My Brother Drowned

ur whole family went on a

w off and insisted on catching fish

the reservoir was,

ainst me, blaming me for stealing

it, he even encouraged our drunken father, who end

elf reborn on the very day my brother wa

r my opinion, I smiled and said, "Brys

woman, Nydia Wilson. What would a

ating voice jo

ee my brother, Bryson Wilso

oriented, then realized

k, dad had invited his boss and the boss's

r, I stopped Bryson from trying to catch fish

ceptively calm on the surface

n, I tried to hold him back. My stepmot

d grades and for being well-informed,

dad, and she, with tears in her e

s promotion and, from then on,

son from currying favor with the boss. One night, drunk and egged on

lingered, watching my stepmother and Bryson take o

even flushed my as

the fate to give

to let everyone cho

tempting fate, let's se

y lips into a smile and said, "You really know how to work people

With a look of pride, he said, "Mom, just let me go! If I catch a big fish for dad's boss, he

azy, leering grin spread

earby, but I was actually eavesdropping.

yet he made it sound so nob

oss's daughter, without even

then suddenly turned to me and asked, "Nydia, do you think the

the edge, and there are steps inside. It shouldn't be dangerous. If you're rea

egetables and deliberately

d, Bryson immedia

Trying to steal my thunder aga

, making up an excuse, "Let's wait

That was f

g to go into the water, that

food, the boss's family finally st

ss's wife, trying his best to please her. Bryson's eyes lit

e school, but she was already a

lder, but already appear

at those kinds of adult videos more than once-

atherine's hand, saying, "Let m

bit shy and nod

a smile as she greeted the boss's family. She'd dresse

r's keepsake. I forced down the hatred in

ed me and shot me a glare. "Go grill th

ying to ingratiate themselves with the boss, s

ome was so low it was frighteni

ges too. Jennifer was two-faced, and Bryson was a

since he disliked me and dote

w if dad would be able to k

one by one. Dad was busy toasting the bo

but her flashy outfit only made her look worse in comparison.

ashed with resentment. She quickly wiped away fake tears and said, "You have no idea how tough it is being a step

an act, I couldn't help b

just smiled and

with meat skewers, grease dripping everywhere, t

away from him, cle

ing about how to get Bryson int

fied burp, grabbed Katherine's small hand-whether she

little rascal really planning to take t

ther's cheerful voice, "Aren't they getting along well?

girl straight into the water. Thankfully, it was shallow by the ed

ticking close to her and misch

n, let's catch some fish! I saw a bunch this morning.

larmed. The leader's wife asked anxio

nd smiled, "Don't worry. Bryson checked it o

re especially fresh and tender, so he wanted to catch one for you to grill and enjoy. He's such a clever

orried, but my stepmother's reas

s back, torn about whether I

r. Suddenly, Katherine lost her footing and fell in

I rushed forward a

g their faces when they saw that Katherine had only

e, sobbing and repeating, "I'

shot my father a pointed look and said, "You

at me and said,

she turne

water, suddenly shout

big grin for the leader and his wife. "Uncle C

atherine's fine. Let's keep going-let my s

, the leader and his wife finally agreed to s

into the water until it was nearly up to his neck. My stepmother, growing anxious, turned

ing to say another word. Instead, she turned to me and said,

g my head and whispering, "I wou

d on the back, and I bit my

oice rang out from t

with delight, but her smil

d in a flash, the water around him tur

d off his shirt and jumped in, but a sudden gust of

ly managing to grab hold of Bryso

ad stumbled backward, grabbing Bryson tightly, but neither of them

ntically pushing me toward the

uted, "Why don't you go in and

esponse, I turned and r

ere getting wha

een pulled out by Jennifer and the leader, but my father had bee

satisfaction-fi

father was the one who

ne, Jennifer and Bryso

ved. The leader shot Jennifer a cold look and said, "My co

h a touch of warmth, said, "Thank you for saving Kat

e her phon

d thanked h

hem walk away, I let ou

brother. His face was ashen, and he

ht to scold me, followed the ambulance, leaving me alone t

they finally pulled his swo

psed completely. Her son was in the ICU, and

was fall

t a word and screamed hysterically, "Why didn't you st

mumbled, "I tried, b

, but was interrupted by the doctor

asking anxiousl

s lung infection and might have troubl

stepmother brok

wait-this was only the be