Family Survival

"Joe where the hell are my keys!"

Eighteen year – old Frank Hardy ran around searching for his car keys. He came storming into his younger brother's room, demanding to know where Joe had hidden his keys.

Joe, the seventeen year – old turned with a scowl, and replied angrily, "I don't have them, quit putting the blame on me when you clearly misplaced them."

Frank glared at his younger brother gritting his teeth said, "Get me my keys now."

He watched as his younger brother searched for the keys for him. Finally he saw Joe dangling the keys in front of him. Joe said in a low and annoyed tone, "Don't blame me because you put them in places you don't remember."

The older Hardy just snatched the keys from his brother and replied, "Ten minutes, and I'm leaving without you. So hurry up." With that Frank stormed down the stairs to the kitchen.

Their mother Laura was in the kitchen cooking breakfast when Frank came down.

"Morning mom." Frank sat down at the table.

Laura turned with a smile and said, "Good morning sweetie. Where's your brother?"

Frank replied with a scowl, "He's coming, and if he doesn't hurry I'm leaving without him."

His mother patted his hand gently and said, "Honey try and cut your brother a break. You two need to learn to get along. There was a time where that wasn't an issue for you both."

He just sighed annoyed and said, "Yeah well things have changed. Now all he does is drive me out of my mind."

Laura let out a sigh and said, "Honey you two used to be so close what's happened to that?"

Frank just shook his head but gave no answer, watching his mother turn back to cooking.

A few minutes later Joe came racing down into the kitchen.

He had a bright smile on his face and said with enthusiasm, "Morning mom!"

Their mother turned again and smiled, "Morning Joe. Breakfast is just about ready."

Joe nodded and sat down at the table. Then he smiled again, looking at his mom said, "Mmmmmm it smells delicious."

Frank just snorted, knowing that anything to do with food would attract Joe's attention without a second thought.

Joe glared across the table at his older brother, but said nothing.

Laura reached toward the center of the table, and placed the steaming plate of pancakes between them.

The younger boy reached toward the plate and grabbed a few to put on his plate.

Narrow his eyes at the younger Hardy, Frank snarled, "Leave some for everyone else you moron they're not just for you."

His younger brother just ate without even so much as looking at his older brother.

The two boys ate in silence.

Frank finished up his breakfast, bringing it to the sink, turned and snapped, "Move it Joe we're leaving now."

He heard his younger brother mutter, "Hold your horses jeez."

His brother came up from behind him and slapped him upside the head. Not really in a playful manner but not hard enough to do any damage.

Laura exclaimed, "Frank!" She watched as Joe slapped his brother in return. Their mother tried to intervene yelling, "Joe! Frank! That is enough from both of you! Joe go get your things, Frank take the trash out!"

Frank exclaimed, "What! But it's Joe's turn today!"

His mother turned to him sternly responding, "If you want to go anywhere today you will do as your told Frank."

She heard her eldest son grumble, "Fine."

Frank turned and glowered menacingly at his younger brother as he walked out.

As soon as he stepped out, Joe turned to his mother, sighed in exasperation, "Frank is taking the van today?"

Their mother began to feel aggravated with all the fighting. She was washing the dishes out when she replied with a sigh, "Yes, your brother has Karate practice and is going to see your father before."

Joe nodded and murmured quietly, "Oh."

Laura turned and said gently, "Honey everything will be fine, Frank will eventually have to talk to you. I promise you two will work this out."

He replied, "Yeah I know I just needed a ride to meet up with Vanessa today at the library."

His mother asked puzzled, "On a Sunday?"

"We have a test on Tuesday."

"Then you need to start being nice to your brother and maybe he will take you."

She heard her son mutter angrily, "Wonderful, like I've ever been able to talk to Frank before about this."

Their mother let out a sigh of frustration and shook her head as Joe walked out of the room. The rift between her two boys was growing by the minute.

She could hardly keep peace between them for more than five minutes. The boys were eleven months apart, but they were complete opposites of each other.

She recalled years before where the two boys were practically inseparable. They did everything and they shared everything. Joe had been the center of Frank's life at that time. Frank would help Joe with homework and Joe would help Frank with something in return.

Things began to get worse as Frank got older. Ever since he entered junior high into high school, this had been a problem. He began to make new friends, and did not want to be seen hanging around Joe. He started avoiding Joe at all costs. As Frank entered high school, it made things even worse.

Frank had eventually gotten his drivers license and would be gone without saying a word to Joe. It was then that Frank wanted nothing to do with his younger brother.

Lately Joe had also not helped by enjoying pushing Frank's buttons, getting him angry or annoyed seemed to make Joe happy.

Brea

Later that afternoon, Frank sat in the van impatiently waiting for Joe to come out, so he could get to his Karate class on time.

He scowled as he checked his watch and realized his brother was forty minutes late.

Eventually he couldn't deal with that anymore, snatching the keys out of the ignition. He stepped out of the van slamming the door behind him.

He went storming into the library absolutely fuming at this point. Joe was inside with his arm wrapped around Vanessa unaware of his brother's presence.

Frank came up and grabbed his brother by the shirt and snarled, "Go get in the van right now get moving!"

Vanessa exclaimed, "Frank do you mind we were studying!" She glared coldly at her boyfriend's older brother.

Frank snapped, "Joe was supposed to meet me outside forty minutes ago. I now have just a few minutes to get across town and get changed, now move!"

Joe just snatched his backpack up, and glared with a dark look on his face, and said, "Frank just calm down jeez just drive us home."

His older brother shook his head snarling, "Too late, you'll wait patiently in the car for me. You understand?"

Joe's friends complained that they were supposed to get picked up at the Hardy home but Frank just exclaimed, "Forget it! You can call your parents there, now let's go!"

At this point in the van Frank was literally seething with anger at his younger brother.

They pulled into the parking lot in complete silence. Finally Frank quickly swerved into a parking spot, slamming on the brakes into park. He turned off the ignition turning to face them.

"You guys go call your family have them pick you up. Joe you stay here until I'm finished. Got that?"

Joe glared and opened his mouth to protest.

Frank growled menacingly, "If you so much as move one foot out of this car I will beat the crap out of you do you understand?"

Joe chose this time to silence himself and nodded.

Their friends noticed how Frank's eyes remained on Joe for another moment, then, stormed out of the vehicle and into the Y.

Vanessa and their friend encouraged Joe to try standing up to Frank, not liking the way his brother was treating him.

Joe just shook his head and said, "We just got off on the wrong foot today that's all. We normally don't fight this bad."

The younger Hardy just sighed as he watched them exit the van and said "I'll see you guys tomorrow."