Four times Sam Kirk was the best of big brothers to his little brother Jimmy; but one time, Jimmy turned the tables on Sam.
Rain of Stars
Sam Kirk got off the school shuttle, ran up the back steps of the farm house and slammed the back door. "Hey, Ma, I'm home." Winona Kirk at the kitchen sink washing vegetables, turned and smiled at her tall son as he leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek. He grabbed a carrot from the bunch she was washing and took a big bite as he looked in the refrigerator for milk. One nice thing about living on a farm, there was always fresh food available instead of the replicated stuff.
"How's the squirt, Ma." Sam's little brother, Jimmy, had been confined to bed for three days with a high fever.
His mother turned to him and sighed. "He's miserable, Sam. I'm at my wits end. I haven't even been able to step into the office today to work, poor baby, he's been so unhappy. Jimmy wants to get out of bed, but the doctor said no physical activity yet. That fever was really a nasty one. He's missed you all day too; he keeps asking me "when is Sam coming home"? Why don't you go in to see him for a while? Take some juice to him and maybe he'll settle down. Tell him if he's a good boy he can get up for supper this evening."
Sam got a glass of juice and went into Jimmy's bedroom. The little boy was in bed with the covers all in a bunch. His picture books and toys were scattered all over the bed. His little face was flushed and his head of curls disheveled. He looked up and saw Sam and his hazel eyes lit up with joy.
"Sam!" He stretched up his arms and Sam came over and hugged the little guy.
"Hey Squirt. What's going on? Ma says you've been nagging her to get up. That isn't right, Jimmy. You know you've been really sick, so you have to do what the doctor says and don't worry Ma so much. Ok?"
Jimmy's head drooped at the small reprimand from Sam, but he nodded his head at his adored big brother. "Ok Sam, I'll be good, but I wanna get up; I'm tired of being in bed. When can I get up, Sam?"
"Listen Squirt, Ma says you can get up for supper if you're good right now, OK? Here's some cold orange juice. How about if I read you a story so you can settle down. But first, let's get your bed fixed up; it looks like our yard squirrels were in here with you." He patted the little blond head.
Jimmy sighed happily. Sam could read really hard books, and at age five, Jimmy could only read very easy books and his picture books.
Sam got out one of the old favorites that belonged to their dad, "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea," and sitting with his back against the foot board of the bed with his long legs stretched out close to Jimmy's, he began to read softly. Jimmy lay back happily as the timeless story unfolded. Under the spell of the soft voice, his eyes began to close and soon he was fast asleep.
Sam put down the book, covered his little brother and went back to his mother.
"He's asleep, Ma."
"Oh, Sam, thank you. You're always so good to Jimmy, honey. That's why he loves you so much. We'll let him sleep till supper time, and then he can get up."
"Hey, Ma, do you think I can take Jimmy outside for a little while after supper? I have a surprise for him."
"I don't see why not, his fever broke early this morning, and if we wrap him up well, he'll be fine, it's not really cold yet. What's the surprise?"
Sam grinned mischievously at his mother. "Can't say, Ma. But you're welcome to come out with us later, if you want to."
When supper was ready, Jimmy got up and sat at the table with his mom and Sam. He was still in his pajamas, but much happier now that he was out of bed.
They cleared the table and stacked the dishes in the dish washer and Sam watched Jimmy's face as he sprang his surprise.
"Hey Squirt, Ma said I can take you outside for a little while if you wrap up good. Would you like that?"
"Oh Sam!" The little face glowed with happiness at the thought of being outside after three days of incarceration.
"Ok, then. Up you go." Sam put Jimmy on his shoulders and Winona wrapped a light blanket around her little boy.
The three of them stepped outside and Sam led them around to the front yard. He checked his chronometer and then walked out a little further.
"Ok, Jimmy. Look up at the sky over behind the big tree, and pay close attention, squirt. You too, Ma."
His mother gave him a knowing smile; she had remembered what was going to happen.
"Watch, Jimmy," Sam said softly.
The farm was a good distance from town, so there was very little ambient light. In the beautiful night sky filled with stars, a sudden stream of glorious lights began to fall. Sam felt Jimmy gasp and move on his shoulders in surprise. He held on to the little legs a bit tighter.
"Sam, Sam, what is that? Oh Sam! Sam look, it's raining stars! What is it, Sam?" For Jimmy, the sky was alight with glory and wonder.
"That, Squirt is the Leonids Meteor Shower. It's the most beautiful meteor shower in the world. I knew a few days ago that it was gonna happen and I wanted it to be a surprise for you. Let's watch OK?"
They stood for a long while in silence watching the beautiful golden rain of light streak down across the horizon.
Finally, Jimmy sighed a deep contented sound. "Sam, I want to go up there. I want to be where all those starts are. Can I go up there, Sam?"
Sam patted the little chubby legs. "Yep, Jimmy, if that's what you want. When you get big, you can become a Star Ship Captain and be up there with all those stars and you can give your big brother Sam a ride on that Star Ship whenever he wants one, Ok?
"I will. For sure, Sam."