Out of Shape

Today was a historical day yet again. I had a reunion with my younger brother. We hadn't seen each other for over a year! To make the reunion even more special, he is to come and stay with me as he has come down from Zambia to study. I can tell you that as I met up with him today, lots of emotions came loose when I saw him. All emotions though, were those of joy.

The whole day I had been looking forward to seeing him. It's funny how much joy you get from meeting up with your own flesh and blood. There is so much you want to say and so much you want to express that often it just turns into a clumsy hug and you say to each other a simple; hey, how's it going? Your eyes don't let the other go for one second. Sizing each other up, immediately noting whether the other is healthy, happy and comfortable.

So what did this do to me exactly? I always thought about the situation and how it would change the life that I had been leading just a few seconds before I met up with my bro. Heck, my life still looked different as I was on the bus getting to the stop by my house. What is inevitable though, is that like the bus, I was in motion; coming closer to my home and the reunion.

So as I took my brother in clumsy caress, I took in how his body had grown and matured. In almost the same instance I also realised that the load of responsibility on my shoulders had matured in that same embrace I was entangled in with my brother. My parents had entrusted me to now keep an eye out for my brother and help him find his path in life.... Guide him where I can and prevent any mishaps if possible.

I believe my parents made a wise choice. Not because I am such a smart, responsible guy. But mainly due to the fact that I have messed up so much in life, my bro can use that as an example and learn from my mistakes so that he does not have to do it. In order to size my brother up more, I started testing him here and there.

I always say that I don't live large and that I struggle to survive. Although not completely blown out of proportion, I guess I do tend to exaggerate at times. My brother was impessed with the house. He was even more surprised to find a bed just for him. Ok, so he had to set it up himself due to a little error, but it was there!

Then I checked his view on money. My Gosh! This boy definitely has not had much struggles when it comes to cash. Hehe, it made me shrug and laugh at the way he thought certain things were cheap, of which I was convinced they were expensive! I hope to God that he doesn't have to go through the lesson I learned with cash management.

After that it was my turn to learn from my brother. He was easily accepted by my housemates, and he readily felt at home. I was impressed because the lighty is a little younger than us, yet he immediately sensed how to act and respond, leaving everyone in their value. I at once noticed that my little brother is a true cosmopolite, and I'd like to state; just like myself.

In the past few months I knew I had been preparing myself to him joining me. Come to think of it, in a way I have been preparing for this for quite a long time of my life with all the lessons that my parents have been teaching me. It's hilarious though for in the past my brother and I were not even allowed to sit at the same table. We used to mess around too much. This young boy used to look up to me so much, and I was foolish and did things to push him away. I was very selfish as a young boy.

And now, I have been saving up for months to be able to buy my brother a bed and a mattrass and welcome him into this home. I am glad to give up my own comfort to make sure that he has a lot of his own. However,the big lesson for me today was that eventhough I am the older brother and that it's up to me to take care of most things. My little brother also showed me that he is mature and ready to face the world.... I too must be open to his point of view, and in future I will at times lean on his shoulder. For now, it was a joy to watch him eat food provided for by me, and later see and hear him fall asleep on the couch..... Just like the good old days of then......

So why is my title of this story called out of shape? because now more than ever I realise it is time to pull up my socks, write a plan schedule of approach/attack and to head off to the nearest gym to get in shape and get ready for the challenges ahead!