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It was sunset already at The Reynold’s house. After a whole day of chores, homeschooling, and some board games, Sean and Daniel were resting for a while in their room.
Daniel was building up a tower of blocks with his powers, while Sean was reading some novel in his bed. The latter was still aware of his surroundings just in case he heard one of his grandparents coming up, but he thought it’d be okay for Daniel to keep playing, since the door was closed.
Suddenly, he felt Claire’s voice.
“Sean? Daniel? Would you mind coming down here, please? We’ve got something to show you!” she said, clearly calling them from downstairs.
“Coming!” Sean said, making a gesture with his hand to his brother, who simply nodded, putting down the toy block he was lifting.
Sean didn’t know what they could want, though Claire’s voice, while loud, was still gentle. Maybe some help with something? But the moment he opened the door he looked left, and the surprise was already spoiled for him. Stephen was steadying up a Christmas tree on the side of the backyard door.
Sean looked at Daniel expecting him to jump from excitement, but funnily enough, his brother didn’t do the same as him, heading straight for the stairs down to the hall, making Sean giggle.
“No way!” Daniel screamed the moment he noticed what was going on. “A Christmas tree?!” he added, like it was not an obvious statement.
“Yes, yes, it’s time to set it up, you know?” Claire said from the kitchen counter. She was cutting down some cookie dough with fitting motives, like gingerbreads, candy canes, and others of the kind.
“And cookies too?!” the kid added.
“Dude, you’ll have a heart attack if you keep it up! Calm down!” Sean said, jokingly. The kid did seem about to blow up from excitement.
“Now, now, Sean. Let the kid live his joy!” his grandfather laughed.
“So, are you going to set it up? Can I help?” Daniel said.
“Well,” Claire said. “We were thinking maybe you kids could set it up together”.
“Really?” Sean said. “Thank you!”
“Thank you, Grandma! Thank you, Grandpa!” Daniel said, following what Sean said, but also giving each of his grandparents a hug. He was glad his little brother showed them some love. They deserved it after all they did for them.
Sean and Daniel started checking the box of decorations. There were some red ribbons, mixed with some ornaments shaped like colorful balls, stars, and candy canes.
Sean was looking at those when he saw Daniel quickly grab the biggest star at the side of the box.
“Dude, you know the star goes last, right?”
“Yeah, yeah, I know” he said, sulking.
“Come on, you know you’ll be the one to put it on the tree, don’t be mad!”
“Yeah, I’m just excited, sorry!”
Both grandparents laughed. Claire was already putting the first batch of cookies in the oven.
“I hope you kids will help me decorate the cookies too, right?”
“Hey, I thought I was your assistant!” Stephen said.
“Of course we’ll help you grandma!” Daniel said. Sean also nodded to her.
Sean started putting up the lights. He started with the white and golden ones, but after a he was done, Daniel found out a set of colorful lights at the bottom of the box.
“Sean, I want these!” he said.
“But I already put these ones” Sean replied, pointing at the tree.
“Aw, come on, please! I can do it myself if you don’t want to!”
“Dude...” he said, rolling his eyes. “Alright, I’ll do it, okay?”
“Seems like he played his charm on you!” Claire said, Stephen laughing on her side.
“I swear he’s going to kill me someday”, he shrugged.
“Hey!” Daniel said, hitting Sean gently on his arm.
Sean just made a mocking face to his brother, but then continued his job, putting up the other set of lights.
“There, you happy?” he said, teasing him with his hand.
“Yeah, I love it! Now let’s put the other stuff!” he said, once again looking excited, grabbing some stars and ribbons and almost pushing Sean to the side when he started.
Sean’s thoughts drifted away, as they did regularly these days. Seeing his brother this excited drove him back to Seattle, to their last Christmas season. He thought of how their father made a tradition of them picking one new ornament for their tree every year, and how every single year his brother would get his choice picked. He could remember how mad he got every year, every time, and how he’d call “lame” whatever his brother would go for.
As he saw his brother hanging up the ornaments, he recalled how annoyed he’d be over Daniel hoarding every free spot on the tree to himself. They would fight over it, as they always did with everything, until their father would step up and make them stop.
