His Eyes by Renee Carter

and shrugged. We were both waiting for my mom and brother to surface. Charlie was still packing for his flight, which was scheduled to leave tonight, and Mom thought she had enough time to embroider a new rose into her favorite pair of jeans—in honor of me.
    “I know ‘T’ isn’t the first letter in the alphabet, but I’d still like to leave soon!” I called.
    “I’m coming,” Charlie laughed and climbed up the basement stairs, his duffle bag bulging. Lifting the bag, he said, “I can’t believe you guys saved my stuff. Even all my old cassette tapes were there.” He eyed me. “Well, almost all of them.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Okay, so maybe I borrowed a few of them over the last decade .” Charlie made a face at me. “You like making me feel old, don’t you?”
    “Well....”
    Dad shook his head at us. “Charlie, if you don’t mind heading over now with Amy, your mother and I can meet you at school with the rental car.”
    “No problem.” Charlie walked over to the front door and held it open for me. “You sure you’re old enough to drive? I remember you having a little problem controlling a bumper car.” I laughed. “Now I’m tall enough to see over the wheel, so that helps.” Charlie followed me outside and climbed into the passenger side of my Camry. Wedging his duffle bag by his feet, he quickly buckled his seatbelt while I backed out of the driveway. He took a deep breath and tried to pretend that he didn’t actually think it was scary having his little sister driving. I could see his eyes darting to check my car’s mirrors. Clearing his throat as I hit the gas, he said, “Dad told me—I mean, I think I may have gotten a little out of line at dinner last night. I am proud that you’re graduating, Amy.”
    “Yeah?” I offered him a smile. “Thanks.”
    “I guess I just expected them to be mad that I was gone for so long; I almost wanted them to be mad.
    Seeing how well you guys get along...I guess it made me jealous.” He shrugged. “You remember all of the fights I used to get into with them?”
    “Of course I remember! You’d shake the house, yelling so loud.” Slowing down for a stop sign, I turned and looked at him. “You know, just because Mom and Dad weren’t mad, doesn’t mean they forgot about you. I wrote to you about the dinners and, did Mom show you the mural?” Charlie nodded. “She pointed it out to me this morning and we had a good talk. But, I still want you to know that I think it’s great what you’re doing: going to Evanston, breaking out of the caste system.” I sighed and continued driving. “Well, I’m not sure I’m going to Evanston. Dad’s right when he said it’d cost a lot. What I earn this summer will barely pay for my room, let alone the rest of the tuition. And there aren’t many scholarships for average, middleclass girls.”
    “You’re not average,” Charlie scoffed.
    “Uh, thanks?”
    “I mean, didn’t you say you want to write for the Rolling Stone ? And you’re helping a blind kid! Who does that?” he asked, his tone daring me to prove him wrong.

    “Okay. I’m not normal.” I held up one of my hands, surrendering. “So, when you find the scholarship for abnormal, aspiring journalists, make sure you nominate me.” Charlie grinned. “You got it, sis.”

    * * *
Much like I’d expected, my graduation ceremony was about as exciting as listening to NPR in a sauna.
    While sweat pooled in the nape of my neck, I hunted for my family through a jungle of people pushing to escape the sweltering gym. I was so happy to find them that I thought my face was going to split from smiling. Dad beamed while Mom snapped pictures with an ancient instamatic camera.
    “Now, Amy, you and Charlie need to stand together,” she instructed.
    I sighed, eager to finish, and posed stiffly next to Charlie. He noticed my sour expression and, right before the flash went off, wrapped me in a bear hug. I screamed in surprise, having not been attacked