Pop: Chapter Eight

     James "Jim" Greenwood, Will's older brother by about three years.  Just like the rest of my crew, I had reconnected with him online.  His shirt is a little wrinklier than Will's, but he is wearing a loose tie.  A little more grey hair than his brother too.  No glasses, yet.  He's an ENT at the same hospital system as Will.  How the two of them became doctors is, well amazing.  And, unlike his touch sensitive brother, Jim is a hugger.   

    "How are you Chris!" Jim hugs me.  "I can't believe it's been so long.  Wow, you've gotten so, big.  I never thought you would become a jock."  He releases me, after he pinching my arm to make sure the muscle is real.

    "And you, you look so much, shorter than I remember."

    "Well, we all get older.  Wait, shorter?  What do you mean by that?" he chuckles.

    "Well, I remember you being about a head taller than.  I could have sworn you at least six feet."

    "I wish.  Nope, five nine or so.  Looks like about the same as you.  I was probably a head taller than you, your freshman year.  You grew up, and I stopped."  

    With this, he glances over to his brother, who is a little over six feet tall.  Out of nowhere, he stretches his arm up and ruffles up Will's hair.  Will quickly backs away a little.  I never saw him react that way to Jim before.  Sure, he was always a little skittish, but this is worse than that.

    "Don't you just hate it when your baby brother is taller than you?  It just ain't fair."  Jim relents from his teasing.  "Sorry about the hair, Willy"

    "It's all right," Will replies, patting his hair back down.  Jim is the only person I ever remember calling his brother "Willy."  I guess it kind of makes up for Will being the taller of the two.

    "Actually, I do know something about that."

    "JIM!  No one said you'd be coming!" Rick is yelling as he bounds down the stairs to meet Jim in a hug of his own.  My mountain of a brother trailing, with Pete just popping up at the top of the stairs, flattening his shorts, probably checking for spots.  I swear, he would wear those things in the middle of winter.  I've seen him to it, too.

    "Hi Rick.  Yo, Pete." Jim gives a heads up to the stairs a Pete joins us.  The two huggers fist pump.  I never knew why they do that.

    "Jim, this is my own "little" brother, Sam Burton."  I give a nod to Sam, who is standing back in the doorway, face glued to his phone.  He barely gives us a nod.

    "Whoa.  He is something else.  Talk about brotherly differences.  He must be thinking about college b-ball, if not pro."  Jim says.

    "No, swimming," Sam replies in monotone.

    "He might be the next Micheal Phelps," I chime in.

    "Or not," Sam shoots back as he strolls into the living room and plops and on chair.

    "Okay.  Let's join Sam and get things started.  Remember, there's an eighteen year old present, so try to be a little tame.

    We walk to the kitchen, although a see Jim hang back a bit and drop something in the entry before joining us in the kitchen.

    "Will, you should have told me you were bringing Jim.  How did you keep this a secret?"  Rick asks as he gets a drink.

    "It was kind of last minute.  Jim was supposed to go on vacation last week, but he had an emergency involving one of his close patients.  So, he switched things around.  His wife and kids will be in tomorrow for the dinner, and they will be off to Florida the next day to visit our parents and Uncle Dave. Then, it's theme parks, non-stop.  Bev will be in tomorrow too, with Todd.  Then, we're off to San Fransisco for some touring before my psychiatrist seminar starts on Monday.  I just wish I had something better to offer.  I have had an idea, but I don't think it is a good one." Will sits down on the chair across from Rick who is on the couch.

    Suddenly, Pete pulls me aside.

    "I know this is kind of sensitive, but if you need any advice about, the bedroom and all, feel free to ask.  You know, there's a lot more to it than 'Insert tab A into slot B.  Repeat as needed.'" Pete tries to be quiet, but I'm sure Jim has heard him.

    "Uh, thanks, but Addie and I have been sleeping together for over a year now.  In fact, I've been active since collage."

    Jim all but does a spit-take as he overhears my answer.