All my life, I dreamed of being in my brothers shoes, but everything changed before I knew it.
Mum got pregnant with me when she was just nineteen. Dad walked out straightawayhe wasnt ready for family life, too busy with nights out and mates. My grandparents were furious with her for having a baby out of wedlock. My granddad kicked her out, calling her irresponsible and saying he wouldnt have a daughter like that under his roof.
Mum had it rough, but she pulled through. She signed up for evening classes and landed a job. We got a tiny room in student digs. I had to grow up fastdoing the shopping, cleaning, and heating up meals while she was out. No time for playing; as far back as I can remember, I was always helping.
Never complained, though. Felt like I had to step up, even though I was just a kid.
After a while, Mum started seeing Oliver. I liked him straight offalways brought sweets and extra food for us. Mum was happy. Then one day, she told me they were getting married and wed move into a proper house. I was over the moonfinally, a dad, and I hoped Oliver would be it.
At first, things were good. No more chores, time to listen to music, read books. Had my own room. Oliver helped Mum, and she seemed brighter.
Few months later, Mum said I was getting a little brother or sister. Soon after, Oliver told me I had to move into this tiny box roomused to be a storage spacebecause my bedroom was becoming the nursery. Didnt get why *I* had to move when there were other rooms free, but I kept quiet.
Next day, all my stuff was shifted. Knew it wasnt fair, but what could I do?
When Ethan was born, my nights turned chaotic. Crying nonstop, and I started struggling in school. Teachers told me off, Mum got mad. *Youre supposed to set an example! Instead, youre just lazyembarrassing us.* Every bad grade was a shouting match.
Ethan grew up, and I was stuck looking after him. Pushed his pram round the estate, face burning while the lads laughed. Couldnt do anything about it.
Everything good went to Ethan. If I asked for something? *No money for that now.* Dropped him at nursery mornings, picked him up afternoons. Fed him, cleaned up. Just waited for him to grow up.
When he started school, Mum said I had to help with his homework. Spoilt and stubbornno matter how hard I tried, his marks were rubbish. If I told him off, hed run to Mum, and shed always take his side.
Ethan got moved from school to school, never fitting in. Ended up at some posh private place where good grades came with a hefty price tag.
I went to tech college, trained as a mechanic. Didnt love it, but it got me out of the house.
Later, I got into uni, landed a job. Worked my fingers to the bone saving for a flat. Few years on, I got married.
Ethan? Oliver bought *him* a flat, but he still lives with our parents. Wont workjust lives off the rent.
New Years Eve dinner at theirs, whole family round. Ethans girlfriend was there too. Walking past the kitchen, I overheard her: *Youre lucky with James. Hardworking, responsible. Why cant Ethan be like that? I beg him to move in, start a family, but hes glued to your mums apron strings. Gets rent money but does nothing.*
My wife chuckled. *James is brilliant. Forget Ethanhes not worth it. Never will be a proper husband.*
And she was right. Plenty of girls tried to change Ethan, but he didnt care. Spent whole days on the sofa watching telly. Mum couldnt stand any of his girlfriendsnever good enough for her boy.
Right then, it hit me: I was proud. Happy, really. Life paid me back for all the rough patches. Now? Got a family I love, a wife whos my best mate, a little girl whos my world, and a home I earned myself. All down to my own graft.
