Here in Texas (2)

Phong was the middle brother, one year younger than Tuan and three years older than me. As with any traditional Asian family, if the oldest was a boy, he would be the favorite. And the youngest? Well, I guess it doesn’t matter what nationality you are, they’re the spoiled ones. That leaves everyone in between. From what I hear in other normal families, the middle one was at worse, the ignored one. That was possibly the case with Phong, but with an added bonus. He was the focal point for my dad whenever something bad happened. He’d always try to find some sort of link back to Phong. As if, he was the root of everything bad. I always thought Phong had done something really bad in the past. Something that they wouldn’t tell me no matter how many times I asked. I’d like to say I fought for my brother. Even pleaded for him.

I never did.

I was too young and too afraid to do anything against my dad.

At that time, I was really close to him. Loved him to death. I hated being away from him. Even thought he was the one that gave birth to me, not knowing what “birth” meant. I’d cling to him where ever he was. He gave me loads of attention. Hugs. Piggy back rides. A seat on his lap at the dining room table. VIP service. All I had to do was walk up and tap him. He’d reach down and pull me with his two strong hands. It was something I loved to abuse when we had guests and wanted attention. I’d interrupt their conversations. Ask some stupid question they find silly. They’d laugh and start asking me questions. Whatever I misunderstood entertained them more. Especially when my dad asks who gave birth to me. That always erupted in pandemonium. My dad loved having that over my mom.

When they had me, they wanted a girl. Yeah, not cool! But anyways, months into the pregnancy they tried affecting the outcome the only way they could. My dad surrounded my mom with pictures of little girls. Listen to songs sung by women. Did everything you’d think was absurd. But guess what, this was a normal thing to do. They knew it wasn’t serious. It wouldn’t change anything. It’s like buying a lottery ticket. Realistically, you probably aren’t going to win. Still, that 30 seconds of dreaming about what you’d do with the money is worth it. This was worth it for them. It lasted the whole nine months. And to their disappointment, I was born a boy. A let down huh? Another boy to add to the collection. The difference between my time and theirs was that from my inception to my birth, times were good. There was a war, but for my parents, it was the best time of their life together. So when I was born, I didn’t cry. And when the nurse brought me to my mom, I smiled. That’s all it took. I was the prize, a prize that will be used in many ways later. For now, it was complete love and affection.

The way my dad spoiled me was probably what made my brothers resent me. Resentfulness might not be the word. Jealous? No, I don’t think that’s the right word either. It was simply unfair.

“I saved the Peanuts for you,” I put my torn out newspaper next to him.

Phong turned his head on the pillow, away form me. He was lying on his stomach. Our beds were small spring held beds that met me at eye level. He was still crying. You couldn’t hear him, but his body was shaking. Under orders to be quiet or else the belt comes out again.

“If you don’t want it, I’m going to throw it away,” I snatched it and threw it on the floor.

In hindsight, I think I could have been more compassionate. Yeah, I know I was just a kid, a stupid kid. But I was aware enough to know what happened, why I shouldn’t be mad at him. This was how I learned about guilt. The first lesson was going to be in the form of my brother not playing with me anymore. Sure I had Tuan. Though I don’t remember playing with him. It was an age rank thing. Oldest plays with the middle, the middle plays with the youngest, but never the oldest and youngest. I think it was competition for attention. Not a good mix. Particularly, when I’ve already won over my dad. My mom though, was different. I think she loved me more than my dad, but I didn’t see it. Too busy hanging out with dad. Things were going to change.

Dropping the Ball

JP picked up his favorite plastic ball. It was plastic and flimsy, but it was his. He wiped it clean enough to see a bit of his reflection in the ball. Apparently, it had rolled under the bed into the corner last night. His new owner was a bit too young to realize that adoration wasn’t measured by how hard you held a stuffed animal. JP decided to save the ball from sheer annihilation by tossing it away as he and the other stuffed animals went under a wave of cotton pajamas.

