Being a brother is better than being a superhero.*

As his own world expands, their shared world shrinks, the territory of common experience left behind.  Still, he includes her in life.  He leans over, hunched like he’s protecting a secret, to tell her what we're having for dinner or who is coming to pick her up.

A few days ago, as she lay on the floor where Andy left her while he fetched diaper changing supplies, Tuck paused near her to tell her she was beautiful.  "Wait right here," he said.  "I need to get my stool."  He took the stairs to his room, carried the stool down the hall to her room and set it in front of her dresser, so that he could reach the drawer with hair things.  He chose a pale pink Easter bow, one that neither matched her outfit nor corresponded with the season.  He put the stool back and carried the bow downstairs.  He described the ribboned rabbit as he clipped it on top of Cel's head, and again declared her beautiful. 

And that small world they do share?  Incredibly beautiful, too.

JEB

*Marc Brown, author of the Arthur series