Brothers

(Word count 480)

    He screamed, and lurched to his feet. "He's not a French hamster butt, he’s my little brother!"

    “Exactly,” the boy with close set, dark eyes yelled back.

    Thorn looked at his little brother, he loved him, he may even have liked him. Thorn protected Max from a lot of life.  Max was different.  He had been from the beginning.  The small village they lived in didn’t understand Max, which made him a target for the community, especially the children.

    Max stood watching the exchange, moving a little closer to Thorn.  He didn’t understand why, but he knew Thorn took care of him, when he was there the other kids didn’t beat or ridicule him.  Max liked Thorn, he was always good to him, he didn’t let their dad hit him either.  Max knew he was different from other kids but he didn’t know how, he knew they didn’t understand him, and he knew that made them not like him.  He could do numbers and word problems in moments in his head, they were easy for him.  The professors at the university in the big city had been astounded when Thorn and their mother had taken Max there for testing.  Professor Leibniz had called him a prodigy.  Max didn’t know what that word meant, but he didn’t like being one.

    Thorn menacingly stepped towards the group of boys, “You want to do this again Ahren?  Remember last time?  I think you do.”

    The group stepped back as one, all looked to Ahren, their proclaimed, and self enforced leader.  Ahren’s adams apple bobbed as he dry swallowed, “You can’t do that again Thorn, my dad will come for you!”

    Thorn silently stepped forward again.  The group again receded, except for Ahren, who brought his fists up.

    “You’re sure this is what you want Ahren?  Because I am going to hurt you this time, This time your dad will know you’ve been beaten.”

    “No Thorn, don’t, mom wouldn’t want you to, it’s okay, they’re the French hamster butts,” Max said softly.

    “I am going to kick your ass Thorn, and then I am going to kick Max’s ass.”  Ahren followed this with a clumsy swing of his right arm.

      Thorn blocked with his left and then followed with two quick right jabs.  The first hit Ahren’s left eye.  Thorn put his weight behind the second jab and snapped his elbow to inflict as much pain and damage as possible. The crunching of cartilage was distinct.

    Ahren fell to his knees, blood and mucus pouring from his nose, and then through his fingers as he covered his face and began wailing.

    Thorn stood over Ahren breathing heavily, his fists still clenched.  Max gently took Thorn’s arm and led him home.  “It’s okay Thorn, he deserved it, I’ll tell mom.”

    Thorn relaxed, and looked down at his little brother.  I like him. Thorn decided again.

(Word count 480)