Chapter 3: Runt of the Litter
{Mark's POV}
I've always been told I'm the runt of our family. And as much as I hate the phrase, if anyone is the runt of the litter, its Randy. He's always been the ones with the health problems. He has allergies, and Asthma, he gets bronchitis a lot because of the asthma. Plus he's short. Wait, this makes it sound like I hate my brother, which I don't. Sure Randy gives me a hard time, but he's my older brother, he's suppose to. Right now though, I'm really angry. Why I can't explain, but right now I'm so furious with Randy. I know its not his fault, but I can't believe this is happening. I feel horrific now because I'm angry for something he doesn't have any control over. Maybe I should just talk to him. Mom's calling for dinner, oh what a fun night it'll be tonight at the Taylor dinner table. I right myself from my position on the bed and shuffle downstairs.
*****
I had planned on talking to Randy after dinner which had been particularly tense that evening. Hardly anyone spoke and when someone did it was usually mom pleading with Randy to eat something. When I went down to Randy's room, Brad was there too, and he didn't look like he'd be leaving any time soon. I'm ashamed at how bitter I am at that. Part of me can't help but wonder if they would do the same for me, and I know they would, which makes me all the angrier.
"I have to go in for a body scan tomorrow, just to make sure the cancer hasn't spread. Ya know anything to see me naked." Randy jokes lightly.
"How can you make jokes?" I blurt out, it sound harsh even to me. Randy looks away and Brad's glaring daggers, but once I'm started, I can't stop. "I mean Jesus Randy, not everything has to be a big joke!"
"Hey!" Brad yells.
"What, am I the only one who thinks he might die?!"
"You heard mom its usually very treatable!"
"And what if it spread."
"Guys, please....." Randy's getting upset, I can tell. He makes this face when he gets upset. Like his thinking on whether or not he should be upset.
"Mark, why did you come down here?!"
"I had to talk to Randy, but I -"
"I think you've talked to him enough." Brad snaps attempting to grab my arm. I yank it away and he looks pissed. I flinch internally.
"I don't need you to tell me if I've talked to him long enough or not, He's my brother too!"
"You would never know it! When we got the news, you just went back into your room, you looked like you didn't care, you couldn't be inconvinced with the news!" That hurt, so I struck back.
"I care! I just can't be upset around you because the second I show any emotion your all over me!" Everything seems to be at a stand still and Brad and I continue to glare angrily at each other. There's not sound in the room.
"Get out." Brad and I seem to blink at the same time and turn to Randy. "Both of you." I think that is what surprised us both. He wanted both of us to leave, not just me.
"Randy...." Brad starts.
"Please, both of you go." There's a hitch in his voice. I know that hitch, he's trying not to cry.
"Randy I'm sorry we just-"
"I don't want to talk about this any longer." I can tell Brad's torn. Does he leave like Randy asks or does he stay. I know he feels that way because that's how I feel too.
"Randy, wait, I didn't mean to upset you." I begin feeling horrible for doing this to him when he already has so much to think about. Randy won't make eye contact and he seems kinda distant all of a sudden.
"Come on Mark, lets do as he asks." Brad says suddenly guiding me towards the door. Our amomosity towards each other slightly faded as we leave our brother behind. I turn to look at him one last time to see him curl into the fetal position on his bed. I wrench out of Brad's grasp when we get upstairs and we resume glaring angrily at each other before stomping off in different directions. Brad goes into the backyard and I assume he'll work on ball handling, I storm past Mom and Dad and go up to my room. They can both tell something happened, but to their credit, neither said anything. Mom just let out a sad sigh .
End of Ch3
{Mark's POV}
I've always been told I'm the runt of our family. And as much as I hate the phrase, if anyone is the runt of the litter, its Randy. He's always been the ones with the health problems. He has allergies, and Asthma, he gets bronchitis a lot because of the asthma. Plus he's short. Wait, this makes it sound like I hate my brother, which I don't. Sure Randy gives me a hard time, but he's my older brother, he's suppose to. Right now though, I'm really angry. Why I can't explain, but right now I'm so furious with Randy. I know its not his fault, but I can't believe this is happening. I feel horrific now because I'm angry for something he doesn't have any control over. Maybe I should just talk to him. Mom's calling for dinner, oh what a fun night it'll be tonight at the Taylor dinner table. I right myself from my position on the bed and shuffle downstairs.
*****
I had planned on talking to Randy after dinner which had been particularly tense that evening. Hardly anyone spoke and when someone did it was usually mom pleading with Randy to eat something. When I went down to Randy's room, Brad was there too, and he didn't look like he'd be leaving any time soon. I'm ashamed at how bitter I am at that. Part of me can't help but wonder if they would do the same for me, and I know they would, which makes me all the angrier.
"I have to go in for a body scan tomorrow, just to make sure the cancer hasn't spread. Ya know anything to see me naked." Randy jokes lightly.
"How can you make jokes?" I blurt out, it sound harsh even to me. Randy looks away and Brad's glaring daggers, but once I'm started, I can't stop. "I mean Jesus Randy, not everything has to be a big joke!"
"Hey!" Brad yells.
"What, am I the only one who thinks he might die?!"
"You heard mom its usually very treatable!"
"And what if it spread."
"Guys, please....." Randy's getting upset, I can tell. He makes this face when he gets upset. Like his thinking on whether or not he should be upset.
"Mark, why did you come down here?!"
"I had to talk to Randy, but I -"
"I think you've talked to him enough." Brad snaps attempting to grab my arm. I yank it away and he looks pissed. I flinch internally.
"I don't need you to tell me if I've talked to him long enough or not, He's my brother too!"
"You would never know it! When we got the news, you just went back into your room, you looked like you didn't care, you couldn't be inconvinced with the news!" That hurt, so I struck back.
"I care! I just can't be upset around you because the second I show any emotion your all over me!" Everything seems to be at a stand still and Brad and I continue to glare angrily at each other. There's not sound in the room.
"Get out." Brad and I seem to blink at the same time and turn to Randy. "Both of you." I think that is what surprised us both. He wanted both of us to leave, not just me.
"Randy...." Brad starts.
"Please, both of you go." There's a hitch in his voice. I know that hitch, he's trying not to cry.
"Randy I'm sorry we just-"
"I don't want to talk about this any longer." I can tell Brad's torn. Does he leave like Randy asks or does he stay. I know he feels that way because that's how I feel too.
"Randy, wait, I didn't mean to upset you." I begin feeling horrible for doing this to him when he already has so much to think about. Randy won't make eye contact and he seems kinda distant all of a sudden.
"Come on Mark, lets do as he asks." Brad says suddenly guiding me towards the door. Our amomosity towards each other slightly faded as we leave our brother behind. I turn to look at him one last time to see him curl into the fetal position on his bed. I wrench out of Brad's grasp when we get upstairs and we resume glaring angrily at each other before stomping off in different directions. Brad goes into the backyard and I assume he'll work on ball handling, I storm past Mom and Dad and go up to my room. They can both tell something happened, but to their credit, neither said anything. Mom just let out a sad sigh .
End of Ch3