My Baby Brother
The autumn air was as crisp as the fresh-out-of-the-dryer flannel sheets that my mother would always put on our beds when the weather got chilly. The familiar sounds of a referees whistle and cheering fans brought back memories of going to high school football games. My stomach started talking when I smelled the scent of the hot dogs cooking near by. “Can you believe we are doing this?” my mother asked as her face reddened while the sun decreased and the wind picked up. “No, I can’t” my father and I both said simultaneously. It seemed hardly impossible to fathom that we were sitting at my baby brother’s high school football game. Where had the past fourteen years gone?
I was in the family room of my house with my older brother, Brian. We nicely were playing together with blocks. I was five at the time. “Brian, Julie, come into the living room, we want to talk to you!” my dad said with excitement in his voice. It was then that I found out I was going to have a new brother or sister. My entire body lifted above the clouds and soared. I just loved babies. In the next couple of months, my life changed dramatically. We had to move out of our house and into a new neighborhood. This event was very specific in my life. Although I was so excited for a new sibling, I was extremely distraught about leaving my familiar home. It was almost as if I was a taut rope in a tug-of-war being pulled in both directions. “But Mom, the baby can sleep with me.” I remember saying to my mother. Now that I look back on the situation, I realize that it was the “comfort and familiarity” of my house that made me upset about leaving.
The crocuses were in full bloom and the weather only called for a light jacket as I got off the bus and headed into my Kindergarten classroom one beautiful April morning. I was in the auditorium watching a play, when my Kindergarten led me out into the hallway. When I got out there, my dad was waiting for me. His face was glowing and his smile was a mile long. He told me that I had a new brother, Kevin. I can remember him bending down to tell me this news. He told me that Kevin couldn’t wait to meet me, and that he knew that I was going to be the best big sister in the world. I have never been so profusely happy in my life. I was overcome with joy that I had another brother but I was even more excited that my mother would be home in just a few days.
The once unfamiliar new house now seemed comfortable, safe and well known. Family, friends and neighbors were constantly stopping by the house in the following weeks to meet Kevin and to bring my family dinners. I thought it was one big party. I felt as if I were no longer a baby bear, but a mature cub. After all, I was the big sister. I loved holding my little brother and taking in the sweet smell of Johnson’s baby powder that was now a familiar “Kevin” scent. He was like a new puppy dog―warm, friendly and cozy. I was always thankful that I was five when he was born, because I was old enough to appreciate him and to understand what he was and what he meant to me. He means the world to me, and always will.
Watching Kevin grow up has had a hugely important affect in my entire life. I absolutely wouldn’t be the same person that I am today without him. I learned responsibility early on due to him. I knew how important it was to be quiet when he was sleeping, and to shut the playroom door every time I went down there so that he wouldn’t fall down the stairs. I learned the importance of my family and the values I held towards them. Much of those values will be continued traditions in my own home some day.
Years after Kevin was born, I found out that my mom actually had undergone a severe miscarriage in between the births of Kevin and I. This information made me appreciate my little brother even more. I can’t imagine my life without him. I think of him as a great gift from God. I know the miscarriage was devastating to my parents, but we were honestly blessed by it. Kevin is truly one of the best people I know and has made me a better person. Words cannot describe how fortunate I feel to have him in my life.
Back in our home that we’ve lived in now for fourteen years, my mother is heating up homemade soup while the house warms up as everyone piles in from their daily activities. “What a great game!” my dad says sounding proud and confident. Kevin strolls into the kitchen after taking a warm shower and cleaning up after his tiring and cold football game. Now taller than I am, he looks at me and gives me a hug and even a kiss on the cheek. For a moment, I almost smell the Johnson’s baby powder all over him, but realize it’s a figment of my imagination. “Thanks for coming to my game Jules” he says as his face lifts with love. I give him a hug in return and realize that not only am I hugging my brother, but my one of my very best friends. I will always think of him as my baby brother, even though he really is turning into quite an amazing young man.
