Read Short Stories OnlineIf you like to read short stories online, you've come to the right place. The story below, "My Brother, David" is part of my collection of True Life Stories (you can see a complete Table of Contents of those stories by following the link.)Visit the Online Short Stories and More Stories Homepage for links to all the free stories on this site.* My Brother, David
"Oh no!" I gasp out loud to my brother. "I forgot my gym clothes." My voice is tight and thin with anxiety. PE is a major, life issue for me.Unlike every other Murphy in my family, I am not at all athletic. I do, however, make up for it by being incredibly nervous and tying my entire sense of worth to scholastic achievement. I am panicking, because in this, my last year of middle school, I have been sidled with a PE teacher that has this crazy idea that physical education, like other classes, ought to be graded on actual merit and skill. After many weeks of volleyball mishaps, racket ball failures, and never successfully completing a pull up in the history of ever, I know my only chance of scraping together a decent grade in PE is to dress out. I HATE that they make us take our gym clothes home every week to wash them. I would rather smell like the boozy old guy that hangs out in front of the Cumberland Farms store, than have to worry like this. "I'll get them!" David says as he shoves his books at me and starts taking off his jacket. "No, you'll be late!" I tell him, but David just hands me his jacket and starts running toward our house, which is nearly two miles away. "Just go to class. I'll find you." He yells back at me. "You'll get in trouble!" I shout at him as if the fear of getting into trouble would actually stop my brother from doing anything. I watch him--fearless and running. Two things I could never be. "David! Come back!" I yell, but he looks back and gestures at me to not worry. This gesture is equal parts reassurance and annoyance. I know it well, because he makes this gesture all the time like when we're in the line for rides at the fair, when kickball teams are being picked on our block, and when circus clowns are scanning crowds of children for volunteers. Continue Reading, My Brother David *The stories including the one on this read short stories online page are presented free for you personal enjoyment, but are not for republication without express written consent by the author. Exit Read Short Stories Online and Go to Short Stories Home |
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