momwithwords

A BROTHER’S LOVE…is stitches. Stitches caused by a tug of war with a golf club. A golf club that should have never been in a three year old’s hands to begin with. A three year old who trusted her brother when he said “pull your end as hard as you can and if you win you will get a prize”. The prize being a rush trip to the hospital for stitches in the three year old’s head because she “won” the tug of war. The tug of war causing so much guilt in her brother that he went to Little J’s and bought her an all day sucker.

A BROTHER’S LOVE…is cuff rolling. Cuff rolling on dark brown corduroy pants that needed to be done for a sister’s freshie dance in Junior High. A Junior high dance that was so important to this shy young girl that she thought it would make her friends. Friends that her brother said wouldn’t be friends if they made fun of her mis-rolled cuffs. Cuffs that were painstakingly rolled by her brother using a ruler and his fingers making sure the folds remained tight.

A BROTHER’S LOVE…is five dollars. Five dollars needed to go to a movie. A movie that would be even more fun if a young girl could go to the Tower afterward. The Tower being the “in place” to go for fries (and gravy) and a coke if only she had more than five dollars. Five dollars being the amount her brother gave her before telling her he had an idea. The idea being that she go to each member of her family and say she really wanted to go to a movie but didn’t have the five dollars; if she came back with $15 she had to give back his five dollars. His five dollars being added to the extra $15 he gave her when she came back crying (and lying) saying no one would give her money. The money being $35 more than what she started out with.

A BROTHER’S LOVE…is a knife throw. A knife that was thrown when a brother provoked his sister. The sister being sick and tired of constantly being flicked by a wet tea towel. The tea towel being used by the brother to dry the dishes his sister was washing. The washing of dishes which included many items including many knives. One of the knives being a butcher knife which was thrown at the brother’s head. The head which moved out of the way in time for the knife to stick in the wall. The wall which both of them looked at before the brother said “Holy S**T!” “Holy S**T!” being said just before he continued with “Wow, I’m sorry. I won’t tell mom if you don’t.” And we never did.

A BROTHER’S LOVE…is a cruise. A cruise around town that was taken when a friend’s car broke down. A friend who had a crush on the brother. The brother who liked the attention girls gave him even if they were friends of his sister. A sister who was embarrassed, while during the cruise her brother rolled down the window and wooed. The wooing being done at guys he thought the sister and her friend might like. The guys that the girls might like thinking that some guy was wooing at them because he found them attractive was very funny to the girls; not sure what the brother thought.

A BROTHER’S LOVE…is a red wool sweater. A red wool designer sweater that was brought home from university by an older brother. A brother who knew how to dress in style. The style which happened to be perfect for his little sister. The sister who loved wearing large tops with black stirrup pants, flats and a belt. The belt being black with silver rivets which would go perfect with the red sweater. The red sweater being snuck out of a brother’s room for a date. A date, during which, the sister ran into her brother. The brother giving the sister the sweater so she would just quit taking his clothes.

A BROTHER’S LOVE…is a sculpture. A sculpture made by the hands of a very talented brother. A brother who gave the sculpture to his sister. A sister who has children with ASD. ASD being Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Spectrum Disorder being the inspiration for the sculpture. The sculpture having many different appearances depending on your perception. Your perception being very important when it comes to Autism acceptance. Autism acceptance being something the brother understands.

A BROTHER’S LOVE is all of the above and more.