"Tex, you told me that you were going to do the dishes yesterday."

"Sorry, Mace. I got busy and forgot. I promise I'll do them today."

"You promised yesterday."

"Ok, you have my word."

"Your word means literally nothing to me."

"Mason," Tex half-moaned, half-laughed, "I'll do it as soon as I come home from school, ok?"

"Fine," I said. "But I don't like nagging. If you don't do 'em, there'll be hell to pay."

"Yeah, yeah," he replied, rolling his eyes playfully.

"See you tonight. I've got student government, so it'll be about 7."

"Ok, see you then."

"Hey, do you need a ride to school?" I called to my brother.

"Nah, Johnny's driving. He'll be here soon."

"Be safe. Bye!"

"Don't worry so much! Johnny's a great driver and always keeps the truck just under 90!"

I chuckled. "You better be joking, Texas!"

I heard him laugh.

When I got home that night, Johnny's truck was parked out front. As I walked up, I could see Johnny, Jamie, and Tex playing cards on the coffee table in the living room.

"Hey!" I called. "Have you guys eaten yet?"

"Hey!" three voices responded.

"No," Tex added. "We were waiting for you."

"Oh, so I can cook?"

"Maybe…." Tex called cheerfully.

I checked the cabinets. Perfect! Pasta, tomato sauce, and bread. More than enough to feed four hungry teenagers. I grabbed the pasta pot from the cabinet and turned to fill it with water. However, the sink was overflowing with dirty dishes.

"Texas!" I bellowed. "Get in here!"

"What?" I heard him call and move quickly into the kitchen. He stopped at the door when he saw I was pointing at the sink.

"You gave me your word."

"Which you said meant nothing to you. Guess you were right not to trust me," Tex said smiling.

I grabbed a wooden spoon from the counter and rushed at him, but he took off running through the house.

Jaime and Johnny, looking perplexed, jumped out of the way.

The house was an easy circle to run. The kitchen connected to the living room, which fed into my bedroom, then the bathroom, past the laundry and back to the kitchen. I doubled back when Tex tore through my room and cornered him in the kitchen.

We were both laughing, both serious. He tried to evade me, but once I had my arms around him, he knew it was a lost cause. Still he wriggled. I threw him over my shoulder and moved over to a kitchen chair, which I pulled out.

"I told you," I gasped, "that there would be hell to pay!"

Laughing still, and trying to catch his breath, my brother hollered, "Mace! I'll do them now! No reason to resort to violence!"

"Sure, there is: I'll enjoy it."

"You're gonna enjoy beating my behind?" Tex giggled.

"Almost as much as I enjoy nagging you constantly," I replied, roughly moving the still-struggling boy from my shoulder to my propped up knee. Once I'd forced him into place, I delivered three quick smacks with the spoon. I wasn't really trying to hurt him or embarrass him, since I knew we had an audience.

"There!" I said, "That'll learn ya!" I dropped my brother unceremoniously on the floor. Johnny was sitting on the floor again, laughing so hard that he did not notice Tex until he landed on top of him.

As I started making dinner again, I could hear the scuffle continuing. "Thought that was funny, did you?" Tex yelled, in a fake-angry voice. "It's your turn now! Say 'Uncle.'"

Johnny was squashed under him, with his arm twisted behind his back.

"Never," Johnny choked out, still laughing.

They wrestled around on the floor, until Jaime exclaimed, "You're both idiots! Can we get back to the card game? We have to be home by 8!"

I called through the kitchen door, "Texas, if you kill Johnny, you cannot get another."

The boys broke apart and resumed their game, panting.

"Dinner," I called and a mini-stampede ensued.

"Wash up, boys," said Jaime, sounding stern and motherly.

"Yes, Mona," Johnny said in a sing-song voice and ducking a blow aimed at his head from his sister.

After the dinner, the Collins kids each thanked me and headed out the door to beat curfew.

Tex said, "Deee-licious, Mace! Who knew that canned pasta sauce and boxed pasta could be so good?"

"Well, glad you enjoyed it."

He stood and stretched and headed out of the kitchen.

"If you step one foot out of this kitchen before every dish is sparkling, I will wear that wooden spoon out on you!" I said sternly.

Tex spun on the spot and said, "That's just where I was heading, Mace."

I laughed and put the leftovers away. Then I stretched out on the couch to read Plato's Republic for Political Science.