For the first six years of my life, I was an only child.

I used to dream of having a brother, an older brother.

Someone who would jump on beds with me, ride downstairs with me on our butts.

When I finally did get a sibling in kindergarten, it was a boy.

But of course, he was younger.

All he did was cry and sleep.

And I was like, this is not what I asked for.

Then when I was eight, my 13-year-old cousin Jeff came to live with us for the summer.

His parents put him on a plane and flew him from Florida to Connecticut.

He was supposed to be a mother's helper, change diapers, prepare bottles.

But he had a habit of rolling his eyes when my mom asked for help.

And another thing.

I like to torture you a lot.

I remember that you like to torture me also.

And your main weapon was being able to eat things very slowly.

How was that a weapon?

Well, I remember specifically fruit roll-ups.

Your mom had these great natural fruit roll-ups.

And I loved them and we would eat.

I think we would eat them at the same time.

And I always tried to make mine last longer than years, but I never could.

Because you were the master of slow eating.

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