Blink
Blink.
The two young brothers exit the school bus together. It is the younger brother's first day of school. Older brother points to a group of kids and tells younger brother to go play with them while older brother plays with the older group of children. Younger brother asks when they will see each other again. Older brother says on the bus on the way home after school. They'll tell you.
Blink.
The brothers swim where the rapids meet and exit into Dalhousie Lake. Occasional fishing lures beckon brightly from the rocks beneath the surface. Younger brother suffers acute hydrophobia at the time so older brother dives to retrieve the lures. They agree to share their treasure.
Blink.
The two brothers are frog hunting on the shore of the Mississippi River. They capture, admire, contemplate and discuss, then release the frogs. The sun is warm. The air is fresh. The world is theirs.
Blink.
In their early teens while playing hockey on an outdoor rink younger brother gets around older brother and scores a goal. This is a rare dynamic in their athletic relationship. Younger brother proceeds to explain how he always was, is now, and always will be the superior hockey player. Older brother proceeds to burn younger brother on the next play and score a goal. Older brother repeats younger brother's teasing words back to him.
Blink.
Younger brother is in hospital. His version of reality has taken some powerful twists and turns of late. Older brother tells younger brother he has to start exerting his own personality and to fight his demons. Older brother repeats this several times. It works.
Blink.
He's here.
Blink.
He's gone.
posted by Patrick at
5:08 p.m.