It was morning now and the others had come down off the bed. JP showed his friends the ball which was still intact. Puppydog and Polarbear did their little dance. This was their way of rejoicing, hopping from side to side in unison. Though, JP never really understood it. He just stood there blinking. They were all odd stuffed animals, but these too were unique, simple to say the least. Just from judging their names, you can tell they were simple. Though it was still a mystery on how JP Bear got his name. A bit simple, yet he doesn’t even know where the “JP” came from. Maybe it was from his creator. He’d imagine it was from a great explorer named Jeanne-Pierre or a famous admiral named John Paul. Whatever it may be, he shuttered to think it just stood for “Just Plain”.

He shook his head from the thought and looked back to the two still bouncing back and forth in their dance. JP held up his ball. A perfect sphere, well, almost. There was a hole on one side. But it still bounced and bounced well if it didn’t land on the whole.

The puppy nodded excitedly.

It was time to play ball. JP held the ball up to polar bear, who of course nodded.

That was Polarbear for you, always nodding. Basically, that’s all he could do. Whatever maker he had must have imagined that polar bears had no neck. Polarbear’s body was simply one fat mass that only got gradually skinnier as it went up. That gave him no room for a neck to turn left and right. So of course, he just nods. Yet, he nods at everything. Even when he shouldn’t be nodding, he still does. He could nod at things he didn’t even understand. And together with puppy’s absentmindedness they could make one big mess that JP usually had to clean up. But they were his friends and who else could he play ball with.

It was a simple game. JP would kick the ball over, the puppy would punch it with his nose, and polar bear would bounce it off his stomach back to JP. They could do this for hours; a great way to pass time while they wait for their owner to come home. However, today’s game will be problematic from the start.

The doorbell downstairs rings.

Three of them stop and look toward the open door. Their ears sharpen and listen to the muffled conversations below.

A small exchange of small talk was all they could make out.

Then there was a scream. It was more a scream of joy than anguish, though the next word brought anguish upon the three.

“Brett!”

The three turn to each other, wide-eyed, fearing.

It was Baby Brett. A once innocent toddler when he was his little cradle. The puppy had made the mistake of getting a close sniff of him, which lead to him getting twirled around by the ears for hours. Luckily there weren’t any damages to his ears. When the polar bear tried to help, he found his face inside the mouth of the toddler. His face took a whole day to dry off form the slobber, but it took weeks to get the smell off of him. The two were still obviously scarred by the moment. JP didn’t need an encounter to know Baby Brett meant trouble. That’s because, Brett could walk now. And by judging the sounds they were hearing, a slow slap of a hand on hard wood followed by a solid thud of a leg, meant Baby Brett had learned to climb stairs.

The three scurried under the bed.

Slowly the pounding and thud grew louder. The sounds served as a countdown. If stuffed animals could sweat, the puddle of water would surely give them away as they huddled behind the foot of the bed. Then JP realized it. He didn’t have his ball. It was out there in the middle of the room. As soon as he thought of running out, Brett stuck his head in the room.

“Aaaayy?” Brett asked in his own language. “Hnnnn.”

Brett wobbled in and scanned the room. It was obvious that Brett wanted to play with the animals. He walked over to the desk. On tippy toes he couldn’t find them. So he staggered over to the bed. Walking was so much fun, yet so painful when he messes up. If he only realized what he was looking for could be found if he simply went back to crawling. But not today, he’s flawless walking around the room.

“Ayayayarrg” argued Brett as he tried to tell himself the animals usually stay on the bed.

Then it hit him, “Blacheeet.”

Brett stuck his down and looked under the bed, nothing. Well, to Brett of course, as the three were hanging upside down in the springs of the box frame.

“Wanawaaaa,” Brett said disappointedly.

He starts making his way out of the room, but something catches his eye, a little shiny red ball. What an interesting looking object Brett thought as he tried to voice it with a “Ooonit.”

The three had jumped down and watched. Horrified, JP could do nothing but watch Brett pick it up. He brought the ball up to his face and tried to take a bite of it. It tasted horrible. With a flick of the arm, he threw it. It hit the floor hard, bounced up against the wall, and back at Brett’s face. What was this? The object was amazing. Brett tried it again. This time it bounced higher. Then another throw. Even more bounces. Soon the ball was bouncing all over the place. From sloppy throws to erratic bounces, the ball was going all over the place. It didn’t take long for the ball to find that one place; no, not under the bed, but under Brett’s feet. With a loud crunch the once ecstatic baby found himself silently looking down at a flattened ball. JP’s heart sank as Brett picked up the ball and studied it. But something across the hallway got his attention and just like that, Brett dropped everything and went to cause mayhem somewhere else.

