My big brother Charles is two years older than me and we’ve been tight since I was born. He goes to Norfolk State University so we have a fun rivalry with each other. We’ve had some great memories, funny stories, and embarrassing moments (which I won’t be sharing because I’d be toast)! Regardless, for those of you who are wondering why I spent my time sharing how great he is, then have a seat and pour yourself a cup of coffee, so I can tell you why.
One of things that I love about Charles is how protective he is. When we were kids, I was immensely scared of dogs. Our neighbor had a labrador and one day it got loose and chased me around my front yard. Being the hero he was, Charles put himself in between me and the dog and saved me! He calmed me down and over the years he has helped me get over my fear of dogs.
Charles is simply hilarious! We both love TV shows and movies, so we are constantly quoting from them to each other. We also grew up on PBS Kids, so we frequently play “Guess that Kid Show Theme Song” all the time. I love how easy it is to make him laugh and vice versa. All it takes is a silly face or awkward attempt at doing the woah, and we’re both in tears!
My bro Charles is an awesome dude to hang out with. Whenever he comes home for the weekend, we always get something to eat (we love sushi) and chill together. Some days it’s me and him playing Smash Bros on the Nintendo Switch and other days we walk around Barnes and Nobles and grab some Starbucks. No matter what the activity, Charles is always down to have fun.
Another thing I love about my brother is that he’s easy to talk to. I might have a crappy day and decide to call Charles, and he always answers the phone to hear what’s wrong. He always tells me that he’s willing to lend some encouraging words or a shoulder to cry on. If I ever need advice from him, he never judges but instead listens. When I’m in a tight situation, he never yells at me for messing up but offers to pray with me. I’m so grateful for him.
I’ll end with one last story that sums up our relationship. When I was a senior in high school, my prom date stood me up and I didn’t have anyone else to go with. Charles heard about it and went with me to my school’s prom. It was his birthday weekend and he could have stayed on NSU’s campus, but he came over to support me so I wouldn’t be alone. My ex-date eventually showed up and I was scared, but I remember the stern glare Charles gave to the other guy, and all my worries went away.
That’s why I love having a big brother. Someone who is always there for you no matter what, who will love and protect you until the end. So if you’re reading this, Charles, I love you and I’m so grateful to have you as my big brother. Also, I still bet that you’re gonna have three girls so don’t get mad when it happens!