"Mycroft do you wanna play pirates?" I heard my four year old brother shout from outside my door. I yawned and blinked trying to make out the clock in the darkness of my room.
"Its one o'clock in the morning for gods sake" I called back hoping he would go away. But I knew my brother far i wasn't the sort to give up easily.
Sure enough my bedroom door swung open and William, in a full pirate costume, jumped onto my bed. I sat up and put the light on irritated. " please go away" I pleaded.
"Not until you play pirates!" He demanded determined. I honestly couldn't be asked to do any thing at this time in but I could see clearly he wasn't leaving. I thought for a fraction of a second and came up with a compromise.
"You know what" I said trying to sound as enthusiastic as possible " I'll read you that book about pirates you like". William considered it and nodded looking slightly disappointed. He got up and grabbed my arm pulling me down the darkened corridor to our mothers study where his precious pirate book was kept.
" come on Mycroft" William called leading me down the stairs to the sitting room " read the bit about Redbeard. Redbeard had been Williams favorite historical figure for a while so much that he had demanded we name our new irish setter puppy after him.
"Alright" I agree and opened the book on the correct chapter "Oruc Reis was a Turkish privateer and later Admiral in ottoman service who was known as Redbeard or Barbarossa to christians" I start "He was an extremely successful pirate once capturing..."
"23 ships in less than a month" finished William brightly " I'm going to be a pirate to Mycroft" he continued waving his toy sword in the air.
" Don't be stupid" I argued rolling my eyes "there aren't any pirates anymore"
Far from being put of William smiled brighter " Ill be the first new pirate William Holmes the most scary and successful pirate of all time"
"Not particularly horrifying" I laughed and he looked annoyed.
"Its my name" he complained "William is so boring, not interesting like redbeard or el draque or even Mycroft" he said looking annoyed, then his face lit up and he jumped down off the sofa and ran upstairs leaving me alone with a pirate book feeling extremely irritated.
The next Morning I woke up a lot late than usual and listening could hear raised voices from down stairs. As I walked into the Kitchen I could see my Mother looking rather frustrated with William. "William please" she said sounding desperate.
"Thats not my name anymore" he countered angrily.
"Whats going on?" I asked
"William has decided he would rather be called Sherlock" answered my Father looking mildy amused at everything that was going on.
"you like the name Sherlock don't you Mycroft?" William asked, grinning when I give an concomitant shrug. He stuck his tongue out at my Mother and skipped of out of the kitchen with singing "Sherlock, Sherlock, Sherlock" at the top of his voice.
"its just a phase" said my mother " I mean who'd want to be called Sherlock Holmes for the rest of their life"
" coming from someone who named their child Mycroft" I muttered earning an venomous look from both my parents.