BIG BROTHER

Billy did not understand why a baby should require so much attention. Everyone, especially momma and papa, centered their focus on this newborn creature. Unlike them, he did not seem to share the excitement. He had been told for months that a baby brother was on his way. Before, it was not an issue that piqued his interest but now that he had spent two weeks at home with it, this tiny new human being was clearly an intrusion.

His parents did not love him anymore, let alone acknowledge his existence. Daily meals were eaten alone and he walked to school all by himself now. But these he considered minor privileges. He didn't have to finish his cereal and no one scolded him when he kicked stones on the road. No, what he missed were the kisses before bedtime and their Saturday afternoon visits to the park.

Everything was different now. Everything changed. And in the midst of it all was his brother. Most of the time momma and poppa adored its beauty and disguised innocence. But Billy saw him for who he truly was. And more than anything he wished that this baby had never been born. All he wanted was to be able to do something that'd make it all go away.

But 7 year-olds aren't supposed to be murderers and the world definitely doesn't work that way. So instead of a bloodthirsty Billy looking for revenge, our story presents us with a different approach. A peaceful one.
Underneath all the existential despair that he felt, were momentary smiles reserved for "it". Billy felt disgusted with him but during the eventual accidental looks at the baby, the smile would form all by itself. He couldn't help it. The baby, his brother, no matter how gruesome of a creature with an ulterior motive, was beautiful. The sight of its small hands trying to grasp everything and, the meaningless sounds it would throw at an admirer, was all the innocence in the world brought together.

It was in these moments that Billy would rethink his feelings towards the newcomer in the family. Can't he live with it? Did he really have to go? But then momma or poppa would enter the room and scold him for not letting the baby sleep and put their focus once again on telling each other how the baby was the best thing that happened to them. That ruined it all. The hatred came back involuntarily and he felt a natural repulsion towards the one who was trying to take his place.

And then Billy's 7-year-old mind came up with an idea all by itself. What if he gave the baby to the tooth fairy?  That would be a good idea, right? The fairies will take care of him and his parents would be happy. They'll go back to loving him again and life will return to its sweetest form. He remembered how he had put his tooth under his pillow when it came loose one day.  And in the morning, he had eagerly looked underneath and there waiting in its full glory, was a penny.

That night after supper, when his parents had gone to bed, he went to the baby's room. Peering down on that tiny face he decided that it was the most wonderful thing he had ever seen. Careful not to wake it up, he placed the pillow on the baby's face.

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Last month's prompt 'Whirlwind' did not attract satisfactory entries and hence we are not printing any winners. Next Month's Prompt: Grades. Deadline: 26/3/15