Stripe and Rad were pulling out the nettles and put them in the bag. Despite being working together to complete the task, the two brothers avoided to even acknowledge the other, not talking with one another and avoiding making any kind of contact. However, they came to pull out the same nettle, what caused some friction.
"Hey, why don't you go to your side?" Stripe asked. "This one is mine."
"So now you're getting possessive over a nettle?" Rad asked back. "That's rich… I don't know if you've noticed, but my hand was closer to it. That means the nettle is mine to pull out… Stripy."
"Hey, only mum can call me that!" Stripe protested.
"Oh, poor baby Stripy…" Rad teased.
"Stop that!" Stripe exclaimed. "Do you want another punch?"
"Bring it on… Stripy" Rad continued to tease.
But before Stripe could do anything, Bandit had arrived to their side and said:
"Really? You can't even do a job together without squabbling?"
"Hey, you were the one to put us to work together" Stripe replied, while getting up.
"Yeah, on that I have to agree with Stripy here" Rad said, also getting up and causing his youngest brother to growl at him.
"I know, I know, but you two were kind of asking for it" Bandit replied. "It's no different than what mum and dad used to do when we fought with one another. But now that we have all calmed down, I think it's time for a talk."
"I won't talk to him!" both Rad and Stripe exclaimed, turning the back to each other.
"Would you two stop acting like little children?!" Bandit exclaimed. "Do you really want to stay like that for all the weekend? Or worse… let that ruin your bond as brothers? And what about Thomas? Do you really want him to see you two like that? His weekend has suffered enough with your competition over his attention and being stung by nettles. I don't think you want it to get worse because of you can't get along, right?"
Rad and Stripe both seemed affected by their brother's words. Despite whatever they were fighting about, despite their own issues, they both loved their nephew very much and they wanted him to have the best weekend with them.
"You're right, Bandit" Rad replied. "We have… taken this too far."
"This is not about us… but about Thomas" Stripe replied. "We just need to… get along for the weekend."
"More than that" Bandit replied. "You need to figure this out. Not just for Thomas, but also for yourselves, for your relationship."
"Then you should have that conversation with your little brother" Rad told. "After all, he was the one that started everything. If he didn't try to compete with me, we wouldn't be in this situation."
"Well…" Bandit started.
"And can you possibly blame me for doing what I did?" Stripe asked. "You just did with Thomas what you've been doing ever since… well, ever!"
"What are you talking about?" Rad asked Stripe, confused.
"I'm talking about how you always manage to get everyone's attention and love without even trying!" he replied. "Do you have any idea how frustrating that can be?! To know that whenever you're around, we can't be the first option of anyone."
"Okay, now you're overreacting on that… like you always do" Rad said. "And also so unappreciative having in consideration what I always did for you."
"Do you want an example?" Stripe asked. "Try all the girls for whom I had a crush on."
"What?!" Rad asked. "I doubt it was all the girls…"
"You're right" Stripe admitted. "Some of them had a thing for Bandit."
"Really?" Bandit asked, surprised. "Wow… Who knew?"
"But having in consideration most of them only had eyes for the one brother that was on his last years of high school, the one that was captain of the rugby team…" Stripe said. "It's a little bit difficult to compete with something like that."
"Come on, Stripe, you can't seriously be still mad with me because of something that happened in high school" Rad commented.
"Then maybe we should try something more recent…" Stripe replied. "What about… Trixie?"
"Trixie?!" Rad asked. "Wait, is this about how we used to date? Stripe, that was a long time ago! And it was just a fling between us."
"That doesn't change the fact you were her first choice!" Stripe exclaimed. "You can't imagine how it is to love someone that you know they had already liked someone as close as our own big brother."
"So that's your problem with me?!" Rad asked. "That Trixie liked me before liking you?"
"You used to not think how your flings would impact us… and yes, I said us" Stripe said. "Have you forgotten about that thing where you and Bandit…?"
"Okay, Stripe, let's not talk about that…" Bandit said, realizing what Stripe was about to mention. "It's never a good idea to open old wounds."
"And it's not just girls… our friends also would prefer to spend more time with you whenever it was possible" Stripe said. "Seriously, all that attention you got… and still get… All of it can make anyone sick of it."
There was a pause, where both the oldest and youngest brothers would stare at each other, with Bandit observing both, a little nervous. He knew they both needed to vent out everything that was causing their tension, but he feared any of them would say something they would regret… especially after what Stripe just said. He then noticed Rad making a deep breath, meaning he was about to respond.
"You talk about the attention I have…" he said. "But just answer one thing to me? Why do you want to be Thomas' favorite uncle?"
