The Caretaker by Colin Corde

The Caretaker

by Colin Corde

Growing up, you didn’t think it was weird that your brother couldn’t walk. It was normal when his knees were surgically fixed, indefinitely at a ninety degree angle. You enjoyed racing him, seated in his old wheelchairs. And it was exciting when you didn’t see him and your parents, living at your best friend’s house for a month because fourth graders don’t need to worry about brain aneurysms. When you came back, you realized that your math was harder than his, that he didn’t have friends come over your house anymore and why he hated going to the doctor, even for a check-up. Time passes and your other brother leaves for college, your parents get older. Eventually your parents enlist you to be your brother’s caretaker. You happily accept because you love your brother. But, somewhere, you hope this doesn’t last forever— that through some twisted luck your brother passes before your parents. What, then, do you think of yourself?