Edited: 23/4/2019

Chad

Man, was that a tiring day. I was pretty sure I stumbled inside my house like a bag of bones, tired from all that running and plopped down on my bean bag in the living room. I do happen to own a lot of bean bags, and consider it completely healthy.

"Dinner?" I texted my mom out of habit and started fiddling with my phone, tossing it up and catching it back. I leaned back on the couch, rather disinterestedly as I continued playing with my phone. What can I say - I live life on the edge.

"Pasta!" She shouted back from the kitchen, although I gave her the comfort of simply texting me back. Moms.

The ancient family rule that ran in our family was to share at least one meal every day together. Which by default, meant that I had to do all the work of setting up the table and picking up a brat we'd eventually agreed to call a human.

Chris. My younger brother.

Setting the table and helping my mother out in the kitchen came like second nature to me. I didn't even realise when I had finished my work. Just then, the cuckoo clock signalled that it was time for me to pick up my brother.

I gave my mom a quick salute, picked up my skateboard and rode off.

Because there is absolutely no safety hazard in bringing a three year old back on a skateboard.

After a tiring day like that, the wind seemed to take pity on me and decided to run through my hair and blow against my face. Free cold air massage.

• • •

I waited outside for those brats to come out running like wild monkeys. As if their 'school' is even anything to hate.

It isn't really hard spotting the brattiest of the lot. Chris has a big green cap which he can't live without. He also had this huge grin on his face that just screams out, "TROUBLEMAKER".

He came running to up me and hugged my knees.

"Bum-bum!" He cried out in his baby voice. 

That is the worst you could ever call your brother.

"Bum bum?" I repeated, quirking a brow – don't judge this kid yet, for three-year-old, he can do a lot of damage.

I kneeled down as I let him climb onto my back. He then finally wrapped his tiny arms around my neck, and wiggled his feet around to adjust himself, obviously without a care in the world about–

"Neck....choke..." I managed to croak out, grasping his arms.

"Sowweyyy," he replied as he quickly removed them and placed it on my shoulders.

Of course, you are 'sowwy' you little–

"We're having pasta for dinner," I changed the topic, stepping on my skateboard. I don't think there's anything more fun than zipping through the air in a mega sonic skateboard with the world Greatest, coolest, and fastest skater in the world!

Don't worry, I don't do the complete death loops with him on my back. Just flips and twists. Sometimes things he challenges me to do. Don't tell mom, and we'll be cool, okay?

"How was your day?" I started, smiling already as I thought about his previous antics. 

"I just said that Patty had a 3D stomach, but she complained that I called her fat." He replied, filling such obvious sarcasm in his tone.  

Attaboy. Play on euphemisms. 

"Mhm, and?" I prompted, lining a small chuckle to it, to know more about the mischief he created. 

"The usual, I was put in the 'thinking chair' where I made faces at everyone and taught them how to do that armpit noise." I laughed shaking my head as I went down the slope. 

He removed his hand from my shoulder and made this funny noise with one hand under his armpit and the other quacking it. Now, if a full grown man does this, it would be gross, but he just sounded cute.

"Kid, you were just put in that little thinking chair. I had to go through half an hour of detention with idiots."

"Chad, I dare you to ollie over that rock," he pointed to a rock in front of me with a chubby finger, before clinging back onto my shoulders.

"Sure," I said as I went towards that big rock in my normal speed. I squatted down and pushed my right leg up, skillfully ollieing the defeated rock.

 No flash, please. 

Chris began cheering and clapping his hands giddily, and I held him steady with my arms to make sure he doesn't splat down on the floor. He'd make a Chris-py pancake if he did. 

"Alright, home time, buddy," I said as a poster got my attention. I grabbed it and shoved it into my hoodie.

"I'm not a kid! I'm three aldweddy!" And as if that wasn't enough, he added, "When I was little, I used to say -"

I tuned out his annoying voice as my mind wandered to the poster that I just saw.

A skating competition?

• • •

"You're finally home, Chad!" My mom said with a frown looking at her watch.

"Oops, it won't happen again?" I said - more like asked what else I needed to say.

"And?" She prompted, with her hands on her hips.

"I'm sorry."

"And?"

"And what?! I have no idea what else to say!" I yelled out.

She just laughed and ruffled my hair, "Aren't you hungry? I made pasta."

Best. Mom. Ever.

• • •

I'll give you a minute to gag about how cliché and fairytale-ish our family is.

Done? Okay.

"I just got a new job offer!" My dad said.

"Wow, congrats, dad," I said reaching over to give him a high five as my mom served everyone. Of course, Chris was sitting next to her so she could feed him in case he decides to... you know...

"And we're invited to my friend's house for lunch tomorrow. He works there," he continued. I kept nodding my head.

At the table, we talk about what is happening in each other's lives and eat.

"What prank was it this time, Chad?" My mom asked.

"The classic paint pool one." I chuckled, remembering his face.

"You know, when I was of your age, we never had any- " my dad started off. I've heard this many times. We respected each other, didn't have any gadgets, yadi yadi yad, so I tuned him out and focuses on that beautiful pasta sitting on my plate.

"Mom, how was your day?" I bothered to ask.

"Jessica killed Tina." She said in utter seriousness. You think that's real life? Naah, it's just her TV show.

"Mhm," I said as if I cared.

"I mean, who would have guessed?!" She exclaimed, not really catching my sarcastic interest.

"Mom, how was your day? I don't care about Jessica." I said.

"Oh, the usual. Cleaning, cooking, watching TV..." She trailed off.

We cracked a few family jokes. (They're like inside jokes with made up words and all, so... You'd probably have no idea what I'm talking about.)

"Goodnight everyone," I said, making my way upstairs.

"Goodnight!" They chorused, getting up from their seats.

Mom usually does the dishes. (It's not like I didn't offer my help, she always said that she could handle it)

I dropped down on my bed after I changed and wafted off into a dreamless abyss.
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