"Why wouldn't I want that?" Stripe asked. "I love the kid. We have a lot in common and we get along just fine."
"Oh, so being a favorite uncle to Bluey and Bingo is not enough for you?" Rad asked. "You have to be the favorite uncle to all of Bandit's kids?"
Those questions confused both Stripe and Bandit.
"What are you talking about?" the former asked.
"Yeah, Rad, why did you brought up Bluey and Bingo into this?" the latter asked.
"Because he already is Bluey and Bingo's favorite uncle, so why try so hard to be Thomas'?" Rad asked. "On that, I can't possibly blame you, Stripe. After all, with my work at the oilrig, I don't pass enough time with my nieces… all four of them. You two became each other's kids' favorite uncles. And, because of my work, I just came to meet my nephew… weeks after he arrived, and just because we've had already planned this trip for months! So, yeah, I should not have competed with you, Stripe, but what you wanted me to do? You already had formed a bond with him, so I did everything I could to do the same… even if that meant to go over you."
"Wow… when you put it like that… you make me look like an idiot" Stripe commented, starting to feel guilty about the way he has been behaving with his brother.
"You should, because you were the one to pull me into this" Rad replied, before taking a deep breath. "But… I should have been more matured about this. I am the older brother, after all…"
"And… I should have been more sensitive with you about this…" Stripe said. "I know how bad you feel when you can be around more often."
"Wait… is that why you decided to become a firie?" Bandit asked Rad, realizing now the reason behind his brother's sudden change of career.
"Well… yeah" Rad admitted. "Working on the oilrig is what caused me to be away from my family. And… with my dream of becoming a firefighter still alive and… with my relationship with Frisky becoming more serious… I decided to try work this out."
"So… it was not a way to impress Thomas?" Stripe asked. "You're really becoming a firie?"
"Well… I did expect to use that to impress him" Rad said. "After all, he is a kid, right? But I was waiting to bring that up in a much natural way… and not to use it as mean to conquer is admiration in a stupid competition."
"Wow… I really buggered this all up with all of my jealousy…" Stripe commented, while scratching the back of his head.
"You were not the only one to bugger up…" Rad added, also scratching the back of his head.
"Well, this is what I like to hear" Bandit said, while putting a hand on their brother's shoulder. "Now you two can make up and act like brothers again. It was a good thing that your magnificent brother was able to bring you together."
"Excuse me?" Stripe asked, as he and Rad freed themselves from Bandit. "Since when you're the magnificent brother?"
"Yeah, just because you gave us a little push so we could reconcile, it doesn't give you the right to brag that much" Rad said. "It's not like we've never fought so badly with one another."
"What?! Such ingratitude…" Bandit said. "You know what, next time you two get into a fight, I'll let you two beat each other into a pulp."
"Come on, bro, don't be like that" Rad replied, while giving his younger brother a noogie. "You really want to spoil your son's first lake trip?"
"Yeah, mate, you for sure won't want that" Stripe replied, jokingly, while punching Bandit's shoulder playfully. "One of you may even step onto a prickle or a nettle…"
That caused him and Rad to start laughing and Bandit soon joined them. Watching them from afar were Bob and Thomas.
"Wow… look at them, grandad, it's like they had never fought!" Thomas admired.
"Yeah… that's because those three have a very tight bond ever since they were kids" Bob explained to him. "Even when they argue or something happens between them, they always find a way to get over it."
Bob then turned to his grandson and noticed he was a little sad.
"What's wrong, mate? Why that look?"
"It's just…" he started. "I can't believe uncle Stripe and uncle Rad fought because of me. It makes me think that maybe… if I hadn't come…"
Realizing what his grandson was trying to say, Bob hasted to say, while pulling him closer with his arm around his shoulder:
"Come on, kid, don't say that! You had nothing to do with what happened between your uncles. Let's just say they had… bottled feelings that needed to get out… I for one think you just made them come even closer."
Hearing that from his grandfather made Thomas to feel a lot better.
"Thanks, grandad" he said, while going for a hug to Bob who hugged him back, both wagging their tails.
Later, when night had fallen, the five Heelers had gathered outside around the fire, while enjoying the dinner Bob had done with the fish they had caught.
"Wow, grandad, this stew is so great!" Thomas exclaimed, while enjoying the dish.
"That's because I used your fish to do it, mate" Bob replied to his grandson, while blinking his eye. "The fish is what gives it flavor, so, if it is good it's all thanks to you."
"Well, he is my son, after all" Bandit said, while rubbing his hand on his son's head playfully.
"And our nephew" Stripe added.
"Yeah, bro, don't take all the credit" Rad said.
"I'm sorry, who taught him how to fish?" Bandit asked to his brothers.