我永远的“宝宝”弟弟
当天气变冷，空气清凉得如刚从干衣机里取出来的法兰绒被褥时，妈妈就会给我们加被子了。裁判员那熟悉的哨声和拉拉队的叫喊声把我带回到高中时的足球比赛；当附近热狗的香味飘过来时，我的肚子便情不自禁地咕咕作响。“你们能相信眼前的一切吗？”妈妈问道。太阳西下，秋风吹起，她的脸红扑扑的。“噢，当然不能。”父亲和我几乎异口同声地回答道。对我们来说，这简直就像是在做梦：我们正坐在一起看正读高中的弟弟踢球赛！十四年眨眼就这样过了。
当时只有五岁的我正在和哥哥布莱恩一起呆在家里的活动室里，兴高采烈地玩着积木游戏。“布莱恩，朱莉，到客厅来一下，我们有些话想跟你们说！”爸爸的声音里有压抑不住的兴奋。直到那时，我才知道我将会有一个新的弟弟或者妹妹了。我顿时开心得如在云之颠。我太喜欢小宝宝了。在接下来的几个月里，我的生活发生了翻天覆地的变化。我们得搬到附近一个新的地方住。尽管新弟弟或妹妹的即将到来让我兴奋无比，但要离开熟悉的家也令我烦躁不安。我如同在拔河比赛中被两头拉扯的绳子，左右为难。“但，妈！我可以和宝宝一起睡呀。”我当时这样对妈妈说。现在回想起来，要与“舒适熟悉”的旧家道别是我伤心不已的原因。
四月，报春花已在争齐斗艳，一件薄外套就足以应付清凉的天气。一个美丽的早晨，我下了公交车，朝着幼儿园教室走去。当我正在礼堂里看戏剧时，老师把我叫到走廊，父亲正在那里等着我。他的脸上绽放着光芒，笑容简直要把耳朵都挤到一英里之外了。他说，我有个新弟弟了，叫做凯文。我还记得他弯下腰告诉我这个消息时的情形，他告诉我说，凯文迫不及待想要见我，他还知道我将成为这世上最好的姐姐。那是我一生中最开心的时刻，我完全沉浸在喜悦中了：我就要有一个弟弟了，但更让我高兴的是，再过几天，妈妈就可以回家了。
那曾经不太熟悉的新家现在也变得舒适起来，又安全，又远近驰名。在接下来的几个星期里，家人、朋友和邻居都络绎不绝地来到我家，他们都来探望小凯文，并邀请我们全家去吃饭。我觉得这简直就是个大聚会，而我也不再是熊宝宝，而是一个成熟的小熊了。不管怎么说，我可是个大姐姐。我喜欢抱着我的小弟弟，闻他身上香香的强生婴儿爽身粉，现在已经成为熟悉的“凯文”香味了。他就像是一只新生的小毛毛狗――暖和，友善，又舒适。幸好他在我五岁的时候降临这个世界，那时的我已经足够大，懂得欣赏和感激，并且能够理解他是谁，他对我有多重要。他就是我的整个世界，而且永远都会如是。
看着凯文长大极大地改变了我整个人生。如果没有他，我绝对不可能变成今天这个样子。因为他，我很小就有了责任感；我知道在他休息的时候保持安静的重要性；为了使他不从楼梯上摔下来，我每次下楼的时候都会把游戏室的门关好；我还懂得了家庭的重要性，和我对他们的价值所在。将来等我有了自己的家庭，这些传统美德一定会得到延续。
凯文出生后好几年我才得知，我和凯文到来的这段时间中间，母亲曾经历了一次严重的流产。由此我更加感激凯文的到来。我简直无法想象，没有他，我的生命会是怎样一种情形。他是上帝赐给我们的一份大礼。我知道流产对父母打击相当大，但塞翁失马，焉知非福。凯文是我认识的人中最优秀的一个，他也改变了我，使我进步。我简直无法用言语来形容，拥有他是我生命中最大的幸运。
回到我们居住了十四年的家，妈妈正在热汤，其他人也如往常一样开始各忙各的了，房间里开始热闹了起来。“比赛打得很精彩！”父亲的话里充满自豪和自信。洗了一个热水澡，消除了寒气和疲劳之后，凯文慢悠悠地进了厨房。现在他已经比我高了。他看着我，给了我一个拥抱，并亲了我的脸颊。此时我仿佛又闻到了他身上散发出来的强生婴儿爽身粉香味，这当然是我的想象而已。“朱莉，谢谢你来捧场！”他说道，脸上洋溢着爱的光芒。我回抱了他。我知道，我抱着的不仅是我的弟弟，更是我最好的朋友。尽管现在他已是堂堂七尺小男儿了，但在我眼中，他永远都是我的婴儿小弟弟。
