Big Brother, as told by younger brother.

Ill introduce myself as Calebs little brother, the middle son of the three, my name is Kai. I want to start by telling everyone that yesterday and today Caleb has shown us some amazing things. We were all outside and we asked him if he wanted to try walking, he said yes, and so we spent most of the rest of the day walking around, sitting on benches and sidewalks and having really good, clear communications. by nighttime, Caleb was pretty worn out but would not go to sleep. Mom and I sat with him trying to convince him to sleep and I found myself continually having to turn my head away, but not to hide tears as before, but to keep from laughing out loud and encouraging Caleb- he wouldnt stop doing things to make me laugh. Thats pretty much how its always been with us. Then, finally when we thought he was asleep, he grabbed a cold wet rag and threw it at my face, thats also how its pretty much always been. Caleb has always done this sort of thing to me. I remember when I was about eleven years old and mom, in one of her madly spontaneous acts, had decided to take us all on a cross country trip in a crusty, rotten old van that someone had given to her. This van was at the point where it should have been considred "yard art"; something thats sits there and grows wild flowers and weeds on and around it- not something you pack 4 kids into and set out on a four thousand mile journey and expect to make it home in. Anyway, we were in some far away nameless little town at a campground that our van had conviniently broken down next to and we we were all having a swim in the pool. Someone realized that this little girl had pooped in the pool so we all came running out and went to the showers to wash off. We were wrapped in towels and walking back to our campsite, and in true Caleb fashion, he reached over and ripped off my towel and took off running. I ran naked all the way back to our site, followed by the screeching laughter of about two hundred other campers. For the rest of our stay there, I was "that naked kid". So now, at the hospital, he is still doing things like this. About a month ago, a nurse handed him a magazine, he rolled it up and smacked me in the face with it. then, I was lying in his bed with him, looking at a mirror, and he extends that long pointy finger toward my reflection and then puts it to his neck and drags it across - ear to ear. this is right after he gave me the finger. Yesterday, I gave him the thumbs up, he grabbed my thumb and twisted it a little, making a snapping noise with his mouth and then giving a little smile. Then last night there was the whole wet rag to the face thing. Caleb is doing well, he is still giving me hell, beating on me, harassing me and being a constant symbol of abuse- just like a big brother is supposed to. But then, at the end of the night, when mom and I were finally getting him to sleep, I lay my head down on his chest and told him how much I love him. I felt the loving hand of a big brother reach up and rub my head softly, as if putting me to sleep, reassuring me that he is right there and that he will always look out for me, and make sure I am ok, and give me confidence and strength when I am weak or scared, or tell me where to go if Im ever lost- to be a constant symbol of strength - just as a big brother is supposed to.