The Family Business

“Wow," Brandon whispered. He had never seen so much cash in one spot before and his yellow-brown complexion was flushed in excitement.

Shane smiled condescendingly, and adjusted the five twenty-dollar bills in his hands.

“ Where'd u git that," breathed Brandon, his eyes flashing. “We could git like a million ice creams," he squeaked hyperbolically, already picturing his chubby arms laden with creamsicle pops.

“No," Shane said softly as he returned the cash to his pocket, furtively glancing at the lunch ladies at the other end of the small gym that doubled as the schools lunch room. “This is mines."

Brandon could feel tears welling up in his eyes, and he hated himself for it. As a first grader, he still hadn't mastered his tear ducts and would begin at the slightest agitation.

“But why u show me it if u ain't gonna spend it?" Brandon whined piteously.  “It prolly aint even urs," he pouted, wiping his eyes.

Shane smiled at his little brother's misery. He had in fact been counting on it. As a fourth grader, he was a master manipulator.

“You really want ice cream bad, huh," he asked in unctuous tones, placing a consoling arm around the sniffling little boy.

Brandon only nodded, feeling a fresh wave of tears accost him.

“Listen," Shane said, removing a large paper bag from his bag, “I'll git  you a popsicle if you do somethin for me."

“I'll do anything," piped the little boy, a little to loudly. The lunch lady turned to look at the brothers and frowned.

Smiling and waving at the supervision, Shane kicked his brother under the table. “Ur gonna fuck everything up," he said through clinched teeth.

This proved to be too much for the little boy's delicate disposition. He began a slow wail that reached such a violent screech, that the entire room turned to stare at the balling first grader.

Shane wasted no time. Before his brother had reached the peak of his crescendo, Shane had already collected his paper bag and stuffed it deep in his backpack.  In a smooth inconspicuous motion, he buried his cash in his shoe.

He had made a huge blunder in involving Brandon at all in this operation, but the game hadn't been completely lost. 

Calmly, the older boy got to his feet, approached his brother, and began punching him as hard as he could, over and over again. Yes. This would be a good cover. Shane's just being bad again. Shane's just acting out again. Yes.

No one would look through his stuff. No one would find the money. And Brandon would be too scared to remember shit.