bubs.

he annoys me really for no
important reason. 
he is overweight, 
not super healthy, 
and he refuses to treat his 
serious muscle spasms 
that careen him 
out of control 
at times.
[tourettes is a real disease, man!] 
those things annoy me. 
he speaks with his eyes 
never fully open 
more like 
in a constant state of boredom 
as if he is 
always on the verge of 
falling asleep
he busies 
[i say the word busy 
very very loosely]
himself with part time 
school work, 
video games, 
and working nights at the factory.
he still lives at home 
with his parents 
and his bedroom 
stinks like 
stanky cheese feet
and dead skin cells 
that are in rapid decay. 
i wish he would get regular 
hair cuts 
and cut down 
on the thick sarcasm 
he rubs on everything. 
and somehow, 
he has found himself 
a girlfriend. 
it really seems 
unbelievable 
and yet, 
she's real. 
i've met her, 
and i surprise myself 
that i really really 
like her. 
she is much too similar to 
him for my comfort 
but then again, 
i am not the one 
dating him. 
i've never met any other girl 
who loves gaming, guns, 
and greasy fast food 
as much as my brother. 
[there, gasp. i said it.
not proud of it, 
but there it is.]
she absolutely adores him 
and i watch as she 
gazes at him as if the sun and moon 
rise because of him. 
she matches him in 
size and stature, 
her wit equally matching his. 
there is little weakness 
in this woman. 
she doesn't need coddling 
and it's a good thing too, 
because i have never seen him 
give it. 
she practically survives 
on her own 
in family social functions
as we size her up 
and assess from a 
reserved distance. 
well i have chosen to press in, 
to find out why exactly she 
would choose someone 
that is such a 
unique breed 
as my little brother. 
"he is honorable", 
she says. 
he hasn't laid an 
impure hand on her 
and he protects her purity 
at all costs. 
[not that the idea of my little 
brother kissing anyone makes 
me puke a little, but still.
i am pleasantly proud of him.]
She beams as she gushes 
about him, him- 
my hefty sarcastic little brother 
and all the wonderful things 
about him..
my ears want to bleed
but i also find myself 
admiring her. 
she has taken the time 
to really know my brother-
more than any of us really have 
and she loves what she sees. 
she has found a man that
she respects and trusts 
as a leader, 
a companion, 
and a swell best friend.
maybe, just maybe, 
i have been a bit hard on him.
he is generous. 
he is incredibly loyal to his friends.
he shows up for family, 
no matter what. 
he saves his money, 
and plans for the future. 
he is creative and his mind is wired 
differently than most, 
but he is brilliant. 
i can cut him some slack. 
so what if he smells like 
socks and sweat. 
i'll leave the hugging up to her, 
and i'll set my 
stupid prideful arrogance
aside 
and i'll embrace 
[figuratively, not quite ready 
for physically]
them both..

sigh.