The Lollipop Story

I have a really great brother. It's a good thing God only gave me one because any other brother would have to work hard to compete with Andrew. Andrew and I were best buddies pretty much from the day I was born. At twelve years apart, he was my babysitter, my protector, and my playmate. As I grew up, those roles didn't change, but only intensified.

When Andrew graduated in 1999, it was a big deal. My awesome brother finished school (which I was just starting) and he seemed so impossibly cool and smart. I actually remember his graduation vividly, or rather, I remember the party following. There were blue and white balloons everywhere, a giant graduation cake and these fascinating, tantalizing chocolate lollipops.

This was the first time in my life I had seen chocolate on a stick (and who hasn't remembered that life-changing experience?). The pop was perfectly round, decorated with a head wearing a graduation cap cut in chocolate form. One was milk chocolate, one was white. Clear cellophane was delicately wrapped around them, tied around the stick with blue ribbon. Unfortunately, these delectible morsels were only given to the graduates. I knew I had to use my sisterly powers to persuade Andrew to share them with me. They had to be mine.

And so, day after day when I made my daily trips to Andrew's room for our visits, I badgered him incessantly to give me one of his lollipops. He tortured me, displaying them in the cup of an Awana trophy atop his bed-stand and yet he firmly told me everyday that he wasn't ready to eat them. This ritual continued, but no whining, begging, hugs and cuddles, or cute eyes would do anything. Finally, in a last attempt to hush me up, Andrew told me that we could eat them on his wedding day. This defeated me at last and I gave up any hope I would ever taste those treats.

Fast forward to August 4th, 2007. The day my brother got married. It was a bittersweet day for me as I was saying goodbye to my dear friend. It was hard for me to share Andrew, but I loved his new wife, Elizabeth, and while it was difficult for me to let him go, I was happy for him.

I was very surprised, then, when at the reception, my brother took the mic and started to tell the lollipop story. I hadn't thought about those lollipops in years. I couldn't believe it when he concluded the story with, "Well, Marian, I didn't forget my promise" and he produced the same lollipops, old and totally inedible, in front of all his wedding guests. Then, he also gave me two new lollipops, in the shape of graduation caps, for us to enjoy together.

I still have those old lollipops. So, I guess I got my way in the end after all.