A Tale of Affection

"THE OTHER BROTHER"
A TALE OF AFFECTION


Mandy held her little brother's hand as she led him down the sidewalk. Her pace was brisk, and so David had to take long steps to keep up without tripping. He used to be able to keep up better, when the difference in their height was not so great, but she was so much taller now than she was just a year ago.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

Mandy tugged at her tank top with her free hand, trying to unstick it from her sweaty skin. "You'll see," she said.

The two looked nothing alike, so much so that the many people they passed on their way were unlikely to recognize them as siblings. Mandy had light bronze skin, wavy brown hair, and irises that seemed almost solid black. David had pale skin, dusty blond hair, and his eyes were brilliant blue. The differences between them did not matter to her, though. She was his brother and that was all there was to it.

"Here we are," Mandy announced, coming to a stop in front of an ice cream shop on one of the street corners not far from school. "You like ice cream, don't you?"

"I don't know," said David. "Why?"

"Because it's so hot outside," she answered. One hundred and two degrees, according to the automated display on the automated sign at the bank down the street. She brushed the back of her wrist over her forehead to wipe away the trailing beads of sweat. "You're lucky you don't sweat," she said, tugging on her tank top again, trying to get some air flowing against her skin.

"Not that lucky," said David, hanging his head.

Mandy looked up hopefully. "I can't wait until they start opening the pool on the weekends."

She led him inside, the bell above the door ringing as they entered. The air conditioning felt so good that Mandy couldn't help but let out a sigh of contentment, tilting her head up and closing her eyes to enjoy it. David watched her curiously but said nothing.

Mandy chuckled, noticing that he was looking at her. "At least pretend like you can feel the difference." She began pulling him along again by the hand, up to the counter where tubs of ice cream sat behind a long pane of glass. "It all looks so good!" she said. "What kind are you going to get, David?"

David shrugged. "They're all the same to me."

"Then you should pick one that looks pretty to you."

The stocky man behind the counter finished with another customer and went over to them with a wide smile. "Are you ready to order?" he asked.

"I want that one," said Mandy, pointing to a tub of green, minty ice cream with chocolate swirls.

David pointed to the plain vanilla. "I would like that one, please."

"Just small ones, thank you," said Mandy. As the man scooped their ice cream into cups she turned to her brother. "You didn't have to get that one," she said.

He shrugged.

After Mandy paid for their treats the man handed each to them and they went to find an empty booth. Setting their ice cream down they slipped their backpacks off and scooted in, side-by-side. Mandy took a few spoonfuls of ice cream before pulling her homework out of her backpack. Nothing hard today, thankfully, just her usual seventh grade math and grammar. "You should work on yours, too," she said, fishing a sharp #2 pencil out.

David nodded and retrieved his own homework—fifth grade long division—and set it neatly down, brushing his hand over it until it was perfectly flat and level with the side of the table. "Can you help me?" he asked, looking it over.

Mandy sighed. "I don't know why they even bother sending you to school. You're not going to remember anything they teach you."

David slid down in his seat a little.

Mandy scooted in a little closer to him and gave him a pat on the back. "Sorry," she apologized. "I didn't mean it like that. It's not your fault."

"It's okay. I understand."

"Oh!" she exclaimed, leaning over and searching for something in her backpack. "I almost forgot about this!" She turned back to him, presenting a little wrapped package with a plastic bow taped to the top. David could tell she was the one who had wrapped it because the seams were clearly visible and uneven. Thus he prized it all the more, carefully taking it in hand.

"What is it?" he asked.

"A present," she said. "For your birthday."

He shook his head. "It's not really my birthday."

"It is too, as far as I'm concerned. Now open it! You'll like it."

He pulled the bow off, taking care that the tape holding it on did not peel the wrapping paper, and set it neatly beside his homework. Then he slipped his little fingers beneath the seams, gently pulling the paper apart as best he could without tearing it. Within was a small box that he set aside while he folded the wrapping paper. Mandy watched patiently as he worked, the mere act of opening a present as deliberate and meticulous as anything else he did. Finally, setting the neatly folded wrapping paper aside, he took the box back in hand and began to look it over. He smiled. "It's a music player," he said.

"I saved up for three months just to buy it for you," she said. "I made sure it had a lot of room on it, so you can take a whole bunch of songs with you. Is the color okay? You never answer when I ask about your favorite color."

"That's because I don't have a favorite color," said David. "But I like it, because you gave it to me." He held the box against his chest, treasuring it. "Thank you, Mandy."

"You're welcome. Happy birthday, little brother!"

His smile melted. "You shouldn't call me that anymore. I'm not really your brother. I'm just a replacement."

She put her hand on his shoulder, furrowing her brow and looking into his eyes with as serious a look as he had ever seen. "Don't ever say that," she ordered. "You are not a replacement. You are unique and special to me. Andrew may be dead, but you're here now."

His eyes drifted down and to the side. "Only until the end of the summer. Then the lease will end and your parents have to send me back. I was only given to you to help cope with what happened to Andrew. The doctor says you're much better, so you don't need me anymore."

"I told you not to think about that, remember? I'll keep talking to mom and dad. I swear, I'll convince them to adopt you."

"Even if you do I won't be your brother. And I'll always be like this. I'll never get any bigger like you. When you get older you'll get bored of me." He sniffled and began to wipe away the artificial teardrops forming at the inside corners of his eyes. "Go away, tears," he grumbled. "I'm not sad enough for you yet."

Mandy leaned over, embracing David in a hug, pulling him closer. "You're not supposed to be able to control tears," she laughed. "And didn't I promise you? Didn't I promise that we'd be brother and sister forever? Even after I grow up? And after mom and dad adopt you, you won't have to go get all your knowledge erased at the end of the school year. They'll let you get smarter, and maybe if we all save up we can buy a new body for you. A bigger one, for when you get older." She pulled back, giving the little android a rub on the head until he began to smile again.

"An adult body? You promise?"

She nodded. "Once you get old enough."

He looked down at the box of his new music player, turning it over and reading the list of features aloud to her. He stumbled often, struggling to recognize some of the words. It was annoying, even to him, but it was how he was programmed to act. Mandy was used to it now, helping him when he got stuck. He began to kick his legs, thinking about what a special gift she had given him.

He set the box down just long enough to scoop a spoonful of ice cream into his mouth. Even though he was still just an android, he could have sworn in that single moment that he could taste its sweetness.