His Name is Jerry

      One of the best memories that can brighten my day is the times when my brother Jerry and I were growing up together. Born just a year after I was born, our lives intertwined and our parent's decisions were always dependent on how the two of us could benefit from each other. May it be the choices of clothes, toys, foods and trainings to the schools we went and friends we had, our life story was always one. I was his elder sister and he was my younger brother and we should always be together. The decision that was established by our parents after a failure attempt of giving me away to my Pa's sister. My Aunt refused to take me for the reason that I was a very fragile and underweight infant.Ma and Pa were left without a choice but to keep us together.
     While we were growing, we both learned how to negotiate, give ways and stick together in any events of our daily activities. Jerry was the only playmate, partner, defender, helper and follower that I ever had. Ma who is a typical disciplinarian, would always use our Pa's belt to discipline both of us whenever we made a mistake. I can still remember, the two of us crying and counting our marks after the beating session. We got support and strength as we consoled each other that when we grow, finish our education and have a job we can get out of the "hell" together. There were nights when, I would woke up just to stare at my brother who calmly sleep on his side of the bed. At my young age, I was aware that he is one of the reasons why I stayed positive in my outlooks in life. However, things bounded to change when we started going to school.
     We both excelled in our academics but for whatever reasons, I became the darling of the crowd. My brother lived within my shadow and endured the same expectations  as mine. I became an object of comparison whenever he attempted to have his identity. He struggled for years and I became so selfish too as I drunk to every achievement I had. Despite of the silent competition, we remained partners in facing the challenges of both school and family.
    We first went to the same university and I had started to see my brother's attempt to have his own identity and stay away from my shadow. I had chosen a different lifestyle which was a little deviant to the conservative upbringing we used to have.  I was drawn to the things of the world while my brother introduced me as his "cousin" to some people instead of sister. To my closed friends he was my brother but to his associates I was his cousin. I graduated from the university and left to become a wandering gypsy. It was the time for my brother to finally have himself. He made a daring move to find his own identity which I believed he succeeded. We parted ways and communication was and is not that often anymore. Each of us dealt with our crisis and fought for who we are. The road is not easy and both of us encountered tough situations.
     Years went by and there are things in the past that are totally forgotten. When we met again, I was a little bit surprised when he addressed me with my first name instead of the typical "Manang". The address given to an elder sister of our family which literally our parent's expression of respect. He is more knowledgeable and smarter in the field he chose. Somehow, we got different ways at looking and approaching situations that we are both aware of. That  is why a silent respect can be felt whenever we discuss matters.My brother has really gone a long way. He overcame and succeeded over some major blows of his life. He made his name in his field which is entirely different from mine. I am sure he beat life's odds and found himself. Whenever both of us got troubles, we still called and get support from each other. Once my brother asked me, "Jing, what are we going to do?" I smiled because I knew that no matter what I still have my brother whom I have known since we were kids. He is my brother and his name is Jerry.