Birthday Shock

Today's a big day, a week after my birthday. The twins are turning one, and Mom is hosting a little party for them. I really don't know why. I don't remember my first birthday, and they don't socialize with other kids. They keep to themselves whenever Aunt Cristina brings little Shail over to play.

However here I was, sitting in a room filled with one and two-year-old children, Charlie huddled in his little corner doodling away as always. What he was working on, a mystery and illegible. But he always seemed happy and content, truthfully it was sort of cute.

Bernard, on the other hand, was hogging all of the stuffed animals, babbling away- in the strange language of babies- angry whenever someone tried to touch one of his toys. He was nice to the others, but if you touched his toys, he got cranky fast.

"Why am I stuck playing with the babies?" I asked, walking up to the gate. "It's not fair, I could be over playing with Jake!"

"Now Don, we talked about this. That laptop was only for school work and was not to stay in your room. Now I don't know about Susan's Mom, but here that is a no deal. You're grounded still. So you can help entertain the kids, like a good big brother and stop complaining about it." Mom scolded shaking her head.

'Whatever, there strange.' I sighed, wincing as Charlie let out a loud and shrill shriek, before falling silent and ridged. Turning to him, I watched as Bernard crawled up to his side, dropping a small bear on his lap.

"That's not going to help Bernard, I know you're trying to help," I whispered, gently pulling him onto my lap. "Mom, Charlie's doing it again!"

"I know, I heard." Don't worry, everything is alright. See he's alright." Mom soothed walking up and petting my hair. Slowly Charlie seemed to click back in, returning quietly to his drawing with the bear under his arm.

"Mom, why does he do that? I mean, sometimes he just sits there, and he cries a lot. It's not normal, Shail and the others don't cry as he does. Even Bernard don't cry that much, and he throws tantrums all the time!"

Almost as if demonstrating my point, Bernard fell to the ground beside me, flailing his arms as Jenny truck his large Teddy's paw in her mouth.

"Bernard, it's alright. Teddy can be washed, you have to share." Dad soothed rushing to Bernard's side, gently pulling him close as he started slamming his fists into the ground. Breath catching in his chest, Bernard slowly scrambled away from Dad, tears streaming down his cheeks.

It was about ten minutes before he finally calmed down, and Dad was able to comfort Bernard.