Tony sat cross-legged on the plush carpet, his face barely peeking over the coffee table as he flipped through a science magazine. Though sixteen, his slight build and youthful features made him look several years younger. Across the room, Micah—tall for nine, with limbs already growing awkward from the first rush of puberty—tugged on a sweatshirt, his voice a little deeper than it used to be.
"Micah, do you feel different? Like, taller or stronger or something?"
"I guess. I can almost reach the top shelf now," Micah replied, a proud grin spreading across his face.
Tony climbed onto a chair, feet dangling several inches from the floor as he watched Micah pour himself a heaping bowl of cereal. The table seemed to shrink between them as Micah's elbows nearly grazed Tony's head.
"What's it like? You know, your voice and everything," Tony asked, curiosity bright in his eyes.
"Sometimes it cracks when I yell. Daniel thinks it's hilarious," Micah answered, his cheeks tinged pink.
Daniel, tall and lanky with a mop of curly hair, bounced inside carrying a soccer ball. His energy filled the room, and he greeted the brothers with a wide grin.
"Hey Micah! Ready to play? Oh, is Tony joining us? Sweet,"
"Yeah! We're talking about puberty," Micah announced, earning a shrug and a laugh from Daniel.
Tony listened intently as Micah and Daniel compared notes on new experiences, from growth spurts to the mystery of deodorant. Laughter erupted as Micah mimicked his own voice cracking, and Daniel challenged them both to an arm wrestling contest.
"Bet I can take you both at once,"
"No way! I'm small but fierce," Tony shot back, grinning wide.
Micah stretched out on the couch, his legs spilling over the armrest, while Tony curled up at the other end, almost dwarfed by the cushions. Daniel lounged on the floor, flicking channels with the remote.
"Tony, you wanna pick the movie? Little bros get first dibs," Micah teased, winking.
"Just this once. But next time, I get to be the big brother," Tony replied, his laugh echoing through the room.
Tony stared at the ceiling, a soft smile on his face. Though the world sometimes saw him as the little brother, today had been full of questions, laughter, and the kind of closeness that made him feel much older than he looked.
"Hey Micah, thanks for answering all my questions,"
"Anytime, bro. We're in this together," came the sleepy reply, sealing the day with quiet understanding.
