I’ve heard the expression, “She cried tears of joy,” but never had experienced the sensation. I always expected it would have to be a display of complete and utter innocence that would cause a person to cry out such tears of joy.
Today, it happened. I cried tears of joy. I cried my heart out. It was all in moment of audacious affection between brother and brother.
In the living room we rehearsed a song for my mother’s birthday, as we often did for special occasions. The song this year was “The World’s Greatest” by R Kelly, interesting I must say. Whilst rehearsing my four brothers began to become agitated and they fooled around with each other; pushing one another around, throwing punches, boy fun, I guess. Aaron, the oldest brother, grabbed the youngest, Isaiah, and pushed him into the couch. Unfortunately, it was the wooden back on the couch that connected with Isaiah’s hard head. He began to cry, loudly, rolling on the floor, holding his head in agony. Liz and I being the oldest rushed to help. I lifted him (with great strain) to the couch opposite to the other, as we babied him and tried to quiet him. He laid on his side still in agony. Chyle, the one two years older than Isaiah came over to him immediately, Isaiah proceeded to apologize to him for being a baby,
“Isaiah, look at me, no look me in the eye” Chyle demanded “You’re fine. You are okay.”
“I’m sorry Chyle”
“You’re okay.”
I of course proceeded to cry. For five minutes straight, and then on and off for five minutes afterwards; I didn’t understand my reaction, but I knew that never had a seen such a beautiful display of affection between my two brothers. And in that few moments I wanted more than ever an older brother just like him.
I’m pitiful, I realize, for reacting the way I did, but if you sat where I had sat, and saw what I saw, somehow I think our reactions would’ve been similar..