From Brothers to Brothers in Unity
Nicholas and Connor could not have been more different growing up. Nicholas, 4 years older, was a straight A student and captain of the lacrosse team. He always seemed to succeed at anything he tried. Connor grew up in his brother's shadow and resented his brother's success. He was always treated as second best, so at a certain point, Connor gave up on trying. He dropped out of school, refused to get a job, and spent all day playing video games. When he turned 19, he was kicked out of his parent's house. He had no where to go, until he got a call from his brother, "Come stay with me, brother. It's time we worked things out."
Connor moved the few things he had and moved to his brother's apartment. Connor had not seen his brother in about five years since Nicholas went away to college. He figured his brother would have changed, but he was not prepared for what he saw.
"Connor, so glad to see you again, brother. It's been too long!" Nicholas hugged Connor as he entered his apartment. Nicholas was wearing some kind of uniform. He had a white shirt and black tie under navy blue coveralls. A number was on his chest, 185012, and the word Unity in big bold letters.
"Nicholas? What's with the get up? You working at a garage or something?" Connor tried to hide his excitement at the thought that his straight A brother was working as a mechanic.
"No, no! I am a brother of Unity. And I don't go by Nicholas anymore," the older brother pointed to the number on his coveralls. "My designation is 185012. Please, call me that."
Connor ignored his brother's sincere smile and rolled his eyes, "Sure thing, 185-whatever." Connor made sure to see his brother's smirk falter, but the older brother's face stayed a smile.
What's his deal? Wearing that crazy uniform and going by a number? And what the hell is Unity?
The first few weeks at his brother's apartment looked no different than back home. Connor never tried to find work, didn't cook or clean, and just played video games on the couch. 185012 never stopped smiling though. He knew his brother had potential and he knew how to guide him there.
One day, 185012 walked in the living room and turned off Connor's game.
"What the hell, Nicholas!?" Connor cried out.
Nicholas sat down by his brother and pointed to his coveralls, "It's 185012 now. But I figure I need to explain more about that."
Connor squirmed. He was lectured his whole life about why he should be more like his brother, and now the man himself was doing the honors. Yet, he couldn't help but listen. After all, he did want to learn what was up with this weird Unity thing.
"You don't know this, Connor, but when I left for college, I wasn't as successful as I thought I was going to be. I struggled a lot. I went from top of my class to just another face. Back home, everyone knew Nicholas "star athlete", but at college, I was nobody."
Connor's sour face softened. He never heard about any of this and certainly didn't think it was possible for his brother to struggle at anything. He didn't even notice as he leaned in to hear more.
"I considered dropping out, but I couldn't stand the shame of letting down mom and dad, all my friends back home, and honestly, letting down you, Connor."
"Me? But I was always a fuck up compared to you," Connor said, flabbergasted. He thought he wasn't even a blip on his brother's radar.
"I realized then that I never stood up for you. When our parents praised me and ignored you, I let it slide. When I saw you struggle, I didn't do anything. And now I was in the same situation. Until I found Unity. Unity found me at just the right time. I made friends, brothers, who had my back. I started wearing his uniform. I let go of Nicholas and all the baggage that came with that name and become 185012."
The older brother reached behind him and pulled out a navy blue coverall, the word UNITY stitched on the right chest.
"When I joined Unity, I pledged to uplift other men. To help others find the clarity that my brothers gave me. In Unity I realized I couldn't compare myself to other people's expectations. I had to work hard for myself, and in doing so I wanted to make my brothers proud."
185012 placed the coveralls into Connor's hand, "And I want to make you proud, brother."
Connor was speechless. His perfect older brother wanted to make him proud? Was this still real life?
185012 stood up. "I won't force you to do anything Connor. Unity is for willing men only. I just needed to share that with you. And I mean it. Unity is here to support you and guide you. All you need to do is take our hand. I'll leave these coveralls in your room. If you don't want them, just give them back."
Connor was left alone on the couch for the rest of the day, but he didn't turn his game back on. What Nicholas, no, what 185012 said struck a chord. Connor had always compared himself to other people's expectations. He gave up before even making his own goals. He had to step up.
As Connor headed up to his room later, the word Unity was stuck in his mind. What did it really mean to have a brother? A whole brotherhood even? He entered his room and sure enough, 185012 had left the Unity uniform lying on his bed.
Connor picked up the coveralls. They were heavy, heavier than he expected at least. And sturdy too. Reliable in a tough situation, thought Connor. Did I just say that? He laughed to himself, but he couldn't stop feeling the uniform. His fingers traced the word UNITY on the chest. He even held the coveralls up against him, imagining how it might feel to wear them. Then he imagined how it might feel to wear them with his brother. Would he get a number too?
He wordlessly slipped on the coveralls, right over his band t-shirt. He let out a happy gasp as the coveralls came over his shoulder, and then again when he zipped up the front. He didn't look quite like his brother without the shirt and tie, but the word UNITY felt like a badge of honor.
Connor felt a sudden urge to show his brother. His whole life they only ever grew further apart, but now this was his chance to change things. In his coveralls, he knocked on his brother's door. 185012 opened up and immediately smiled.
"Nic-I mean, 185012. I'm sorry I always resented you. I let others' expectations keep me down. I want that to change. I want to step up. I want get to know you and really be your brother," Connor placed a hand over the word on his chest. "And your Unity brother."
Without a word, 185012 took Connor into his arms. The two brothers, both clad in coveralls, stood together for minutes, just feeling the power of Unity between them. Eventually 185012 let go and looked his brother in the eyes.
As if by instinct, Connor replied, "Hail Unity."
The next day 185012 took Connor to the Unity Center to get fully inducted. Connor received his official coveralls and his designation, 188663. With the help of his brother (in many senses of that word), 188663 signed up for Unity re-education courses to better learn how to set and achieve goals as a Unity brother. He met other brothers clad in the same uniform. He had even applied to a job as a janitor at the Unity Center.
188663 and 185012 were now inseparable. They were not just brothers but brothers un Unity. Thanks to Unity, they were able to reconcile and realize they could change the world by helping others who struggled like they had. They had both realized that by working hard and finding a purpose could never lead to disappointment if they had each other and their brothers to help pick them up when they fell.