By Roman Jaster

Two Brothers

Lights out. It’s past bedtime. Not one more word. But we’re not tired. Got an idea. Let’s throw apples. You get them. No you. I got them last time. Okay. Open door carefully. There’s still light in the living room. TV’s playing, with door cracked open. Could pretend to go to bathroom. But apples are in kitchen. Which is closed. Door creaks when opened. It always does. Careful, careful. Quick, to the fridge. Get a handful of apples. Grandpa brought them yesterday. Handpicked from the garden. Every day we take one to school. But tonight they serve a higher purpose. Back in our room. Open the window. Anybody walking by? Not yet. Waiting. Four stories above ground we can see most of our street. There. Somebody is walking. But, no, they’re going the other way. Damn. Noise in the hallway. We talked too loudly. Jump back into beds. Door opens. Pretend to sleep. Words of warning. But the door closes and soon we’re back by the window. A man walks right below us. Where are the apples? There. Take one. Throw. Bang. It lands right behind him. Haha. Take cover, duck, snicker. That was fun. Slowly rise to the window. He’s gone. Let’s look for someone else. A group of people. Still two blocks away. Let’s throw two apples at the same time. Almost close enough. Take aim, almost, almost… shit. Door opens. We’ve been caught. Run back to beds. There’s yelling. And the cooking spoon appears. Brother is first. He always is. Because he’s older maybe. Or because he’s closer to the door. Sometimes they stop after him. There is hope that I will be let off. But now the spoon arrives at my side. Loud slapping sounds. It stings. Tears roll after we’re alone again. Brother tries to establish contact. Should we laugh it off? Sometimes that works. And on we’ll go. Throwing stuffed animals across the room. Or wrestle. Pin the other down on his back and squash his underarms with knees. A good fart always helps. But not tonight. The tears have made me sleepy. Slumber comes. Dreams. Two giant red apples dancing around a sagging cooking spoon.