It all comes out
So we’re sitting at a family gathering and my dad finally got a chance to ask me why I don’t keep in touch with my brother and vice versa anymore. My surprisingly honest answer was that I forget I have a brother. For the past two years, I’ve basically considered myself an only child. He actually knew what I meant. He was just fascinated because he just never understood why we don’t keep in touch even though we never really had any arguments or bitterness towards each other. He thinks it’s sad that we don’t contact each other, but he also understands my perspective. I don’t think I even have my brother’s number saved in my phone. The last time I saw him was probably last October. And the last time we spoke was when he called my house to announce that his wife’s given birth, and unfortunately my parents were out so I happened to pick up the phone and endure twenty seconds of awkward conversation.
The conversation went something like this:
Me: hello
Him: hello
Pause
Him: it’s me. where’s mum and dad?
Me: they’re out
Him: can you tell them *wife* has given birth
Me: call them on the mobile and tell them yourself. (because I sure as hell don’t wanna be the bearer of that news)
Him: no, you just tell them
Me: okay bye. (not)
So I basically kept it to myself, hoping my parents would find out through the grapevine, which they did. So my dad only found out tonight that I’ve known this whole time, I just didn’t care enough to mention it.
I’m glad my dad asked though, because now he knows what my perspective on the whole situation is, which is basically, out of sight out of mind. To me, we’re a single child family. That’s all.
On other news, my parents have finally agreed to buy me a car. Woo! I believe my life would improve by many many points after that.
Being an only child, I can’t really understand what it’s like to have siblings, let alone have them and not talk to them. I guess there’s just some people you don’t need to keep ties with, family or not.
My mum’s one of 6, and doesn’t speak to any of her siblings, or her parents. And yet, my dad’s fairly close to his siblings, and was in constant contact with his parents until they passed away. Even though they live on the other side of the world.
Family’s wacky and amazing, no?