Brothers

They're brothers, ages 10 and 7.  They share a bedroom, a love for soccer, a penchant for skateboarding, and a tendency toward violence of the brotherly kind.  They are mortal enemies and the best of friends, the pendulum often swinging from friend to enemy and back to friend again within 60 seconds.

They're both athletic dynamos.  The older of the two is lean, small, and lightning-fast.  The younger is tall, thick, and strong as an ox. 

Last night, after an especially vigorous session of carpet wrestling, I heard them pause, breathless, to formulate impressive plans.  They determined that they would take the professional soccer world by storm someday, two feisty brothers who would team up to strike fear in opponents.  The oldest would be the speedy, agile Scorer Of Many Goals.  The youngest would be the brick-wall goalie around whom no ball would fly.

Then they went back to the floor for more wrestling, until I went in to interrupt and tell them it was time to head to bed.  We sat on the couch, mom in the middle, for bedtime prayers.  Their sweaty, smelly heads leaned in on my shoulders.  They were still out of breath.  It was the first moment of quiet that room had seen in hours.

The oldest said his prayer, and then I said mine.  And then the youngest, in a voice thick with sincerity, said softly, "Thank you, God, that my brother and I enjoy each other."

I caught my breath.  Yes, thank you, I thought.  Then--I couldn't help it--I peeked open my eyes at the two boys, still sitting at my side.  Something settled over them. 

They were struck by the moment, too. 

The oldest looked over at his little brother, affection unmistakably written on his face.  He gently, quietly nudged him with his elbow.  The youngest returned the glance, and the nudge. 

There was a perfect pause.

And then, at exactly the same moment, they erupted into grunts and laughter, diving for each other and heading straight for the carpet.  I think the .7 miliseconds of tenderness was all they could bear. 

I watched them, smiling, observing to myself that the moment had surely passed.

Or had it?  I'm inclined to think--to hope--that a moment like that settles deeply in the hearts of two sweaty boys.  It surely settles deeply in the heart of their mother. 

Comments

[ChrisB]

Love this post! You made me cry and I'm not a crier. Wonderful writing!

[Nancy]

This gives me hope. My boys are 3 and 2 right now and seem much more like mortal enemies than friends...ever. But I know (or at least hope!) that one day they'll be fremenies. And then true friends. And some day they'll be inseperable the way my older brothers are. Thanks for this glance at my future (I hope!)

[tasha]

I flat out cried at this.

[Pam]

Awww, sounds like my boys (now 30 and 27) when they were around that age. How I miss that. Thanks for a nostalgia trip.

[Tammy]

Awww, that is so sweet and heart warming. I guess there is hope for the two older grandsons after all. ;) Thanks for sharing such a wonderful moment.

[Musings of a Housewife]

Sniff. That IS a rare moment. Thanks for sharing.

[nicole]

Oh my word, I just teared up. I hope my boys share those moments as they get older.

[MandM]

I have two boys and two girls and sure they can fight and scrap but the love and support they have for each other is so beautiful and what you wrote captured so well that mother's heart, that feeling we all have when we see our children love each other.

My older two are in their teens now and I can assure you that it becomes clearer and clearer how much they love each other as they grow.

Blessings from New Zealand :-)

[Kara]

Sounds similar to my house, love that you have family prayer, it needs to be a bigger part of family lives!

My sisters and I all have boys..Check out www.annakarli.com to see a cool site, she is a stay at home mom of three crazy red headed boys, having a blog war with her internet marketing guru of a husband! And winning...

[Karen-stay at home mami]

I have two boys 3 and 4 and this could have been written about them. I am here in tears writing this, hoping that my boys will continue to be close as we move them in to share a room later this year when we have our next possibly two...and do it all over again!

[Nicole M. Bateman]

That's so sweet. My hubs always tells my boys..."Brothers are brothers forever...". :)

[Sandee]

awesome. I too have two boys, 10 and 8 year old, and much like you described. Gave me some peace of mind to know others have the fight and hug syndrom.

Those moments of tenderness are so precious.

[Carebear (Cari)]

Beautiful story. What a moment! Can't wait til mine are old enough to appreciate one another. I hope they will! Thanks for sharing this very touching interaction!

[Lisa B.]

I've never commented on your blog before. Quite honestly, the average number of comments you get is well, intimidating! However, I couldn't not respond to this post. I literally cried, knowing how utterly wonderful that moment was for you. I love those moments too!

[badgerbag]

That's SO sweet. It's proved to be true for me and my sister all our lives! Just without the god parts 8-)