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Although Stephen was considerably older than Rhodri, it seemed as though they had always been together.  They were used to each other – comfortable.  The way that brothers are.

 

Brothers in Arms.

 

The age difference meant that they had little in common and little to share.  They certainly did not share any friends; age limits restrict the limit of friends – when you are young.  In older life it is all a blur.  As children Stephen and Rhodri had little experiences together, even though they were always together. 

 

They did share their love of their family but this was not something that was foremost in their minds.  It was just there, unconsidered.

 

*

**

 

Often there had been a third one but they came and they went.  So, Stephen and Rhodri never grew too attached.  They had no connection; no umbilical cord.

 

*

**

 

Then someone came into their extended family, someone that came and ­did not go.

 

Someone that was attached.

 

His name was Patrick.

 

*

**

 

Fostering children is not the same as adoption.  Adoption is for life.  It is a life given to a child.  A different path.

 

Fostering is always, by its nature, a temporary thing, and that temporary nature defines the relationship.  Both Stephen and Rhodri had become used to these temporary arrangements.

 

The brother’s parents loved them.  It was not something that they even had to consider.  It was just something they knew.  It was something that they did not consider because it was natural so they didn’t need to, and something they did not realise that they shared.

 

Their parents seemed to want to extend their love and to extend their family.  The others came and went.  The boys were friendly to the incomers but the incomers were also the outgoers.  So, Stephen and Rhodri never became that attached.

 

They knew it was just a matter of time.

 

It always was.

 

However, this time he stayed.

 

Patrick.

 

*

**

 

Patrick was never officially their brother.  There was no birth certificate with their parent’s name on it.  But he was different to the others,

 

He belonged.

 

And that was the answer – and that was the problem.

 

Patrick fell between the two of them in age, although if truth be known, Patrick did not know the date of his actual birth, so he did not know his real age.  His birth certificate, in all categories simply read unknown.  He did not know when his birthday was.  He only knew one thing,

 

His first name.

 

His name was Patrick.

 

*

**

 

She must have cared to leave him there.  It was a considered decision.  Outside a hospital in a cardboard box.  He was secure and he was warm but ultimately, he was alone.  Just something attached to his wrist like a gift tag.  It simply said that his name was Patrick.

 

Maybe she wanted him to be a gift.

 

Patrick never found out how or when or why.  He was just shepherded from one house to another house. 

 

Then he was shepherded to a home.

 

*

**

 

The boys were never unkind to Patrick.  They did not just initially accept him.  It wasn’t personal.  It was never personal.  Their parents had fostered so many before him – it was like he was on a list and lists are simply words; things to be crossed off.

 

Their parents, however, did not cross off Patrick.

 

Patrick stayed.

 

*

**

 

It was difficult to pin-point when it all started.

 

It would be generous to say that it was love.

 

It was not.

 

It was the green-eyed monster that they call jealously.

 

When it became apparent that Patrick was staying, the brothers suddenly seemed to need to vie for his attention.  Because he was in the middle.  Age is so important to children.  Both Stephen and Rhodri thought that Patrick should belong to them.  The irony was that Patrick did not belong to anyone.

 

*

**

 

Patrick was not endearing and not particularly enigmatic.  The difference with this foster child was that he was enduring.  He stayed.  That therefore changed the dynamics of the family.

 

Both brothers wanted to impress in different ways, because brothers are different.  There was an age gap between Stephen and Rhodri and there was a gap in their interests.

 

Patrick suddenly wasn’t a stranger, a visitor.

 

Both brothers started to love Patrick and both brothers fought for his attention.  Patrick did not understand it.  Nobody, in the past had ever wanted his attention.

 

Patrick found it hard.  It was something he was not used to.  Things that we are not used to frighten us.

 

The thing that Patrick was not used to was the skill of learning how to share.  He didn’t know because he had always been on his own.

 

*

**

 

No matter how young or old you are, there are always lesson to be learnt.

 

That is the joy of life.

 

*

**

 

The brothers bickered.

 

Stephen lent Patrick books.

 

They were of no interest to him.

 

Rhodri invited him to join in all his sports activities.  He bought him a kit from their local rugby team.

 

It was of no interest to him.

 

*

**

 

Patrick just wanted to be himself.  He had no particular interests, except one.

 

*

**

 

It was when the brothers were physically fighting that it came to a head.  Stephen and Rhodri, head to head, battling over the loyalty of Patrick.

 

*

**

 

“I don’t know anything about my life.  I have no parents, no home – nothing.  But I have this. 

 

All that I know about myself is that my name is Patrick.  I have no Mother or Father.  The only family that I have is you two.

 

He held it out.  It wasn’t much – not much more than a weed.

 

It was a shamrock with three leaves joined together.

 

Stephen and Rhodri never fell out again, because although they were so different, they had so much in common.  The thing they learnt to have in common was sharing.  That’s what brothers do.  Share.

 

Brothers in arms.

 

 

*

**

 

Three leaves joined as one.

 

 

 

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