You and I

A story of two brothers and their last time together.

"Jeff!" A young boy shouts across the street, waving at a young man, trying to get his attention.

 

"Hey, Jeff! Can I come?"

"Not now, you just got off of school and I need to find a car."

 

The young man is Jeff Takeuchi. He was born in Florida, but his family chain sends his ancestry back to Japan. He was tall, about six foot seven. He had straight, brown hair that covered his eyebrows when he didn't push his hair back up with his fingers. He loved sports, movies, his girlfriend, and his friends, but most of all, his little brother, Steve.

 

"C'mon, Jeff. Let me come with you! You're going to be leaving soon," the boy shouted.

 

Steve Takeuchi is a little boy, even though he was the second tallest to his brother in the family, only at age twelve. He loves video games and all the things little children could love, but it's his older brother, Jeff, he loves the most.

 

"Ok, Steve. You can come along for now, but first, we have to go inside the house for a second. I just remembered Mom and Dad wanted to talk to me about something," Jeff said, "Hurry in or you'll never grow taller than me."

 

With that, Steve sped off across the street, jumping over the curb and spinning like he was in one of his video games. Jeff smiled as he looked back and saw his brother run in the house gleefully behind him, but something changed as soon as they stepped in the house.

 

After all the laughter died down, the two brothers looked up as they stood in the doorway. Sitting down across from each other with their hands folded, their parents looked at Jeff and Steve simultaneously.

 

"Sit down, Jeff," his father said as he began to shake his head in disapproval.

 

"Ok," Jeff sat down and Steve sat down across from Jeff, "What is going on, dad?"

 

"You know all too well, Jeff, so do not act as if you are hearing this for the first time."

 

"Yeah, I know, you want me to stay," Jeff sighed heavily looking up at his dad with understanding eyes, "But...I need to go, and you know why. Florida isn't the place for me. I love architecture, but you know that Florida is not the place to start."

 

"Yes, yes, I heard the story you always tell me, but what you haven't heard all of the circumstances that we are in. We are losing money and my business is on the path to bankruptcy."

 

Jeff stared at his father in disbelief. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Steve looked at his brother an wondered what he was thinking. The little brother couldn't imagine the seriousness of the situation. Every time his father tried to explain to him the business world, Steve would just tune out and think of his video games and how he wished he could be the hero that he played.

 

"Your mother makes a satisfying amount of money, but college is expensive and I am not ready to let you...College is too expensive!" His father slapped his hand down on the table. The mug he was drinking out of fell on the ground and broke into 7 pieces. Jeff, Steve and their mom flinched, but father was unshaken.

 

"Do not act like everything is fine, Jeff," his father continued, "I taught you ethics. I taught you manners. I taught you logic. And this is logical, now."

 

Jeff looked down at the table, hiding his face from his family. And he knew what he was risking in going off to college out of state. His girlfriend, Michelle, already left him in tears the other night because he told her he wouldn't come back to Florida even during college break. With the decision, he was leaving all his friends and they turned their backs on him because they wanted him to make it like old times. The same old gang in high school was supposed to be the same old gang in college, but Jeff thought otherwise.

 

"Dad, I need to do this." Jeff lifted up his head and young Steve noticed he was trying to hold back the tears. "Dad, I love architecture. It is the only thing that makes me want to become the best and never quit. I thought long and hard about the choice I have made. And I also came to another decision and did something without you knowing about it."

 

"What?" His father said in outraged disbelief.

 

"I changed my college fund account. I put it under Steve's name with you obviously being in control of it until he is ready to go to school."

 

Steve was in bewilderment; he had no idea what just happened. Father was mad and he argued with Jeff. But, Mom sat there. Not much ever came from her mouth; she would just sit there and go with what Father had to say. But, then she stood up and faced Father.

 

"Sit down, Yoshihiro," she calmly managed to get out. It sounded as if it was forced or as if she was trying to hold it back, but Father heard her and looked at her closely as she sat down. Mom closed her eyes and then smiled at Father.

 

After Father sat down, everything calmed, but Jeff was still standing. He went into his room and brought out his luggage. Jeff didn't calm down though, he was angry. Only Steve noticed it, though. He knew his brother like he knew himself. Steve always thought that Jeff was his twin because of the way he knew everything Jeff was thinking at any instance they were around each other. But just then, in that present instance, Steve couldn't tell what Jeff was going to do next or maybe little Steve didn't want to face what Jeff was going to do next.

 

"I'm going now. I thought long and hard about this. And I can tell by the look on all of your faces that you didn't remember that this was the day for me to leave," Jeff said, "I love you with all of my heart. Everyone else has abandoned me, but I know none of you have because the reason I do this is because I have learned and sought advice from each one of you."

 

Mom, Father, and Steve just looked up at Jeff with listening ears and sad, but proud eyes.

 

"I'm leaving my love behind in this place and I hope you can return your love to me with a phone call or a letter occasionally. Ok, Mom?"

 

Mom nodded her head with her tears hitting the table.

 

"Dad, I love you," Jeff said smiling, "You are the source of all my strength and intelligence. I get it all from you and you know why I have to do this more than anyone else. You always put up a fight with any of my decisions, but I realize that's how you made me a man. Thank you...teacher."

 

A smile slipped through Father's pride and as well as his love for Jeff. Father came over and hugged his son.

 

"I have to go now, the car is outside," Jeff stammered as he lifted up his bags and headed out the door. Steve ran after him.

 

"I thought we were going somewhere, Jeff!" Steve said angrily as he stood in the doorway.

 

Jeff stopped and turned around to see Steve crossing his arms and scrunching up his face in anger.

 

"You know what, Steve?" Jeff asked, "We are more than brothers. You know me more than my own father knows me and you know me more than my own mother knows me. You ever wondered how that can be?"

"No!" Steve shouted.

"It is because I am you and you are me. We have pieces of each other in our hearts, minds, souls. You are angry right now so you're heart is clouded, but you know deep down, what I am going to do."

Little Steve calmed down a bit. His face relaxed as he looked into to his brother's eyes.

"We are one and the same, the Takeuchi brothers," Jeff said proudly like a general of an army giving his final speech before battle, "We know what the other does because love brings us together."

Jeff stopped his general impression and put down his bags near the rear left tire of the taxi. He pointed at Steve with his right hand and pointed at himself with his left hand.

 

"You and I. Me and You. Never forget that combination. That is the equation to sanity. That is the prescription that will cure the depressing weekends and the future boring family road trips. You and I."

 

 

With those words, Steve realized that someday Jeff would come again. They would reunite.

"You and I," he whispered.

Author's Note

Please, let me know what needs to be revised if anything does need to be changed.

Reviews

[Shelly Wiseberg]

This is a wonderful heartfelt story about following your dreams despite other family members expectations and setting up your brother so he wouldnt do without. It is nicely written in my opinion filled with many emotions as we leave the nest to test our wings. The bond between brothers and parents. You and I a great title, Shelly

[Rhine Wolf]

ok you definatly have to continue the story! brilliant really loved every line of it. please let me know when you have the next installment up!