15. To my not-quite-twin and best friend

gosh, we were such adorable Chinese kids.

When my parents were expecting their second child, they thought they wouldn't mind having a third one. After all, they noticed how my older sister, an only child for three years, was often without a playmate, particularly since my parents didn't find many options to venture out of the home. So hey, if we were to have another sibling closer in age for this next one, that wouldn't be a bad idea.

This is obviously paraphrased from the story my parents tell in Mandarin, but since it's a crucial element to my existence, I like to tell it in my words.

All that to say is this: Twenty five years ago, Anthony was born. Then 351 days later, his best friend, partner in crime, cover-up wingman, and passively aggressive competitor was born. It wouldn't be a lie to say that I was born so Anthony would have a playmate, buddy, and friend, which sounds vaguely similar to the back of a Jodi Picoult novel sans the life and death part.

Growing up that close to a sibling makes for great stories. You're partners since birth, and as a kid we'd tell each other what we wanted for Christmas to pass on the message to our parents. One person paves the way for the other, or other times, you team up to appeal to the parentals together. Oh, Anthony already asked to go to Homecoming? Sure, I'd like to go too. Or No mom, don't worry about him staying after school for that activity. Then there are the number of times you cover up for each other, from playing Nintendo 64 before leaving for school, to Anthony's streak of recording Pokemon and Digimon episodes, to covering him when he went to Jia pei's birthday party, and even helping him sneak back into the house just this year ;) (There are probably stories of Anthony covering for me too, but I can't remember them...). Then there are those rough years when you watch new paths being taken or questions being asked...still having each other's trust but not sure of their direction. When it feels like him against the parents, you subconsciously hope, pray, and pull strings so that at the end of the day, he still has you, and vice versa. So you don't tell when he gets his ears pierced, and he listens while you sort through the parents' response to your career decision.

So here we are after four years of friendship, sibling-hood, and growing up. We still play gaming consoles together, and he still shows me fight scenes and clips. I still have great taste in books (haha). But we also go to Starbucks just to catch up, talk about things our family goes through, share what we are learning about faith and God, and stare in amazement at our almost 18-year-old brother who used to be so small. The years when I was tired of him 'stealing' my friends, when I shoved him away for reading over my shoulder (most annoying thing ever), and when I gave him a scar on his hand for sitting on me are long gone. The never-ending comparison from two almost-siblings still remains, in both healthy competition and unhealthy inadequacy feelings. We keep taking step after step of growing up together. Not always the same--He got a credit card first, but I had to pay rent because I moved out. And on and on and on. With all that though, I am so glad for my best friend and brother...happy, happy birthday, Anthony =)