Brotherly Hatred
From the view of Mars
(Pre-Damien Death)
Part 1
I envied her. She rose past us and became the next Boss, but of course that was her job as the eldest child. I never had issue with that. I envied her ability to draw in love and respect not only from Mom and Dad but suitors as well. It was her job to find the perfect bull to marry into the family, but she always seemed to come back empty handed and stoic. Making reviewing remarks about the bull to Dad, seeming to try to justify her failure. He trusted her judgement to consider what was best for the safety of the family and the city. Marla made it all look flawless.
I, on the other hand, had no idea what I was supposed to be looking for, I never paid attention to whatever boring lectures Dad gave us. Maybe I should’ve. I got turned down every chance I tried to reach out, go for a second date, or try to attract a lady in general. At a certain point, I just gave up and stayed out of the house to give the impression that I was “living it up” for the sake of the family, just to come home and lie through my teeth that the heifer’s old man just didn’t like me.
Then, one Spring, things changed. Marla would come home giggling and cheerful, running to the kitchen to talk to Mom about a date with a guy named Damien. They had college classes together so they would spend almost all day laughing, talking, and going on lunch dates. Now I was really miserable. Jacob of course noticed. Every time Damien would come over for dinner, I apparently had some sort of face on that warranted Jacob to kick me under the table and scowl slightly. I couldn’t help it, I felt useless. I can only assume Jacob told Mom and Dad about what he thought I was going through, because soon enough, girls in my grade would start following me around and suddenly being interested in me. I knew this was simply a ploy to “cheer” me up but I was much too stubborn to let them win. I doubled down when I got home and my parents would greet me at the door(which they never did before) and ask me how my day was and if I had been approached by anyone. I didn’t need their pity, and if it weren’t for perfect Marla and Damien, I would’ve been just fine!
But in the dead of winter that year, tragedy struck that would turn my view of my sister forever.