The puppy looked over at the polar bear, who nodded. So he over to JP and patted him on the back. It was doing no good. JP was devastated. He was slumped over on the bed post shaking his head. His favorite toy was destroyed by that monster. But JP decided not to give up on it. Broken toy or not, it was his. He was not going to leave it.

They could still see Brett. He was sitting on a bed watching television in the other room. At least something’s got him occupied from rampaging around the house. But the ball is still in plain sight. The puppy nudges JP to look toward the door. There was nothing there but the puppy’s watch. JP shook his head, Brett wouldn’t want to play with that. Then it hit him. They could hide behind the door and push it toward the ball. Whether or not this was what the puppy was insisting on didn’t matter, JP had a plan.

With two of them behind the door pushing and one keeping an eye on Brett through the crack of the door, they could move toward the ball. The puppy and JP started to push slowly, very slowly. Periodically they’d look over to the polar bear, who responded with a nod. JP wasn’t sure if it was wise to have him there. Was he nodding saying it was ok or nodding to say Brett notices them? But it didn’t matter the ball was the closest it was going to be. It was right there, just five inches away. JP looked the puppy over. His arms and legs were just about three inches. JP looked at his arms, then at his feet. If there was going to be any chance, it would be up to JP. His legs appear to be the longest. With his face flat against the door and his arms holding on to what he can on the door, he reaches out with his feet. His feet blindly tap everywhere but on the ball. He was still an inch away. And for little stuffed animals, that might as well be a meter. Still JP tried with all his might to stretch out and retrieve his toy. And still to no avail. The puppy stood and watched. A little idea flickered in his head. He tapped on JP only to get waved off as he was intent on his task. So he looked over to the polar bear, who nodded. With a small shrug, the puppy decides to hop on out to the flatten ball and pushes it under JP’s feet. Once JP’s feet finally touches the ball, the puppy hops back behind the door. And just like that JP’s face lights up. He’s got the ball. Picking it up, he turns around to see his two friends dancing. JP decides to join in with his little dance. Hopping back and forth he tries to imitate them. But it’s tough not understanding what he’s doing so, he opens his eyes to see how the dance steps work.

That’s funny, JP thoughts wonder. He doesn’t remember the dance including a running part. JP sits there watching the polar bear and puppy exit down the hall.

“Saaaaa peeee”, Brett’s voice thunders right above of JP. “Baya?”

Screaming would be the natural response at this moment, but fortunately, JP’s first natural born reaction is to run. And running he does well. He runs down the hall to the others.

JP could hear Brett’s cackle of laughter ring out like a battle horn behind him as he makes it into the other room. Bret’s slow thundering footsteps following suit.

In the room, he sees the polar bear and puppy making their way up to a dresser via a stack of books. Good idea he’d imagine. There’s a lot of things to hide behind in his owner’s brother’s room. Within no time, JP makes his way up to the top along with the other. Frantically they look for hiding places. JP sees a small lap and takes the lamp shade. Seeing the polar bear is helpless picking up things with his stubby little arms he put s the lamp shade on his head. It makes for a pretty decent disguise if you can overlook his belly and feet protruding from the base. There was no time for details. JP looks over to the puppy who has decided to try and hide under the lamps plug. JP let’s out a sigh, but the thundering steps are right outside the room. Next to the trembling puppy was a cigar box of crayons, just big enough to fit JP. So he dives in knocking out most of the crayons and flipping the cover close.

A child’s laughter never sounded so scary.

The puppy’s shivering could be heard rattling the loose crayons.

Within seconds, JP could hear Brett’s giggling come closer and closer. It was obvious he’s trying to sneak up on them. He could only imagine how the puppy must feel being completely exposed.

“Jaaaa peeet!” Brett flips open the cigar box fetching JP by his little red sweater.

