BOYS WILL BE BOYS By Helplesscase "Please! Don't make me!" 10 year old Sophie begged her 12 year old brother. He had her pinned to the ground in the back yard. His best friend Ricky just stood there and snickered at the display. "All you have to do is swallow one little worm and we're even." Jason smiled down at his sister, dangling the squirming worm over her face. She clenched her eyes and tried to twist away. "But I didn't do anything!" Sophie managed though clenched teeth. "You told mom Ricky and I ate the rest of the cookies." "But you did! Those were supposed to be and Megan on our sleep over tonight!" Ricky scoffed. "My sister doesn't need any cookies. Megan's chubby enough as it is." Jason snickered at the comment. "I wouldn't laugh Jason. I think Megan has a crush on you." Jason didn't think that was funny. He turned back to his sister more seriously. "Eat it now!" Just then he heard his mother's voice from the back porch. "Jason! What are you doing with your sister!" Reluctantly Jason dropped the worm and turned to his mother. "Nothing mom." He let his sister up and she ran into the house crying. "I am going to have a talk with your father when he gets home." With that his mom stomped back into the house. Jason knew she was afraid to confront him by herself. That night Jason's dad did have a short talk with him but it wasn't a big deal. At dinner he heard his dad tell his mom that boys will be boys. Jason knew his dad didn't really care. That night Sophie sobbed in her bed and looked out at the blurry stars through her window. "I wish I could change the way things work in this world." Jason woke to a bright sunny morning. He kicked the covers off and jumped out of bed. His foot came down harder then he expected for some reason. "Ow!" He hopped around on one foot. How did he twist his ankle just hopping out of bed? He hobbled out of his room and down the hallway, walking off the minor injury. He was looking down at his foot as he watched himself steadily put more pressure back on his sore ankle. When it felt better he looked up and stopped. Something seemed different but he couldn't quite place it. The young man wandered into the kitchen to see what his mom was cooking for breakfast. She wasn't there. He called out but nobody answered. For some reason his parents weren't home. He walked up to the kitchen sink and it finally hit him. The counter tops were up to his shoulders! They should have been near his belly button. Jason closed his eyes and shook his head in disbelief but nothing changed. Panicked, he turned back down the hall and sprinted toward his room. He was in such a hurry that he actually ran into a wall. Or so he thought. He looked up from the floor and there was Sophie standing in his doorway. "There you are Jason! I was just going to wake you up!" She put her hands on her hips and smiled down at her older brother. "S-S-Sophie?!" It was definitely Sophie's dimpled face and pigtails looking at him, but what had happened to her body? Jason rubbed his forehead where it must have impacted his sister's shoulder. "No sleeping in today. Your buddy Ricky is already here waiting for you." She giggled and grabbed Jason by the shoulder, yanking him to his feet. Her fingers wrapped completely around his upper arm as she led him out the back door of the house. He tried to keep up with her, but she was walking quickly. Her legs were so long they cam up to the middle of his chest. His hand was starting to throb from lack of blood flow behind her grip on his arm but he didn't think it would be wise to complain. When they got outside, Jason saw his friend Rick sitting on the grass. Sophie mercifully let go of his arm and walked up to his friend. Rick's eyes were puffy as if he had been crying. He was holding a handful of something. "Lets see what's in your hand." The his sister demanded. She was much larger then him as well. The boy opened his hand and she shook her head in disgust. "I said you had to eat at least 3 worms while I was gone. You only ate 2. That's gonna cost you a Charlie Horse." Sophie grabbed the boy and pulled him to his feet. She looked down at the supposedly older boy and clenched her teeth as she heaved a fist into his shoulder. Her thick arm looked like a battering ram as his body collapsed around the impact. The force of the blow sent the boy sailing off his feet and onto the ground. His face contorted in anguish while dirt ridden drool spilled out of his mouth. "Oh you sissy. I didn't hit you that hard." Sophie turned to her brother who instantly ran away in a terrified sprint from his little sister. He got around to the side of the house but heard heavy footfalls close behind him. Then all went black for a second as Sophie tackled him into the ground. "I don't know why you want to make this so hard Jason." She smiled as she roughly twisted his body underneath hers so that she had him constrained between her legs, facing her. Her body felt heavy and Jason could barely breathe. She held a worm in front of his face. "Open wide little boy. Five worms and we'll call it even. Hurry up, before Megan gets here. And if you tell her I made you eat worms for breakfast this morning before she kissed you will really be punished." Instinctively Jason clenched his teeth. Sophie only had a few seconds of patience. With her other hand she squeezed his jaws so tightly that he couldn't help but open his mouth. He was completely trapped under his sister's huge body. As she lowered the worm to his face he screamed. Suddenly Jason opened his eyes and everything was dark. In front of him was a dark figure sitting on his bed gently shaking his shoulder. "Wake up Jason. It was just a bad dream son. Wake up." Jason could still hear himself screaming even as he came around. In the dark Jason could easily make out enough detail to see it was his dad in front of him. It was just a dream! Jason's heart was pounding but he was slowly coming back to reality. "Dad," he panted. "I had the worst nightmare." "It's all over now son. You're home in your own bed now." Another figure appeared at the doorway. He could tell by the long mussed up hair it was his mother. "Are you okay honey?" Her voice was soft and sweet as usual, only deeper somehow. His mom entered the room and sat next to his dad on the bed. At first Jason trembled and then he began to sob in fear and confusion. His father answered for him. "He had a bad dream and now he's pretty scared." "Boys will be boys." His mom sighed. She bent down and whispered into her husband's ear. "Go back to bed sweety. I'll take care of this." Her husband rose to his feet, and stood eye level with his seated wife. Her hand engulfed his buttocks as she patted him toward the door. Jason's mom turned back to him again and sighed as if thinking. "Well son, I'm sorry you're frightened." Her massive hand gently caressed the terrified boy's face, wiping away tears "But you're getting too old to be sleeping with mommy and daddy." She stood up and pulled his covers away. " I know what we'll do. Come on." She gathered the boys small hand into her own and led him out of his room. She was even larger then Sophie had been in his dream. His head came up to his mother's waist. Then he realized that he must still be dreaming. Quickly he pinched himself hard. Ow! It really hurt! "Sophie, honey. Wake up for a second." His mother had led him into another room. "What is it mom? What's going on?" A bewildered voice called out. "I'm sorry to wake you up pumpkin, but can Jay share your bed tonight. I think he's afraid to be alone." "Sure mom." The groggy voice said with a hint of enthusiasm. "You're such a sweetheart." The covers flipped back and Jason felt hands gather him in as his mother lifted him onto the bed. His mother bent down and kissed him. Her lips covered most of his forehead. Jason could see his mother leave the room and then shut the door. He felt thick arms and legs encircle his body and pull him tight. His arms were captured firmly against his body. "So, what are you afraid of big brother?" Sophie whispered into his ear. "A good snuggle should make you feel safe." "Uhhht-"