| Jason and Tommy didn't have a typical relationship as brothers. Jason was 14 and Tommy was 10. Jason wasn't just Tommy's older brother, though; he was his best friend in the whole world. While most older brothers wanted nothing to do with their younger brothers, Jason would alway stry to invite Tommy to participate in his activities. Tommy loved his big brother. They were true pals. Besides his brother Jason, Tommy didn't have many friends. Tommy often wondered what he would do without his older brother. You see, little Tommy had been born with a cardiopulmonary disease. This had stunted Tommy's growth and had robbed him of his youthful energy. It wasn't that he didn't want to play baseball, tag and all the games that other boys his age played, it's just that he got tired real quick when he did. Knowing this, the other boys never wanted Tommy to be on their team. They would fight over whose team Tommy would have to be on, and he was often labeled as a wimp or sissy by the healthier boys. But things were different around his older brother Jason. Sometimes Tommy and Jason would play their own games of baseball. Jason was a good athlete and everyone wanted Jason on their team. However, Jason would only consent to play if they would also let Tommy be on his team. If the other boys said no, then Jason and Tommy would both leave and do something together. School had just ended and it was summer now. Curt, Nathan and Ron wanted to go on an overnighter in the mountains. Naturally, they wanted Jason to come along also. "Let's go ask him if he can go tomorrow," Ron spoke up. Curt was quick to respond. "What if he wants Tommy to tag along? It will slow us down and we don't want to spend the whole time hiking to the campsite." Nathan was the first to speak to Jason at his house. "Hey Jason, the three of us are going on an onvernighter up Adam's Canyon. Are you with us?" "Sure I am!" Jason was excited. "I'll have Tommy's pack and my own ready to go tonight," he said. The three boys looked at each other, wondering who would tell Jason that Tommy wasn't welcome to come. Finally, Curt spoke up. "Hey, ah, Jason... this hike is just for the four of us. Tommy would slow us all down. Nothing against Tommy, but why don't you leave him home this time?" Jason saw Tommy throught the corner of his eye. Tommy was standing by his bedroom door, listening intently to the whole conversation. He was bravely trying to hold back tears of rejection. Jason stood up and said, "I'm sorry guys, but if Tommy isn't welcome, then I'm not going either. You guys have fun." "Hey wait a minute," said Ron. "It's okay with me if Tommy comes. We can leave a little bit earlier to give us more time." The guys agreed on a departing time for the next morning, and left. Six o'clock came early the next morning. Tommy was ready by 5:30 A.M. This was to by his first real hike. Within the first quarter mile, it was obvious that Tommy's progress would be slow. He wanted so much to please Jason by walking fast, but the faster he walked, the sooner he would have to rest. The other boys were anxious to get to the campsite, and oftern found themselves leaving Jason and Tommy behind. "Here Tommy, my pack is light. Let me carry yours, too," Jason said, with concern for his brother. Embarrassed, Tommy gave Jason his heavy burden. "I'm sorry," said Tommy. "I'm doing the best I can." "I know, Tommy," Jason said as he rustled Tommy's hair. After two miles, Tommy was struggling with fatigue. He was sweating profusely and fighting for air. His chest felt tight, too. 'I'll go a long way before I stop to rest this time,' thought Tommy. The other boys were out of sight now. After five more minutes of walking, Tommy fell to his knees. "I gotta stop," whimpered Tommy, with tears of frustration cutting clear streams through the dust on his face. "That's okay," said Jason. "Take all the time you need." Jason was obviously worried as he saw Tommy struggling for breath. "Jason! Something is happening inside my chest! It hurts awful bad." Tommy was slumping over on the ground in pain. Jason slipped the packs off his back and rolled Tommy over. Tommy's tense body relaxed suddenly as he looked up into Jason's eyes that had tears now too. "I love you an awful lot, Jason." The struggle was over now. Tommy's little body had given up. The tears came freely from Jason's eyes as he tightly hugged his brother. "I'll miss you, Tommy," Jason softly whispered. Forty five minutes later, the tears were still trickling from Jason's eyes when the other boys returned. "Hey Jason, we thought you guys got--" Ron stopped short in the middle of his comment. A chill ran down the boys' backs. Jason was supporting Tommy's silent head in his lap, caressing the tear-stained face of his little brother. "Is he... is he dead, Jason?" Ron asked tenderly. "Yeah," Jason said, as another tear fell quietly from his eyes to Tommy's face. "He was doin his very best for me." Two more minutes passed in silence. "I'll carry him down now," Jason said as he gently lifted the lifeless body in the cradle of his arms. Nothing was said for 20 minutes down the mountain trail. Finally, Curt tapped Jason on his shoulder, "I'll spell ya and carry Tommy for a while. You must be getting tired now." "No," Jason kept walking. "He ain't heavy...he's my brother |
| Jason and Tommy |