Both Boys Would Not Let Go UFLI Foundations Lesson 97

'Mine!' Boy yells, pulling the purple toy with both hands. Brother pulls harder. The toy stretches between them. 'I had it first,' Boy growls. But Brother just yanks harder. Both hold on tight.

Crash! The toy hits the floor. Mum marches in with her arms crossed. She points at both of them. 'Bed. Now.' 'But Brother started it!' Boy sobs. Brother hangs his head. It never matters who starts it.

Day after day, Boy gives Brother food and fixes Brother's broken things. He gives and gives and gives. But sometimes Boy just wants one thing of his own. He looks at his little toy in the dirt. One small toy. That is all he has that Brother has not snatched or sat on.

Then Boy sees something in the yard that makes him forget all about toys. A beast! A real, huge grey beast with a long trunk stands right there past the bushes. Boy sneaks past Mum, tiptoes across the grass, and gets up on its back. The beast lifts its trunk and off they go. 'Hold on!' Boy whispers to himself. And he does.

They ride across a wide, open plain. Boy feels the mild wind on his face. No Brother. No fighting. Boy is free. Then he sees a small shape crouching low under a big tree. Boy's grin fades. 'Brother?'

Then one more beast charges at Brother. It is mad! Its feet pound the ground. Brother runs hard and pumps his arms, but the mad beast is faster. It is right behind him. 'Run!' Boy yells.

Brother reaches the tree. He pulls up, branch by branch, until he is high in the treetop. He sits still, both hands on the branch. Safe. For now. Boy watches from far away. His heart pounds. He does not want to be alone now. He just wants Brother to be safe.

'Go!' Boy kicks his heels. 'Faster!' The beast stretches its legs and charges. Trees fly past. The wind howls loud all around him. Boy leans forward and points the way. 'Hold on, Brother!' he yells across the plain. 'I am on my way!'

Too late. The mad beast coils its trunk around a branch and pulls hard. The wood groans, bends, and cracks. Brother holds on tight, but the tree is shaking now. 'Stop!' Boy shouts. The mad beast just pulls harder. How long can that branch hold?

Boy leaps off and catches a low branch. He pulls up fast and stretches his arm up as far as it can go. 'Grab on!' Brother reaches down. Their fingers brush. So close. Boy stretches until his arm hurts. 'Almost... just a bit more...'

The mad beast's trunk coils tight around Boy's waist and pulls him out of the tree. His legs kick. His arms reach for Brother, but Brother is too far away. 'Hold on, Brother!' Boy screams. 'Hold on!'

'Wake up, Boy! Wake up!' Mum sits on the edge of his bed and puts her hand on his head. 'It was just a dream.' Boy blinks. His bed. His blanket. His pillow. Just a dream. Brother stands by the bed, watching him with soft eyes. Boy reaches for Brother's hand and holds it tight. 'We can play with my toy tomorrow,' he whispers. Brother smiles, and this time, both hold on.