Martin watched his sister, mother and boyfriend sitting around the dining room table, smacking levers on hippos' behinds trying to get their particular pastel colored hippo to eat as many marbles as it could. All three were laughing and hollering as if they were children again. Suddenly all of the marbles were gone and his mother threw her arms up in the air and cheered in victory. Arthur gave Wendy a high five while Catlin was crying out, "Rematch! Do-over! Do-over!"
"Will you ask him soon?"
Martin jumped a foot in the air, grabbing his chest. "Christ, Simon!"
His brother stood at his side, snow still in his hair and mustache, looking like he'd just came in. He hadn't even had a chance to take off his long coat and snow boots. "I see that look in your eye, Martin. One of my mates at the council had that same look when he was going to ask his Elena to marry him."
Martin blushed furiously. "I—I- Simon! I—I- don't—" he heaved a great sigh. "It's under the tree. It's one of his presents for tomorrow. The tiny one in the dancing polar bear paper."
Simon clapped his hand on his younger brother's shoulder. "Good for you. Arthur's a nice chap. He gets along with mum famously! And you two," Simon wiggled his eyebrows. "Didn't you meet on an airplane?"
At first Martin thought his brother was being cheeky and making a remark bout him and Arthur joining the mile high club. But, the pilot widened his eyes when he saw his sibling extend his arms outward and step forward. "Simon, no!" He yelped as his brother lifted him off the ground and began spinning him around.
"Lift off! He's flying!"
"Aren't they sweet?" His mother said from the other room.
Oh, Martin was going to kill his brother!