Brothers

“We both have a dream to becoming a professional runner”. Persie was short, thin and fair, Kevin was harsh, huge and tall. Persie’s eyes were always small and dark. While Kevin eyes were huge and full of destruction. Their friendship is even tighter than anyone’s brotherhood. They can give up on anything for each other, even their dreams to make the other one happy.

They both had a big dream to becoming San Diego fastest 100m race. Both boys worked every day; we would see them running at the time the sun rise to the end of the day with sweat-shirts, towels around their neck. It had always been harsh and hot for them. Each of them had race many competitions and had won lots of round. Persie never give up even though he was in a really bad condition. Kevin’s tall and a better runner.

After a series of knock – out, these two young boys finally had the chance to face each other with the other five people. They continued practice together but they both sensed a wall of competition between these two. They ran at the Financial Street every day together and Persie stopped and said: “Let have a rest, Kevin. I had something that I wanted to share with you.”

Kevin nodded and both stopped at the corner of the street. “Well, I don’t want to hurt your feeling but I want to win the competition with my full heart.” Persie touched Kevin on the shoulder. “I know me too.” Kevin replied gently. Persie took it to another step of the conversation: “I don’t want this to ruin our relationship, brother or no brother?”

Kevin finished the sentence: “Brother, but that does not mean that we are going to be easy on each other”. Persie replied: “Right, we gonna be two boys who had the same dream”. Then both of them turn into different direction and head back home.

Both of them passed home and got to their practice right away. The other day, Kevin ran through the street and saw Persie were taking a rest. Kevin sat down near Persie and started a conversation: “How are you, bro. Feeling okay?”

Persie answered in a tired voice: “My legs been hurting all day long, I think I’ll be taking a rest tomorrow”. Kevin held Persie legs out and looked at it. The tears in Persie eyes were dried as he was yelling hard. Kevin took Persie to a hospital to have a check on Persie legs. The doctor wanted to speak alone with Kevin: “It seems like your friend there had practice to hard, his legs barely can move and I suggested that he should start to rest more in the future”.

“So is he okay for now?” Kevin asked the doctor. “I think that he will be fine as long as he rest. Or else I can’t help you” the doctor answered.

Kevin wanted to have a conversation with Persie and the doctor left them in the room. “Hey bro, you need to start resting from now on. Do not practice or else you can’t race on Sunday”. Persie got confused: “How am I going to race without practicing?”

Kevin didn’t answer the question. Persie knew that he will not get a chance to race on Sunday. Persie tears dropped down the floor as he walked out the door. Kevin stood there in the room; he left for a few minute later.

Sunday competition attended, only six people left on the running track. It seems like Persie condition has not change. Kevin stood at the stadium at look at the audience. There he was, Persie sat on a chair looking down at the runner. He barely says a word since the day he got hurt.

The gun fired up into the sky, Kevin and the other five runners started. Kevin was running ahead of the others. Persie stood up and looking at the runners. Persie left the stadium and heading back home. It is amazing that Kevin had finished the race; Persie heard the crowded yelled noise from the audience. Persie felt like a loser in the fans eyes, he turned and looked at the stadium for the last time. In his head, he was thinking about retire, he never felt ashamed of himself like this before. But he wanted Kevin to be happy, Persie was very proud of Kevin.  

Kevin stood there and rested, he looked up into the audience. “Where is Persie?” talking to himself. He ran around the stadium looking for his dear brother.  The announcer turned to the audience and announced the champion: “Ladies and Gentlemen, this year world fastest 100m race champion is ….. Mr. Kevin Doodle”. In the middle of the stadium was the cup. No one knew that the champion had left the stadium.

Kevin chased up to Persie and yelled: “BROTHER. WHERE ARE YOU?” Persie turned around and faced Kevin. Both hearts were beating fast and their eyes look sharp. These youngsters ran to each other and don’t mind to give a big hugged. Kevin smile with joyfully, Persie laughed hard and hugged Kevin even tighter. Arm in arm, these two youngsters heading back home.