A/N I do not know the age difference beteern Earl and Randy but in this story it is about four years.
Midnight Lullaby
After dark, when everyone else in the house was asleep, a little dark haired boy crept out of his bed and out of his room. He tiptoed quietly down the hall being careful not to make a sound. Finally he reached the bedroom on the other end. In a crib a bald headed baby boy slept soundly. The little boy stared at him through the crib bars. And after awhile he spoke. " Hello, Randy . My name is Earl and I'm your big brother."
He hesitated a minute, watching the baby some more, "I heard Mom and Dad say you're their second chance. I'm not sure what they mean, but just rememeber I was here first and I'll always be your big brother. I'll always be older than you and bigger than you and smarter than you."He stared at his baby brother and thought of something else. "Hey do you want to see my room? Come on." He lowered the side like he had seen Mom do, reached up, and could only get a hold of his brother's pajamas. He pulled him towards the edge of the bed and tried to pick him up. "Wow, your're heavier than I thought, he said as the baby boy crashed to the floor on his head.
"Shh," said little Earl as picked the dazed infant off the floor by his armpits and held him against his chest. "Sorry". He held onto him as tightly as he could and made his way quietly back down the hall The little boy deposited the infant on the bed and patted him a minute."See, your're fine. He pointed. This is my room. That is my closet. That's my dresser with my clothes. Those are my toys. You can't touch them without asking." The boy pulled a toy car out from under the mattress, "See this? Dad said I couldn't have it when we were at Walmart. So I just put it in my pocket. It was easy. He sat down on the bed as the baby began a low whimpering in his throat. " Be quiet." said Little Earl. "You'll wake up Mom. She's been real tired and grouchy ever since you you got here. Stay here, I'll get you a bottle. He started to tip tiptoe out. Then turned back, Don't fall out the bed again" he warned him wedging him between the headboard and the pillow. The little boy boy snuck into the kitchen and reached for a bottle, The noticed something else in the back shelf.
He came quietly back into the room and sat his baby brother on his lap." I got you milk. And I put a little bit of Dad's beer in it. He always goes to sleep when he drinks it. " said the boy, popping the bottle into the baby's mouth. "You know, I asked for a puppy, but I got you instead. Maybe I can teach you to fetch things for me. And follow me places and chase squirrels. Maybe you 'll be as good as as dog. Wow! You finished the whole bottle". The second chance for the Hickey's began to fade as he closed his eyes and drowsed off to sleep. His big brother curled up beside him he too fell asleep
The next Moring their Mom woke up and realized that her baby had not woken her up during the night. She ran to the nursery and found the empty crib and ran down the hall screaming and looking in every room. She stopped suddenly when she loooked in Earl's room. There on the bed was her older son with her baby, his arms tight around him, holding him in his sleep.