuff my sister in the trash can. What? She deserved it. She was the baby and she knew how to work it to her advantage. She provoked me – remember?
For years she denied it, but she finally admitted it at the ripe old age of 30. Can you believe that? It took her some 20+ years to admit that she was evil. I have finally been vindicated. But who cares now right?
Growing up, we fought like cats and dogs every single day. I was the victim, you see. It got worse when my sister had surgery on her heart, which left her with a permanent scar. Yes, it was a difficult time, but the surgery was a success and the girl fully recovered. However, it turned into yet another opportunity for her to gain the advantage.
Mom always made us take turns washing the dishes. Well, most of the time, I washed the dishes, not only when it was my turn, but when it was her turn as well. How did she manage that? I’m glad you asked. She would cry out that her “surgery” hurt. Yep! You read it right. She would grab hold of that “totally healed” scar and cry out in agony. My mother, a nurse mind you, fell for it every time. Her nursing degree went out the window when that girl cried. I was convinced my sister was the devil, and I couldn’t wait to go away to college.
Once away at college, I started writing all of my friends and cousins who were closer to my age. One day I received a letter and a picture in the mail from my baby sister. Her words…”You’ve written everyone but me”. It gripped my heart, and it was then that I realized that I owed her something “good”. She was growing up and I had been uninterested for too long.
I remember calling home one day and learning from my father that my little sister had a boyfriend. WHAT???!!!! How do you miss out on your baby sister’s first boyfriend? She didn’t even call me for advice. I mean…who is this kid? How did they meet? How old is he? Does my sister even know what to do with a boyfriend? I was still trying to figure that out at age 20, and she was only 15. I reached out to her, but she had become such a private person, I couldn’t get through to her. She wouldn’t open up. This is my sister and she needs me, I thought. I pushed until I pushed her away. She began to totally shut down, and I couldn’t find my way in. I thought, she’s my sister and she doesn’t even trust me. I was wounded. I spent my life hating her so that I failed to discover what an awesome person she’d become.
But thanks be to God for His grace! My siblings and I, ages 46, 38, and 33 are the very best of friends, and have been for a very long time. I’m proud of them and I am so glad that God, in His infinite wisdom, chose to place us together as a family. My children are crazy about them both, but especially my sister. I understand why. She is a precious jewel and I am so proud of her. Regrets? Naw…we can truly laugh at it all now.
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This is well written. I like the dialogue at the beginning.
Well done. Keep writing.
Keep writing, this was gooood.