JP’s still holding tightly onto his flatten ball staring down at his friends who are hiding in clear daylight. Perplexed, he starts wiggling and squirming pointing at the others. The puppy only pulls the plug over his eyes as JP points at him. What did Brett have in store for him? JP was not going to find out. He decides to slip out of his thick red sweater to escape.

With a little plop, JP lands on the ground as Brett stares at the empty sweater. This was JP moment to make a break for it. Back out the door he makes his way to their room. This was no good. He could hide under the bed. No time, Brett was right behind him. He goes through the room with the television. At least there’s a connecting door there. JP imagined he could just lose Brett by running in circles. Into the room, back out the other door back out to the hallway he went. He could hear Brett giggling, stopping, and checking under the bed inside that room. Perfect.

The polar bear and puppy had come down, joining JP in the main hallway. There’s one room left, the oldest sibling’s room. They all make a break for it, JP and the puppy hopping down the hall while the polar bear wobbles. Within minutes they can hear Brett back out in the hallway and clearly he sees them as they hear him call out, “Baaaya!”

And the thundering stomping ensues.

The oldest brother’s room is by far the largest. Spoiled by his parents, he had the most toys of the family. It was as if he needed the room to keep all the toys. They were scattered everywhere. This was the first time the three were in the room. Silent and awestruck, they were quickly reminded of there peril they were in when Brett steps right up behind them.

“Baaaya,” Brett roars holding back his excitement.

Again, the three bolt. They clamor over numerous toys. All of which are no help, except for one. JP’s seen one of these. They go really fast. And since it seems Brett is only after him, he motion to the others to man the controls. The puppy looked a bit unsure, but with a solid nod from the polar bear, he decides to head over where JP had pointed. In seconds Brett was upon them and as JP had figured, he was after the one stuffed animal he hadn’t tormented. JP hopped on the car and motioned to the puppy to pull the trigger. Obviously, the puppy hadn’t seen a controller before. The trigger was right in front of him yet he was lost on how to operate it. This meant certain doom. Brett was reaching down to JP. He waved his arms frantically for the puppy to start the remote. Like a slow motion movie, the puppy just looks at the trigger then at the polar bear. And of course, the polar bear came through and nodded.

In an instant, JP shot like a rocket. He could barely hold onto the car and his ball at the same time. To make things worse, the car zig-zag’ed violently back and forth. Then it shot up through, not one, but two loops and over a ramp to the other side of the track. JP could barely get his bearings. He surely had lost Brett on this electric car track. No way he’s fast enough to keep up. But then again, he didn’t have to. The car made one quick bank turn and headed straight back at Bret who was clapping happily.

JP dove and rolled. Tumbling and turning he was one clumsy bowling ball heading straight for and successfully knocking down his two friends.

They all got up. Brett was sanding above of them. There looked to be a hint of care in his eyes as they all came to. But once they got up, the maniacal grin came back on the child’s face and the incomprehensible words began spilling out.

“BAIYA!”

It was hopeless. Looking around, they were cornered. There was no where to run. The three of them held on to each other tightly. The puppy regretted glancing over at the polar bear, because, of course, he nodded. And what that meant for the puppy, was that he was going to try to stand up to the monster, the towering drooling monster. Containing his fear he turns and faces Brett. His eyes squinted, giving the meanest look a stuffed animal could give. Which isn’t much of course as Brett picks him up and puts him aside. The polar bear then steps in the way. Brett give him a sideways glance as the polar bear nods. So he picks him up as well and places him next to the puppy.

Now it was just Brett and JP. He couldn’t imagine what Brett was going to do with him. Drown him in saliva, yank off and arm, he couldn’t take it anymore. He closed his eyes and awaited his fate.

“Baaaya,” the word sends a chill down JP’s back.

Brett then reaches down and picks up the flatten red ball. He examines it closely like he’s looking for something. With just a slight turn, he finds it, the small hole in the ball. Then with a quick puff, the ball inflates back to its original size. Brett drops the ball.

“Baaaya!”

JP Bear opens his eyes and ears to the sound of his, once again, favorite, red, bouncing, ball.