A Funny Kids Story To Make You Think, Blink & Wonder

“Why don’t you read your brother a story?” Mum lifted Todd from the sheepskin rug and plonked him next to me.

“But he doesn’t understand anything. What’s the point?” I snatched the remote and pressed the volume button.

“Turn it down Lewis!” She shoved a book onto my lap. I sneered at the smiling trains on the front. Did I really used to read this stuff?

Mum plucked clothes from radiators at world record speed. She was always a blur these days - bolting around the house like a pinball. When she did stop, it was to bathe Todd, feed Todd, cuddle Todd or put Todd to bed. Aaaaaaargh!

There was one, tiny good thing about my brother I suppose - he never cried. Not ever. But that was the only thing.

“What a lovely sight – my two babies sat together. You look so alike you know. Your cute button noses are identical. And look at those adorable, big blue eyes - you'll break hearts one day.” Mum folded the last bib and dashed to the kitchen.

“I’m not a baby. I’m nearly 11!” I looked at Todd. I didn’t look anything like him. I wasn’t bald and I didn’t have a wrinkled, fat face. Todd wrapped his tiny fingers around my thumb and pulled it towards his mouth. Disgusting.

I opened the book and started reading, “Once upon a blah, blah, blah, blah, there lived a stupid brother called Todd.” I could read the back of a baked bean tin and he'd be happy. What a waste of time. And I was missing my favourite programme.

I frisbeed the book to the floor. It slid across the floorboards and toppled a tower of alphabet bricks. Todd giggled and blew spit-bubbles at me. Yuk! Stupid brother!

If only I could make him disappear.

xx x