NOVEL NEXT 143: Punch Ya Like A Brothah
SHAH
Why didn't you tell me, Ronnie?
He didn't need to say words back. The feeling I got from him was "Would you have listened?" and "Did you ask?" all at the same time. I sat on the floor, the sofa at my back with Euri asleep on it under a blanket, my twin next to me.
Ronnie had a lot to answer for, but I wasn't in the mood to fight. I felt raw inside, and unpleasant and unhappy about it. Sometimes I liked it that Ronnie was right all the time. That night, I didn't because it meant I'd lived my whole life in the dark about a lot of things. How many more secrets did my twin have?
He knew when I thought it, of course. His mind opened up to me— that unfathomable part of it that he always kept closed off from me because it made me nauseous.
He sent smug feelings at me, but not unkindly, just knowing. I rolled my eyes at him. Oh yeah, look at you! You've got such a super-powered brain. Aren't you special, Larron Sloan? He grinned inwardly. At least he was getting some recognition. I laughed mentally and poked him in the ribs.
When did you know about Ryst? Was she really with us?
He shrugged, unhelpfully. We'd never been alone. He'd always known. The details weren't important. He opened the unfathomable part of his brain again. Another wave of nausea hit me, so I poked him in the ribs in real life, not mentally. He chuckled out loud, softly.
Do you want to tell mom and dad we're telepathic, Ronnie? I asked, not wanting to know the answer, but giving my brother the freedom to choose it if that was what he really wanted.
He shrugged again and showed me the unfathomable part of his mind again, and once more I wanted to puke.
Hey! I whipped at him. Why do you keep doing that?
You keep asking questions that don't have simple answers, Shah. Want me to shrug in reply? Okay. Here's a shrug. Happy now?
I rolled my eyes at him.
Thought so. Things will work out.
I sighed. That was Ronnie. Things always worked out in his opinion. I decided to conclude that we didn't have to tell Mom and Dad about our telepathy in the immediate future. I got up and turned off the lamp, but before I brushed my teeth, I told Ronnie in his mind, Thank you. Thank you for looking after me. I'm sorry that I thought I was the one looking after you.
He sent me back feelings of warmth and love. Nothing to apologize for, Shah. I love you.
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I love you too, Ronnie.
EURI
I dreamt of Nayth laughing and woke up on the sofa, back stiff, so I got up and took a hot shower then climbed into bed with Portia since it wasn't yet dawn. I couldn't fall back asleep.
Portia's mind was open next to mine, but with the quiet of deep sleep. Ronnie felt the same way. Their grandparents weren't so open, but were soft presences in the house. Like herby ricotta cheese. Comfort food for the telepathic mind.
I let my mind quest out like I hadn't done in years. Dwin was right there, just like always.
Euri? What the fuck, brother? What are you doing?
Embarrassed about something, Dwin? I thought we were all openness and no secrets? "Brotherly solidarity," and all that.
Well, if you want to be here for the post-coital bliss I'm enjoying with my fiancee, then by all means, stay. Ashten won't mind. She think's you're a cutie.
Heh, heh. I laughed. I wanted to punch Dwin in the face like he deserved. Just because he was my brother. Because that's what brothers do for each other. Punching. I felt Auntie tonight, and Nayth laughed in my dreams. Tell me your bedroom activities beat that.
He sent a spike of venom at my brain in response. Then a smug feeling about Ashten.
I rolled my eyes. Congratulations, Dwin. You found a woman to love you. So happy for you. Blah, blah, blah.
Aren't you going to share, Euri? Don't you have a girlfriend now? Gonna let me peep?
I laughed hysterically. Like, so hard. Maniacal laughter. Dwin's mind winced. You're fucked up, brother.
You have no idea.
What do you want Euri, to tell me about Ryst and Nayth?
No, asshole. To tell you that I love you, and I'm glad I grew up with you. Then I threw up my expert mental and emotional Faraday cage so he got nothing more from me.
The next day I got a message from Dwin. It said "Me too," and had embedded the song we wrote when I was eleven about brotherly solidarity called "Punch Ya Like A Brother." I smiled to myself and listened to it for the millionth time.
"Punch Ya Like A Brother"
Punch ya, ya mothah.
Elbow to the gut
Finga in the eye
Take it like a man
Knife to ya thigh.
Gonna punch ya like a brotha.
Punch ya like a brotha.
Punch ya like a brotha.
Punch ya, ya mothah.
Knee to the chin,
Fist in ya face
Take it like a man
ya dumb disgrace.
Gonna punch ya like a brotha.
Punch ya like a brotha.
Punch ya like a brotha.
Punch ya, ya mothah.
Punch ya so hard.
Right in ya eye.
Feel it so good
Ya dumb, hairy guy.
Gonna punch ya like a brotha.
Punch ya like a brotha.
Punch ya like a brotha.
Punch ya, ya mothah.
Gonna punch ya like a brotha.
Punch ya like a brotha.
Punch ya like a brotha.
Punch ya, ya mothah.
Gonna punch ya like a brotha.
Punch ya like a brotha.
Punch ya like a brotha.
Punch ya, ya mothah.
- Euridyne Crieve-Madrano, 2754