"Justin," my sister said one day that was really like any other day, although all that would soon change and it would become both the best and most bizarre day of my life up to this point. It was around 10 in the morning on what promised to be a fine summer day, and we were seated around the table eating random breakfast cereals, to each his or her own favorite kind. Mine was a bowl of plain wheat-shreds, while Max had something full of sugar and marshmallows. Alex had something moderately between ours, filled with whole grains but containing honey roasted nut clusters as well. Perhaps they were all reflective of our personalities, as though they were distinctly chosen by some governing force to make a comment. That hadn't occurred to me at the time, if anything I felt that our personalities dictated our choice in favorite foods, but since then I have come to believe that there could be some agency or entity carefully watching and manipulating us for its own alien and unfathomable purposes, whether they are benevolent, malevolent or simply completely apathetic. And I, even though I am a wizard, am completely unable to master this force, for it holds everything on the tip of its nigh-omnipotent fingers. The best we can do is hope that we please this being and it leaves us alone. But I digress.
"Yes?" I had replied automatically. I wasn't really too engrossed with my sister at the moment, I was busy comparing and contrasting Animal Farm and 1984 in my head, and in fact I had probably barely noticed that she had said anything at all.
"Would you pass the milk?" Again I had reacted without thinking, passing her the gallon 1 that was nearing empty. Mother would have to pick up more sometime soon, probably today. She seemed to shop a lot, the poor dear. I'd offer to help her, but today was Tuesday and dad would be giving wizard lessons. Naturally I would have be focusing on the homework that would result, because unlike Alex I take the eventual competition between her and I seriously. (I discount Max, no one takes him seriously.) Given that this would occur in the future, in fact in the near future as I approached 18, I felt a certain animosity toward her as a rival at the same time I felt the love of a sibling. How all that would change in just a few short hours, though I of course had no knowledge of that at the time. It is commonly said that in retrospect all things are clear. I honestly still don't believe it, personally, but at least I could see some of the signs.
"So what do you have planned for today?" I asked, either trying to be cordial or still performing ritualistic behaviors that were socially expected of one in this position. She tried hard to act apathetic – too hard, in fact. At the time I hadn't seen through it, of course, but now it's so obvious. The sigh and excessive eye-roll were nice touches, but she couldn't keep her eyes from brightening slightly as she looked right at me. 'Brightening', such a cliché poetic term. I suppose by that we actually mean that the pupils dilate to let in more let so that they can see the object of their affection better. I suppose saying "muscles in her eye relaxed, causing her pupil to dilate" just isn't as Romantic, despite being a more apt description of the event.
"You know, stuff," she responded in that casual non-committal way of hers, with a brief shrug that caused her waterfall of glossy black hair to cascade down her shoulders. Even at the time I didn't know what she was about to say, nor did I have any idea about how I was going to feel in a few days' time, but even I, her brother by the full blood, had to admit that the effect was vaguely arousing. In retrospect, I'm surprised something hadn't occurred sooner. My sister was actually quite beautiful, a fact that I had suppressed my whole life, and would continue to ignore until a few days later.
I have to admit that I feel I am quite open minded. This is quite fortunate, for if I were not than events would have transpired in a rather separate direction, and it would have left Alex much sadder, but possibly wiser. Egad, would that were I the wiser one! But no, it is too late now. I no longer wish to be wiser if that would mean giving up such extraordinary happiness, for in the end of things I have to say that though the events as unfolded has left me a nervous wreck, a mere shell of a man barely able to function without heavy magical intervention, the joy I have found in this has greatly made up for that. Though I spend my waking hours looking over my shoulder and behind bushes, believing myself to be being followed and watched by some unknown agency or entity, about which I know little – only that it is either malevolent or uncaring and amused. It might be the mundane government, it might be the magical council, or it could even be aliens. I don't know, but I fear any of them. Still I refuse to give up this course of action! I have made my decision, weighing it against all society's mores and taboos, and I have given them the proverbial finger!
"What kind of stuff?" I asked. Although I wasn't trying to push the issue, I was genuinely curious. Surely she realized that she had wizard work to do today, and I was hoping to slide the topic of conversation to that, such that I may be, as always, the doting elder brother (ha!) who was at least trying to look out for his little sister. I realize that you may not have the same view of me, but that's largely because the tales you have heard are very Alex-centric and play up our rivalry at least as much as our love. Indeed, I find that while the very essence of any situation you may have heard involving me and Alex is that of showing our love and care for one another, this part is often played down in the retelling in favor of the conflict, which makes for the far better tale.
"Eh, wizard lessons first I suppose," she said, perhaps trying to placate me, or maybe be sarcastic with me. Either way, at least she knew the importance of placing this first in any list she would give to me or our loving-but-authoritative father, although she did have almost complete control over the paterfamilias. Still, the one area in which he was the most strict would have to be our magic lessons, and he wouldn't let her skip them often. "Then some shopping with Harper."
Ah yes, Harper. The quintessential "bee eff eff," which every young girl needs. Incidentally, reports of her crush on me have been grossly exaggerated. In fact, these feelings she is portrayed to have for me are only a convenient way to illustrate another crush which would be impermissible to discuss in polite company. Only I will tell the full, real story, which I promise I will get to forthwith.
"By the way," she said after this, by which I was rather surprised. I had expected her to be terse with me as usual, and furthermore, what could she be adding that she needed to introduce with the phrase 'by the way'? It was quite a conundrum, one which I was sure would be solved post-haste simply by listening to the rest of her comments. "You know the wizard homework due Thursday? Could you help me with that later on?"
It was quite odd of her to ask for help, on wizard homework or anything else. Especially from me. Perhaps I should have seen this as an odd sign, but being who I am (oblivious!), I simply said "Oh, of course."