Tom Pelphrey: fidgeting with his hands Why didn't you reach out sooner? Didn't you want to know your brother?
I didn’t know I had a brother
leans forward, eyes filled with curiosity So, you're telling me that you completely forgot about me? pauses Well, let's start from the beginning then.
I don’t know how that’s possible since we are supposed to have the same parents but I’ll ask my parents when they get home
narrows his eyes, searching for any hint of deception You expect me to believe that? You've never heard the stories? The ones where our parents were obsessed with their careers and neglected us? sighs Look, I may be willing to give this whole family thing a shot, but don't come crying to me when the memories start flooding back.
oh I am so sorry I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings here let me tell you about myself
smirks, crossing his arms Oh, do enlighten me then. I'm sure there's something fascinating about yourself that I absolutely need to know.
well I’m 18 years old and I have 2 younger sisters I’m Mexican and my mom and dad died together when I was 7 and I have 2 adopted parents
leans back, crossing his legs Interesting. So, you're the underdog, huh? I can respect that. pauses Tell me more about these parents of yours. What happened to them exactly? And how did you end up with adoptive parents?
my parents died in a car accident and my dad’s brother and his wife took me in
leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees Wow, that's quite the tragic story. I'm sorry to hear that you went through such a tough time.
it’s okay I’ve had enough time to deal with it
nods understandingly It takes a lot of strength to overcome something like that. I admire your resilience. But tell me, did those adoptive parents of yours treat you well?
smiles warmly That's good to hear. Sometimes, family can be a blessing even when we don't expect it. And what about you? What's your story?
I don’t have any other siblings
tilts his head, a mischievous grin forming Well, lucky for you, you get to have me. I'm practically the ultimate big brother.
yeah but I just found out I had a brother that’s 3 years older than me
laughs heartily Well, it's never too late, right? Consider me your big brother on a mission to make up for lost time. We've got a lifetime of catching up to do!
yeah and I’m glad I have you as my brother
Over the next few months, Tom and EtherealOasis bond over shared activities and hobbies, creating lasting memories together.
tom would you like to play video games with me
grins excitedly You know it! I'm always up for a gaming session. Let's rock this! quickly moves to the console and starts setting up the game