The Best Big Brother
Sometimes at night a street seems much longer and things not noticed during the day become much more apparent. You feel tiny yet your shadow stretches long and foreboding in the street light. Across the street you can see a stormwater drain, the fluorescent eyes of a feral cat glinting at you. You shudder and turn away. You don't think this game is fun anymore and you just want to go inside and sit on your father's lap as he reads you a bedtime story.
There's a rustling sound to your left and you turn to investigate. You hope it's your big brother, Dean, so that you can go back inside. It's an innocent bush so you don't know why you're scared.
Slowly you move towards it. You're a big boy now and you're not afraid of anything…at least that what Daddy told you and daddies tell the truth, right?
Something black launches itself at you. You scream and fall onto your back, feeling claws dig into your arms, chest and sides. 'It hurts' you think as you cover your face with your already cut and bleeding arms.
Then there are two almighty howls – one human, one animal – and the weight on your chest is gone.
"Get away from my little brother, you stupid cat!" Dean screams from above you. You hear the anger in his voice and start to cry. You've ruined Dean's game and made him angry. You can feel him crouch beside you because the grass is long and it tickles your face as his boot pushes it down. He pulls your arms away from your face and you can see that he doesn't look very happy. When he sees your tears he looks slightly confused.
"Hey, Sammy, don't cry," He's tearing up too and it confuses you. Is he upset because you ruined his game? He doesn't look the same as he does when he's angry though.
"Come on, Sammy," He says as he pulls you up. "We'll get Daddy to make it better. We can play what you want next time so the stupid cat doesn't get you."
And as you walk in the house you vow never to ruin Dean's game again because Dean is the best big brother ever.
2/6/09 TuesdayENGLISH Half-Yearly Exam Short Story