SIBLINGS

He hated it when she skipped. He'd let her get as far ahead of him as he could until she noticed and came running back to him. Of course she had to hold his hand crossing streets, but otherwise he could pretend that he had nothing to do with her.

She was his sister, his pesky little second-grade sister who could walk the mile to school with him now, because her class started when his did. She embarrassed him.She would skip around him in circles, ahead and then behind. He all but tripped over her.

He put his head down, stared at the sidewalk and hunched into his warm winter jacket, the one with the fleece lining, even though it was a warm spring day. They teased him about it at home, called it his security "blanky".

"Hannah come back here" he shouted.. "You have to stay with me all the way to school. and you have to hold my hand when we cross streets. Mom said so".

Hannah stopped skipping and waited for her brother to catch up with her. "Alright Brian, but you are so slow. We'll be late"

He knew it. He was hanging back on purpose. He didn't want Jody to see them together. Jody who walked with him to Santa Monica when they went to the Mall.They walked the two miles to the maul to buy things from the model shop. One time jody almost pushed him in front of a car, He didn't think Jody meant to hurt him but sometimes he wasn't sure. Jody could be mean.It was a great relief to see the school up ahead. He'd be rid of her soon.

Hannah let go of Brian's hand after they'd crossed the street at the red light and dashed on ahead.She loved school, her teacher and her girl-friends. After school she'd go to play at one or another of their homes. She got out earlier than Brian.

Brian was still learning to read. It was lots harder than he thought it would be. . . . those little henspecks just didn't make sense at all. Even lately, he'd been walking home the same way as his fourth grade teacher and she'd tried to help him.

Today she said she had something for him and as they walked along she handed him a book. He groaned inside. He couldn't read very well and what's more he didn't like to. Painfully, he sounded out the name on the cover. "The Sea Hunt". Well, that was different anyway. . . . no more Dick and Jane. He'd practically memorized those primers they kept giving him.

On the way she started reading it to him looking up when they approached a corner to cross the street. He found he was listening. It was about a submarine searching for an old shipwreck. She stopped and showed him a picture and asked him to read the "henspecks".

He was scared. What if he couldn't. Mrs. Burns would be disappointed, but he'd try. 'Trouble was he couldn't see them very well. . .they kept blurring and jumping around.

When she turned off to go onto her street, he was still trying and some of the words kept being used over and over. He recognized them now when he saw them. That made it easier. He began to get excited. He was reading, really reading a book all by himself. He wanted to go on reading, but it was too hard while he was walking. He clutched his jacked close and hurried to get home.

When Brian went into the back door at his house he called out as he always did. "Hey everyone. I'm home" and headed for the stairs to his room. This time no one answered. They must be out shopping er sumpthin', he thought. Oh well. I'll get to read my book some more.

He settled down on his bed still wearing his jacket and began to read. After a while his neck hurt. He'd been reading for a long time, holding the book very close to see better. His eyes hurt too. He put the book down on the floor, swiveled around, stretched and looked at the clock.

It was late. . . . getting dark outside and very quiet inside. Where was everybody? He was hungry too. He went out into the hall, half-slid down the bannister and wandered into the kitchen.

It was very still. He opened the refrigerator looking for something good to eat. . . no not the apple, maybe the hot dog. He could heat it in the Microwave himself.

Just then he heard the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. He went to the back door to see if it was his Mom coming home.She always came in that way.

Yes it was. He could see her, but there was something wrong. She was moving slowly with her head bent over, her shoulders all hunched up and she was CRYING. His Mom had never cried in front of him. He knew she had cried a couple of times when her father had died and when their pet poodle got hit by a car, but she never cried in front of him. His stomach felt funny, empty and not from hunger either. Something awful must have happened.

She came to him and hugged him. . . held him close. He wiggled, but she wouldn't let go.

"Mom, what's the matter Mom? let go Mom."

She stepped back and looked at him her face twisting, She seemed to have trouble speaking. "Brian" she said, "There's been an accident. Hannah and Joanie were walking along Sunset Blvd. . . " Brian's throat closed up . he was afraid of what was coming. "Some boys on bikes bumped into them and knocked them in front of a car.They were run over. Hannah is dead Brian. . . . Joanie too" Then she started crying again.

Brian would never forget what happened next. Somewhere inside of him a small voice said "free--free at last". Outloud he said "I'll bet it was that Jody".

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