“Hey, do you like this one here?” Daniel said, pointing out a candy cane on the bottom.
“Huh?”
“Uh, are you with us Sean?” his brother asked.
“Yeah, sorry. I like it!” he said.
“Hey! Can you put these up there?” Daniel said, handing him some ribbons and a small star.
“Well, you can reach that high”
“Yeah, but I’d like you to do it!”
Sean laughed, then nodded. His mind flew up to the past again. He would remember how, even after they had fought, their father would sit and just watch them do their thing. Sean would ultimately let Daniel decide, but the kid would always ask him what he thought, and would always leave some space for him to decorate, even if he had some input on the way. Looking back, he didn’t understand how he’d let himself be annoyed by Daniel.
“No, Sean! Put it up higher!” Daniel said, as he always would.
“Yeah, how about here?”
“It’s perfect!”
“Do you want to add anything else?”
“Nah, I think I’m good”
“Do you like it?” Sean asked, looking at his grandparents.
“I think it’s lovely!” Claire said.
“It’s the best tree we’ve had in years!” Stephen followed. Sean did not even for a second believe they thought that for real, but he appreciated the thought.
“Then it’s time!” Sean said, bringing a chair.
“Wait!”
“Man, you are too big for me to lift you”
“It’s not that” Daniel said.
“Then what is it?”
“Well... Maybe... You put the star this year?”
“Dude, you always put the star!”
“Yeah, I know. But... You’ve been... the best brother... since... you know”, Daniel said, his voice mildly cracking in the process.
It was as if Sean was possessed. He could only briefly hear Claire say “my goodness”, at the same time he lifted his arms as a reflex, shrouding his brother.
“I’m sorry, Enano” Sean said. He felt his brother reciprocate his hug.
“I’m sorry too, Sean” his brother said.
“Don’t be. I should have been better. I will be better. I promise.” he said.
Sean could feel Claire and Stephen. Their grandparents were not saying anything, but even with his eyes closed, he knew they were either too surprised to react, or maybe they were looking at each other not knowing what to do?
His brother had his face buried in his chest, so he wondered if Daniel was just as aware of the old pair as he was. But even with the thought crossing his mind, he couldn’t care less. It didn’t matter. He and Daniel understood. That’s all that mattered.
He held his brother for a long time, realizing how small his brother felt compared to him. At the same time, he noticed how firmly his brother was holding him. Even if small, he was growing, and was stronger than he could remember. The duality of that feeling was something he felt could come out of some random novel. He realized how much he loved his brother and how he yearned to keep seeing him grow up.
After a while, it was time for them to let go of the other, but to Sean it felt like a very difficult task to do. Just then he could see his brother. He was crying after all. Now his shirt was soaked on his chest. Then he lifted his face to their grandparents. Claire was tearing up, while Stephen was just smiling at them.
“Why don’t you put the star together?” he said, gently.
“Let me bring the camera!” Claire added, storming out of the room.
After a while, she came back. Daniel got up on a chair, and he along with Sean put the star on the top. If Sean got to make a wish on it, he was sure about what he wanted. No matter what happened. No matter what the future brought. He only wished for their journey to end up with Daniel safe.
It was midnight already at The Reynold’s house. Sean felt a hand gently shoving him, trying to wake him. When he opened his eyes, he felt the weight of Daniel leaning into him. He saw his brother’s face, peacefully sleeping, under the dimming light of the tree. Drawings, toys, dirty cups, and cookie crumbs. All of them scattered were on the floor around them. If it was any other night, probably Claire would scold him about it. But not that night. That night was his, and his brother’s night.
Sean took his brother in his arms, as he did so many times when he was little. His brother instinctively wrapped his arms around him, as Sean carried him upstairs.
He would not deny it was a heavy task, but he felt rewarded anyway. In the end, he was wrong, and he could still carry him. His mind wanted to ask for how long he would still be able to do it, but in the end, he decided it didn’t matter.
“I love you, Daniel”, he said one last time, then decided to go to sleep.