The Morning

It all started on that dull and gloomy Saturday morning. I guess this is a small shift from the cliché "bright and sunny Sunday morning."

Yeah, that morning was the worst.

It was mostly because of mom though.

It started in the worst way possible.

Mom woke us up at exactly 5 O'clock in the morning. How?

She just opened our door and poked her head in.

"Evan! Darren! You have thirty minutes to be washed and dressed, 5 minutes to make your bed, and extra 5 minutes to get yourselves to the living room. I don't want to repeat myself." With those words, she poked her head back out and closed the door.

I tossed and turned as the bedsheets wrapped my body even tighter.

My eyes refused to open as I desired to sleep more.

Of course, mom would have nothing of it. The last thing I or Darren wanted was for mom to walk into that room twice. The second time won't be pretty.

By then, I looked like a small mummy. I was so trapped in my own pleasurable bedsheets and I really couldn't release myself.

It took a lot of kicking, squirming and wriggling to get myself out of that sweet cage.

When I was finally out, I grabbed the sheets and threw it off me completely.

My shoulders drooped as I exhaled deeply.

I slowly pushed my legs off the bed and used my palms as support, pulling my body off the bed.

I squinted a bit as I raised my hands above my head and stretched.

My eyes still didn't adjust to the darkness.

I was still extra sleepy.

I glanced at the double window right above our king sized bed, which was covered with graceful peach coloured curtains that moved ever so slightly as a result of a calm and gentle breeze.

I took a few shaky steps towards it and gathered the curtains, tying them firmly in order to let little light from outside into the room.

Looking to my right, I stared at Darren for several seconds.

His mouth was literally open.

It almost looked haunting. I began imagining various scenarios. What if a spider or an ant crawled in? Well, it would be a death sentence for the insect so, no problems.

As if on cue, I snapped out of my trance and walked as briskly as I could to the door and switched on the lights.

Darren didn't even twitch. I sometimes wonder if he's human.

I was always super sensitive while asleep. I would hear a needle drop and instantly wake up.

Yep, I'm just that good.

The room was immediately illuminated by the bright white light produce by the energy light bulbs installed recently in our room.

I momentarily forgot that I had just woken up.

I squinted again and waited for a while for my eyes to adjust.

When my sight was better, I walked up to Darren

and stretched forth my right hand to wake him up.

I paused halfway. This was time to get revenge on him for pouring water on me while washing dad's car when I specifically pleaded with him not to.

I grinned mischievously as I went down on my knees and crawled slowly and noiselessly towards the cupboard beside his side of the bed and in front of me.

I opened a drawer as carefully as I could and searched it frantically, mostly with my eyes. I needed to be quick. Mom could walk in any minute. We were wasting too much time.

I finally found my weapon. It was something that always came in handy whenever I wanted to have the last word.

Forever mightier than the mightiest sword.

Well, mostly.

It wasn't a pen, if that's what you're thinking. It was a marker.

It was close enough right?

Yeah, I needed something more visible and potent than a pen, so that would do nicely.

I immediately closed the drawer silently and opened the marker.

The sharp sound it made sent me into a slight panic mode when Darren stirred a bit. Of course his mouth was still open, but he had closed it a little.

I got to work.

As carefully as I could, I drew a moustache above his lip and two extra eyebrows above his originals.

When I was done, I was very pleased with my work and let out a crooked smile.

I stood up, and placed the marker beside the nightstand.

Tiptoeing back to my side of the bed, my eyes never left Darren. He still didn't move.

I immediately bent forward and picked up my phone which I had left on my own nightstand.

I swiped open my phone and opened the camera.

I disabled the flash. I didn't want anything ruining my foolproof plan. I had gotten so far already.

Then, I slowly tiptoed back to his side and took the picture hastily.

"This should be gooood.."

I thought to myself as I closed the camera and offed my phone.

I carefully tossed the phone over to my side of the bed, trying not to wake Darren up.

In my mind, I had pulled off a stealthy spy mission.

I smiled sheepishly as I walked into the bathroom that was just a little beside Darren's side.

