Page 5 of Montana's Bravest

SAM

Twelve years old. Syracuse, New York.

Being a big brother is the best thing in the world. You have a cute, smaller ally who’s willing to do whatever you tell him to with complete trust. But trust goes both ways. A big brother is responsible for that little life who depends on you for protection.

“Was fun seeing your car stall,” Jack giggles as we leave the bumper cars arena. “You sucked big time.”

“Hey! It was the car, not me!” I counter.

My brother tosses me a mischievous grin, and right then I play-wrestle him. He retaliates. But unable to even stir me, he grumbles, and I let him go.

The Labor Day fireworks dazzle the sky over Syracuse’s New York State Fairgrounds. The fair is swarmed with people who seem to have the same idea as us—escaping the city and making the most of the weekend.

“Stay close, Jack,” Dad warns as my brother starts to wander away from us, checking out the milk bottle knockdown booth.

“I’m seven! I can walk by myself.”

Dad takes hold of Jack despite his protest.

“I’ve got him,” I tell my dad, holding on to my brother’s hand lightly. I know it can be embarrassing to be held by your parent—especially when there are a lot of girls around.

The Reds—that’s what Dad calls us. We share the same middle name, Redley, after our grandfather. He was a Korean War ace who downed fifteen enemy aircraft during the three-year war. Dad wanted to follow suit, join the Air Force, but a permanent back injury dashed his dream. These days he seems to be quite content running his convenience shop in Upstate New York.

“Dad, come on! Thunderbolt time!” I point at the roller coaster ride that has been coined ‘the mother of all hell.’ It boasts a three-sixty loop, and on a moonless night like this, apparently you’ll feel that you’re moving in total darkness. The whole round takes only twenty seconds, but unlike other carnivals or theme parks, this ride goes twice—so effectively, this is longer than the Coney Island coaster.

“I want to as well!” Jack lets us know he’s keen. And as if his voice isn’t enough, he jumps up and down, neck stretched like a meerkat, desperate for Dad’s attention.

I smile at Jack as we queue up. This will be the first time he’d ridden a roller coaster.

“Ready for this?” I ask my little brother as we’re moving closer to the end of the line.

“Yes!” He tries hard to maintain his enthusiasm, but there’s no denying his nervousness after passenger screams burst right in front of us.

I pull him close, circling my arm around his shoulder. “It’ll be fun. I’ll be sitting right next to you. Everything will be okay.”

For five years, being an only child at the time, I was used to being guarded by my parents—and my overeager German shepherd dog. Whether at school or a friend’s place, while otherkids were let loose, there was usually Mom or Dad watching me, either discreetly or embarrassingly.

Things changed when my brother arrived home one morning in a basket, wrapped in a blanket. People told me that newborn babies couldn’t smile, but I swear Jack smiled at me as soon as I came to him.

Before he was born, the only thing that I persistently guarded was my one-eyed cat—mainly from my dog, who sometimes thought little Felix was an evil toy that was going to destroy our existence. Jack’s presence invoked something in me, and I silently swore that I would take care of him—and protect him no matter what.

“You’re so brave, Sam!” A girl outside the queue tosses me a smile.

Sienna…oh, Sienna.

She’s the girl next door, a divine creation that’s worth a thousand Hail Mary. She has dimples as deep as an ice cream cone, and her smile can turn night into day.

Her boyfriend tugs her close, displaying ownership.

That girl is not your Barbie, bozo!

I give Sienna a smirk, pressing my arm against my torso to bulge my biceps up. “Care to join us?” I challenge her.

Her boyfriend narrows his gaze. Then, with a swift move, he kisses her right on the lips. “Come on, baby, let’s go to the Haunted Mansion,” he trills.

“Bye, Sam!” Sienna waves at me.

I know his plan. He wants her to hold on to him tight when she gets spooked. And in return, he will let her know he can protect her. From what? Plastic vampires and fiberglass corpses? What does he know!

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