"And who showed him the best techniques to fish?" Stripe asked, while Rad nodded in agreement.
Thomas couldn't help but giggle along with his grandfather, as he got to see his father and uncles argue again.
"You know, I think it's all thanks to all of you" Thomas said, stopping the argument. "I have the most awesome dad I could ask for…"
He hugged his dad, who couldn't help but smile and hug him back.
"I have an amazing grandad…" Thomas continued, while going to hug Bob. "And… the best uncles ever!"
He finished that while getting himself between Rad and Stripe who just rubbed their hands on his head.
"I know you two have been fighting over who is my favorite uncle" Thomas said, making both Stripe and Rad to get a little uncomfortable. "But you have to know… you're both my favorite uncle… along with my uncle Prince."
"Well, give me more time and I can show you I am way cooler than…" Rad started saying, before noticing the stares of his father and brothers. "I'm kidding!"
"Sorry if we dragged you into our… dispute, mate" Stripe apologized to Thomas.
"Yeah… we were not the best uncles" Rad said.
"Maybe… but I got to know that you really love me" Thomas replied. "But now that you know I love you two the same way… that you're both my favorite uncles… can you just stop…"
"Oh totes" the two brothers replied.
After that, Thomas shared a hug with his two uncles, while Bandit and Bob watched them, smiling, happy to see things had finally returned to normal.
Soon after a few laughs, a good talk and some tasty marshmallows at the fire, the five Heelers went inside the cabin to sleep. While Thomas and Bob went to sleep at the bed, the three brothers slept on sleeping bags at the ground floor.
When it was almost time for sunrise, Bandit's phone started ringing, being the alarm that he had prepared for himself. He woke up, hasting to turn the alarm off to not wake up his brothers. After that, he went to the first floor of the cabin and went to his son.
"Hey, Thomas… Wake up, mate…" Bandit whispered, while moving his son carefully.
Thomas opened his eyes slowly and, seeing his dad, he asked, while sitting up and rubbing his eyes:
"Dad? Is it morning already?"
"Not exactly…" Bandit said. "I just thought that maybe you would want to see someplace I know you'll love."
Despite still being sleepy and wanting to go back to sleep, Thomas couldn't help but feeling some curiosity about what his father wanted to show him. The two then got out without making a sound to not wake up the others and started go through a path that was going up. The fact they were going up and he had barely woke up, Thomas didn't take long to get tired.
"Dad… how long are we going to keep walking…?" Thomas grunted, as he followed Bandit. "My feet are hurting…"
"Come on, mate, we haven't gone that far" Bandit replied, while adjusting the backpack he had brought with him. "But no worries, we're already close."
"Close to where?" Thomas asked. "Couldn't we have waited for morning to come here?"
"Nope, it's so much better to watch it by sunrise" Bandit told.
Thomas released a grunt that was a mix of tiredness and frustration.
"Come on, even your sisters have a lot more energy than you" Bandit commented amusingly.
"That's because they normally get up when it's already clear outside" Thomas replied.
After a while, they arrived to where Bandit wanted to bring his son and, reaching there, he said:
"Okay, we're here."
"Finally! I was starting to think my feet would…"
But Thomas didn't finish what he was about to say, as he came to know where he was. It was in a high point that possessed a clear view to the cabin and the lake… the same one that was on the painting his mother had done to his father. Not only that, but, with the light of the sunrise, the view was almost identical to the painting. Thomas didn't know what to say at that moment.
"Wow…" Thomas admired. "This is… Wow!"
"This is the place where your mother painted that special painting she left me" Bandit told. "It was her favorite spot here."
"And I can see why" Thomas replied.
It was then Thomas noticed that his eyes were being flooded by tears. Noticing that, and feeling a little embarrassed for crying in front of his father, he said, while cleaning the tears as fast as he could:
"I… I don't know why… I am crying" he said. "I am not even sad…"
"It's okay to cry, son" Bandit replied, while putting a hand on his son's shoulder. "You miss your mum and this place was a favorite of hers… Don't be afraid to show your emotions… being them good or bad. And most certainly don't be afraid to express how much you miss your mother… because I also miss her as well."
Those words from his father made Thomas to feel himself much better and smile, advancing then for a hug and saying:
"You're the best, dad."
That caused Bandit to draw a smile and return the hug to his son, with both wagging their tails. After the hug, Bandit asked Thomas, while sitting down and taking his backpack and opening it:
"So… are you ready for a nice breakfast, while admiring this magnificent view and the sunrise?"
"That would be nice" Thomas replied.
And so he sat beside his father and the two started enjoying some food as they admired the sunrise.
The End
