Младший брат

Natalya Evdokimova
Younger Brother
In one family there were two older brothers and one younger brother. The older brothers always helped their parents – washed the floor, peeled potatoes, ironed, helped move furniture… While if you ask the younger brother:
– Can you help me move this chair please.
Or:
– Peel the potatoes!
He would only smirk and say:
– You wish! I have my older brothers for that.
But if someone calls him to eat he first looks at his older brothers and then says:
– I think I’ll help.
And when it so happens that the younger brother is bullied by other kids he never fights back.
– You wish! – he says. – I have my older brothers for that.
Maybe because of this people usually didn’t mess with him.
Time passed, and the older brothers became even older. They grew up, and finished school, had kids, got a job.
And the younger brother stayed young. He, like before, rode his bike, played football with his friends…
And when people stopped him on the street and asked “How much more time? Are you even intending to grow up?” – he paused for a second.
First he tracked with his eyes a butterfly flying by.
Then rubbed his nose.
Hit the ball a few times.
And only after that would he smirk and say:
– You wish! I have my older brothers for that.