This is what brothers are for.

This is what brothers are for:1

It was November 1959. The two Bottley son’s were 18 and 15. John and Michael. For being somewhat far apart age wise, they really were good friends. Like in sports, when John played ball with friends, it wasn’t a burden to let Michael play, in fact he liked having his brother there with him. Ever since their dad left 4 years ago, John had become Michael’s closest friend.2

It was a Saturday morning, church was out, school was out, and it was cold as all hell outside.3

John came in the kitchen with his sweatshirt on and two pairs of work jeans on with several pairs of socks. 4

“Shit it’s cold as fucking hell outside!” he hissed and sat down on the chair just before his mom came out of no where and slapped his mouth. “What the…” he was cut off when she smacked him again. Her face was red with anger and she was livid as the devil is keen.5

“I swear, if I hear you, OR YOUR BROTHER, say another fowl word, I’m gonna string ya both up!” she said and trailed off.6

John went pail. “Mikey swears?” he breathed, his eyes wide. And speaking of the devil, Michael came in the front door and into the kitchen. Their mother straightened her back, her fists on her hips, a little bit of flour smeared on her apron.7

“He does indeed!” she said with a cocked eyebrow. Her face was all pursed and starring straight at Michael.8

The younger Bottley threw his hands up in defeat. “What did I do?”9

“I didn’t know you cussed…” John Bottley said in a ghostly voice, his stare straight as a needle, it wasn’t a glare, but it sure as hell wasn’t pleasant.10

“John, come on you swear all the time!” Michael said desperately.11

“Yeah, yeah I know…” he said, looking down to twiddle with his fingers before he looked up and bit his lip, “…But I still don’t like you swearing none.”12

“Yes, I don’t like the neither of you swearing your cobbers off like a bunch of good for nothing hoodlums!” Their mother said, making them both crack a smile at her Irish use of terms.13

John stood and stepped close to Michael, scrunching his face up in a stern way. “Yeah,” he said in a deep voice, “Ya bloody hoodlum!” he mocked and they both smiled, their mother whipping her towel at them uselessly, shooing them out of the kitchen.14

Beside school, that sometimes was a very normal day for the Bottley brothers. They did most everything together… except John’s girlfriend, but most everything else they did pretty close knit. To Michael, it did not seem as if anything would ever change, he would always have John and his mom there with him, however that all changed when a little green envelope came to their doorstep.15

***16

John Bottley walked out the front door 6 months later in uniform and his duffle bag as Michael sat against his wall trying not to cry. He didn’t want to see his brother, heck, he was leaving him to fight in a war that even John disagreed with, why would he leave him for that? What did he do that was so wrong? 17

There was no way he was going to go say bye this time.18

Not even a minute later Michael came running out the door, tears streaming down his face. “Johnny please don’t go.” He cried, rubbing his hand along his arm nervously.19

It was raining, not hard, but Michael could feel it on his face; he just hoped it would cover up his tears, smear them into nothing so that his brother could not see that he was weak. He didn’t want that. 20

John looked back at his younger brother; he hadn’t planned on this being so emotional; he knew it would be hard, but it was for a cause, even if it was not his own.21

Michael stepped forward towards his brother unconsciously.22

“Please,” the younger brother breathed, “… I’ll give you my room, I-I’ll do your chores, I swear I will, I’ll even give you my money for your truck.” He said, wiping away the tears that made their silent decent down his face. “Please, John…”23

There was a pause before John walked towards his brother and wrapped his arms around him, holding him there for a moment. “Mikey, you gotta understand,” he said and held him tight before letting him go, his hands gripping his small framed shoulders, “This is what brothers are for.” He said and left down that the road to a bus that waited for his leave.24

***25

Two years passed before John came home. Michael was 17 and living on his own after their mother had passed. Most said it was just her old age, and that she had smoked, but Michael knew it was of a broken heart.26

Michael Bottley stood outside the Veteran Hospital in Sprotts Colorado when his brother came out. Michael smiled at him when John gave him a sore, weary smile.27

“Glad to see you home.” Michael said tiredly as he walked up beside his brother.28

The older Bottley gave a half smile and nodded. “It’s good to be home.” He said in a voice barely audible to any ears beside his own and his brothers.29

There was a pause between them before John crossed his arms. “Hey um…” he said and bit his lap. “I’m sorry you have to push me home, I didn’t mean for it to be like this.” He said quietly.30

Michael looked down at his brother in his wheelchair. “Hey, this is what brothers are for.”31