Beckett is 6 years older than Finch. I am 10 and a 1/2 years older than my brother.
The day-to-day chronicles of Beckett & Finch remind me a lot of our childhood. Lots of similarities, but also lots of differences.
Both Beckett & I adore our respective younger siblings and think the world of them - highly intelligent, emotionally ahead of their years, and lots of fun to be around.
Our respective siblings also possess the ability to drive us nuts.
The fundamental difference in our respective relationships is that of power. Finch can get away with things that Atman could not. It is very much the age difference and gender at play here.
Finch can scratch, pinch, bite, and shout, and get away with it, almost always. Atman could get away with it only on days that I found the benevolence in my heart to let him get away with it.
Despite the occasional 'I wish she would not exist' up until a few months ago, Beckett is generally a protective & motherly elder sister. She wants to teach Finch new things, has already taught her a bit of English, and wants to lift Finch up - something that Finch isn't most comfortable with.
She's also had a not-so-trivial role in Potty training Finch and mentally preparing her for Daycare when Baa goes back to India. Finch didn't cry at all during her first week at Daycare not only because she has dropped Beckett off at school with us for some time now but also because Beckett has been priming her about school and how wonderful it is. She understands that Mummy & Pappa are not going to be at school and going to 'School' is a Big girl thing.
My brother is my closest friend, someone who learns from me, but also inspires me; he is the strongest link to my past but also probably the most likely to stick around for the rest of my life my quirks & foibles notwithstanding.
As I'm typing that I hope that Finch & Beckett share the same type of bond that Atman & I share, Finch just sauntered past me yelling at Missus asking her 'Can I wear this?'
I'm getting used to this English-speaking, yet preposition & verb omitting Finch.
P.S: Both Beckett & I got our white belt with yellow stripes after passing our 1st Tae Kwon Do test. Onwards & upwards. Here's to breaking more wooden boards.
