The Photo Essay - Brother

             This is a photo of my brother and I few months back. I was planning on writing about my best friends before. However, during the weekend, I was so motivated to write about my younger brother and decided to write my photo essay about him. My brother and I aren’t in those kinds of “best and lovely” brotherhoods. We always fight and quarrel over trivial stuff. 2 months ago, before I came to KMLA, we had a big fight over the possession of iPod. Since then, I didn’t go back to home and we never contacted each other. However, when I went back home this weekend after 2 months, I found that troublesome iPod on my desk with a new cover and a sincere letter from my brother telling me that he’s sorry. I was so moved by his actions and felt bad for not being a better older brother and decided to write about him – what my brother means in my life.

             First, my younger means an annoyance for me. Even since he was born, he was nothing but an annoyance for me. When he was a baby, he seemed to take everything that I wanted too - Parent’s attention, toys, foods, etc. I didn’t like him for that. When he grew up a little older, he began to bug me to play around with him. I wanted to play catch or hide-and-seek while I just wanted to read books, watch TV, or play video games. If I didn’t play with him, he’d go to mom and tell on me. Mom forced me to play along. Also, we fought when we played together. When we played hide-and-seek, he didn’t take turns and always wanted to be a hider. When we played with lego, he always took the handsome characters and structures. When I fought with him over that, mom always punished me for not yielding. When we grew older, we still kept on bugging me to play even though I needed to study. So, all throughout my life, my brother was an annoyance.

             Second, my brother means a family to me. Even though he was such a pain in the neck, my brother was always a family to me. Of course, we shared mom and dad, but that’s not what I mean. We always fought, grumbled for having brother, but we still cared for each other. For example, we always took care of each other’s birthdays even though we fought a day before. On my 13^th birthday-eve, my brother broke my precious video game CD. I was so angry that I shouted I didn’t even need a brother and wished he was never born. My brother would have been quite hurt. The next day, my brother gave me a brand-new, all updated video game CD. He used all his money he got from grandparents on New-Years Day. I was so embarrassed at myself. Also, we took care of each other whenever we got injure while we were playing. We also gave each other cards and Christmas presents. There are so many stories related to this. So, all in one, my brother was and is a family.

             Lastly, my brother means a friend to me. I am four years older than him. My interests, friends, and values are clearly different from him. Even our personalities and looks are different. However, throughout my life, my brother worked as a loyal and good friend of mine. It was him who comforted me when I was punished by my mom, it was him who helped me with my girl problem. It was him who took the first step to yield. He always gave me his opinions, ideas, and comforted me when I was in hardship and was lonely. For example, when I flunked the important exam to be accepted to KMLA, he comforted me, saying that he was proud of me for being so smart. He said that I was known as the smartest person in my town among his friends and his friends were jealous. Just like that, my brother stood beside me, helping me through challenges as a friend.

             All in one, my brother means annoyance, family, and a friend to me. I think he will continue to be like that. Right now, I’m far away from my brother, not having enough time to even talk with him. However, I promise myself that one that I will pay back all the things that my brother has done for me in the past. I loved him. I still love him. And I will keep on loving him. As a family and a friend.