I opened the door and was faced with the bath tub. My second most favorite place after my bed. I loved bubble baths. I could spend hours in the water. Heck the whole day. I didn't and don't mind getting locked up in the bathroom so long as the tap is running and the bath is warm.

I calmly closed the door behind me and walked to my right towards the mirror.

Once my eyes fell on my reflection, I was horrified.

My face was contorted in the worst way possible.

I had black markings all over my face.

A number of silly symbols and cartoon character features had been scribbled all over my face and a little on my neck. I rushed in panic to the mirror and tried rubbing off the markings. They just became smudged. I knew I needed soap.

At once, I realised something.

I began hearing muffle laughter coming from the room.

My face turned red with rage as I clenched my fists.

"Darren!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as I rushed out of the bathroom.

I swung the door open to see Darren, awake, clutching his stomach tightly while letting out fits of laughter.

"And what is the meaning of all these?" I asked in anger as I pointed to my stained face.

Darren's face was red with excitement as he struggled to speak.

After several seconds of nonstop chortling and giggling, he said actual words.

"I'm sorry. I beat you to your trick Van." He said as he inhaled and exhaled rapidly, while chuckling slightly.

"What are you talking about?" I said trying to sound clueless. And i truly was. My face must've given me away. I felt so embarrassed. I had never been able to pull a prank on Darren before. His reaction right then, just screamed the fact that I had failed woefully. Again.

"You know." He said as he picked up his phone lying on his cupboard and opened it.

I still stood where I was, too embarrassed to move. I just folded my arms, waiting for the revelation.

Darren put his phone out for me and showed my a picture.

It was of me. Sleeping. With the stupid markings on my face.

I covered the distance between us in seconds as I tried snatching the phone

Darren, being way faster, noticed my intent and dodged the phone quickly behind him.

"I knew you'd try this. You're so predictable.

I must tell you though, it wasn't easy drawing all that, on your face. You really are sensitive while asleep, but, as always, I'm just that good." He said as he gave me that dreadful smirk of his.

"Look, just delete that. Things should just end here, before mom comes." I said, my voice shaking. I was trying to reason with him.

My bro does what he wants, when he wants. Trying to talk him out of it is very fallible. Anyhow, it doesn't hurt to try, does it?

"Well, I believe you have a picture of me. Delete that first." He said.

I sighed and relaxed my arms fully.

I reluctantly pointed to my side of the bed.

Darren glanced at it and back at me.

His smile reduced to a slight one as he picked up my phone with his right hand.

He then took his left hand from behind him and switched my phone to his left, holding his in his right. You got that right. He's dual handed.

What? You thought he's left handed? Nope!

He then opened my phone and deleted the picture.

I watched in pure anger as I took deep breaths, trying to keep calm.

"Done!" He said as he handed me my phone.

I grunted under my breath as I took the phone forcibly from his hand.

He chuckled again.

"Hey, delete yours." I said, my voice becoming firmer.

I should've known my bro better than that.

"You didn't think I'd delete this masterpiece, did you? It took me hours to finish this, since you kept turning. I'm keeping it." He said nonchalantly as he pushed himself off the bed and walked past me.

I just stood there fuming, when he took a few steps back and ruffled my hair roughly.

"Don't be mad, life isn't fair." He said as he chuckled again and walked off.

I heard the bathroom door close shut and it sent a slight jerk through my body.

His last line was dad's catchphrase all the time. Especially when we don't get what we want, or we get spanked for doing wrong. I still don't understand why Darren finds every opportunity to rub it in my face. Maybe it's because he knows it completely irritates me.

I wanted to reply him with the best comeback in my book, but I swallowed my saliva and walked over to the bed, feeling defeated. Again.

I threw my hands up in surrender and fell backwards on the bed. Is it just me, or are siblings a complete pain? I'm not sure Darren would agree with me. He seems to enjoy putting me through hell.

I just laid there, waiting for my brother to emerge from the bathroom.

When I had laid for a while, I shut my eyes and began imagining nice things.

A cool summer afternoon, out in the country side, having a picnic with my dog Josie, and chasing the sunset...