Brother Hurt

My grandsons were at my house on May 31, 2009. I brought them to my house after church on Sunday morning, as usual. It was a beautiful day, and the boys went outside to play. They were playing in the woods when the oldest, Eric, decided to play a trick on his two smaller brothers, Brandon and Colin. He came into the house and told me he was going to go into the woods and paint himself with red marker, then come out of the woods in front of his brothers screaming that someone beat him up.

After telling me this, he went outside, and I stayed in the house. Not long after, Eric came into the house with marker all over his face, his arms, and his legs. His brothers followed him into the house. He was telling them how someone beat him, and he was bleeding. His brothers seemed to be concerned.

I thought the older brother understood that Eric was only making believe, but I was not sure about the younger one. I went along with the charade and told the brothers that I may have to call 911. The younger brother said, "Why aren't you calling 911?" I said, "I will if I have to."

We sat around a few moments with Eric lying on the floor and complaining as though he were in pain. Brandon came up behind me and said, "Colin is crying." I asked Colin why he was crying, and he said it was because his brother was hurt.

I told Eric it was time to stop the "play-like." I had to comfort Colin a little, but things worked out well. Eric had to go to the bathroom and wash off the marker.