Chubby cheeks,
Cheerful voice,
Jigsaw-puzzle smile.

Us.

Playing with dinosaurs and army men,
Watching Toy Story and Scooby-Doo,
Reading Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings,
Together.

We’d never say “I love you”
But we did.
Why did he have to change?

Muscular body
Overwhelmed the smaller,
Masculine growl
Drowned out the meeker voice,
Perfect teeth
Solved the puzzle.

Him.

Listening to rock music,
Oblivious to all,
Rejecting Woody and Buzz, Scooby and Shaggy,
Hating to admit he knows Harry and Frodo.
Just him now.

Somewhere,
Inside this strange young man,
Hides my little brother.