~*~*~*~ 

When there are seven kids in a family
There's bound to be a lot going on
Parents get stressed and harried
And can't always watch each one

~*~*~*~ 

Brother being four years older than me
He took advantage of my naiveté
Jokingly picking on his little sister
By his hijinks and the tricks he'd play

~*~*~*~ 

He'd tattle-tale on our sister and me
Even try to make trouble between us
Once we snuck and went wading in the creek
And he told Mother right where he'd seen us

~*~*~*~

He would put me up to raid the cookie jar
Then point at me and say, "She did it!"
I'd worry that I was in for a spanking
Hoping Mother would just forget it

~*~*~*~

Though at the time I suffered through it
I learned a lot from my big brother
Having five siblings younger than me
I played his tricks on some of the others

~*~*~*~ 

It's kind of fun reflecting on our youth
Remembering those long ago teases and taunts
For even with those childhood shenanigans
He's the best brother a girl could ever want

~*~*~*~

Kathleen McCoy Eldridge©
June 29, 2007
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