He let the phone ring for the usual four times before answering. "hello...?" the interview began.
I had told him a week prior that I needed to interview him for my english project "about being the best older sister out there!" Apparently he had spent the 7 days stressing as to what he would answer...
"What was it like growing up as a little boy with an older sister?"
"Well....skipping the fact that you used to dress me up like a little princess, and even worse that I went along with it, having an older sister was great. Especially since I was more annoying than the average child, you put up with me and then some. Luckily you were a girl and didn't solve the issue of my annoyance with a punch like an older brother would have. Even though I never had a "bro figure," you would often go outside and have a catch with me even if you had better things to do, and that's not something many older sisters can say they've done. You also loved to piss me off... You would always scare me pretending that you were possessed and would always say I would grow up to live in an apartment in the Bronx. But overall, having a sissy poo was a fun time."
"What is the biggest benefit of having an older sibling? Biggest downside?"
"I recently read in a study (lol me reading?) that if you had a smarter older sibling, the chances are you will follow in their footsteps. So basically I'm screwed... (he looks at me and smiles) Seriously though, I think the fact that you are one of the most diligent and focused people I know really is something that benefited me greatly. You set a role model and I seem to be following right behind you. I also got to see what life would be like for me in the years to come and I can definitely learn from you there. Also you can get me into clubs lol... thank god you weren't a nerd.
Biggest downside would probably be the fact that you are in college and I wont see you too often. But that comes with time and obviously there is nothing I can do to change that."
"How would you describe our relationship?"
"We have a very very very abnormal relationship in that I live across the pond. Even though you are always a skype or text away, it still sucks not seeing you everyday in or after school. I can say that I didn't really think much about the fact that you were going to go off to college and I let those years go by to quickly without enjoying or adding to them. Our last year we were very private in that you had plenty of work to keep you busy and we didn't talk much. I do believe though that we are making the transition from a younger sibling relationship to more of an adult relationship. I don't want to think about where life will take us in the coming years but I can say that whatever plan the world has for us, we will find a way to have an unbreakable relationship."
"Do you see mom and dad treating us differently?"
"Honestly, not really. I mean, with all the stress of you going to college and us moving to Italy everyone kind of fought towards the end. But really, to me at least, I never saw any differences in the ways mom and dad treated us.
.....I can say, that because you were a drunkard (his odd interpretation) haha and I am in Italy they are much more lenient about clubs and etc."
"When am I most annoying? When can you rely on me the most?"
"Currently, I think it's a combination of the time zones and our work load. I am ridiculously busy (as are you) and clearly having a 6 hour time difference isn't too helpful either. So, I think the most annoying part is that we can never really talk besides the occasional text which is not enough in my eyes. As with all sibling relationships, there are obviously things that I can tell you that I won't tell mom or dad. So, I can always count on you if I just want to talk for the sake of talking. Also, instead of asking mom or dad for their advice on how to handle certain situations, I can always ask you as your responses will be more.... current."
"What is your favorite childhood memory of the two of us?"
"I honestly don't know why, but my favorite memory is when we built that fort by the piano with the blankets. I remember how we turned it into a sick hangout and for some reason out of all the memories we have shared, that one has stuck with me all this time."
"Describe our relationship 5 years ago in one word."
"comical."
"Describe our relationship now in one word."
"distant."
Upon ending the call and sitting back in my chair, his last word made me cry. I, the soul-less, unemotional, stoic girl, sat in my chair...crying. I cried because he was right. He was right that college and time differences and everything in-between had gotten in the way of our childhood princess games and football catches. He wasn't down the hall sitting in his room happy to have me pop in and maybe play a game of COD or two. He is 4,759 miles away... a 7.5 hour flight away, much more than a hug away.
I had told him a week prior that I needed to interview him for my english project "about being the best older sister out there!" Apparently he had spent the 7 days stressing as to what he would answer...
"What was it like growing up as a little boy with an older sister?"
"Well....skipping the fact that you used to dress me up like a little princess, and even worse that I went along with it, having an older sister was great. Especially since I was more annoying than the average child, you put up with me and then some. Luckily you were a girl and didn't solve the issue of my annoyance with a punch like an older brother would have. Even though I never had a "bro figure," you would often go outside and have a catch with me even if you had better things to do, and that's not something many older sisters can say they've done. You also loved to piss me off... You would always scare me pretending that you were possessed and would always say I would grow up to live in an apartment in the Bronx. But overall, having a sissy poo was a fun time."
"What is the biggest benefit of having an older sibling? Biggest downside?"
"I recently read in a study (lol me reading?) that if you had a smarter older sibling, the chances are you will follow in their footsteps. So basically I'm screwed... (he looks at me and smiles) Seriously though, I think the fact that you are one of the most diligent and focused people I know really is something that benefited me greatly. You set a role model and I seem to be following right behind you. I also got to see what life would be like for me in the years to come and I can definitely learn from you there. Also you can get me into clubs lol... thank god you weren't a nerd.
Biggest downside would probably be the fact that you are in college and I wont see you too often. But that comes with time and obviously there is nothing I can do to change that."
"How would you describe our relationship?"
"We have a very very very abnormal relationship in that I live across the pond. Even though you are always a skype or text away, it still sucks not seeing you everyday in or after school. I can say that I didn't really think much about the fact that you were going to go off to college and I let those years go by to quickly without enjoying or adding to them. Our last year we were very private in that you had plenty of work to keep you busy and we didn't talk much. I do believe though that we are making the transition from a younger sibling relationship to more of an adult relationship. I don't want to think about where life will take us in the coming years but I can say that whatever plan the world has for us, we will find a way to have an unbreakable relationship."
"Do you see mom and dad treating us differently?"
"Honestly, not really. I mean, with all the stress of you going to college and us moving to Italy everyone kind of fought towards the end. But really, to me at least, I never saw any differences in the ways mom and dad treated us.
.....I can say, that because you were a drunkard (his odd interpretation) haha and I am in Italy they are much more lenient about clubs and etc."
"When am I most annoying? When can you rely on me the most?"
"Currently, I think it's a combination of the time zones and our work load. I am ridiculously busy (as are you) and clearly having a 6 hour time difference isn't too helpful either. So, I think the most annoying part is that we can never really talk besides the occasional text which is not enough in my eyes. As with all sibling relationships, there are obviously things that I can tell you that I won't tell mom or dad. So, I can always count on you if I just want to talk for the sake of talking. Also, instead of asking mom or dad for their advice on how to handle certain situations, I can always ask you as your responses will be more.... current."
"What is your favorite childhood memory of the two of us?"
"I honestly don't know why, but my favorite memory is when we built that fort by the piano with the blankets. I remember how we turned it into a sick hangout and for some reason out of all the memories we have shared, that one has stuck with me all this time."
"Describe our relationship 5 years ago in one word."
"comical."
"Describe our relationship now in one word."
"distant."
Upon ending the call and sitting back in my chair, his last word made me cry. I, the soul-less, unemotional, stoic girl, sat in my chair...crying. I cried because he was right. He was right that college and time differences and everything in-between had gotten in the way of our childhood princess games and football catches. He wasn't down the hall sitting in his room happy to have me pop in and maybe play a game of COD or two. He is 4,759 miles away... a 7.5 hour flight away, much more than a hug away.