I’m sure my mother was perplexed when she walked in on the scene. My 18 year old brother, transfixed, with a look of terror on his face as he desperately tried to remove the egg beater from his mouth as I watched on with great satisfaction. Knowing all to well his foolish endeavour was down to my genius.
It all began with a bet, a dare, a challenge.
I was in the kitchen cooking. My brother walked in with a swagger. He knew he was older, wiser, stronger and could easily get his way. He nudged my 9 year old self aside, and fiddled with my baking utensils. As he stared intently at the electric egg beater a sudden moment of brilliance came over me, “I bet you couldn’t fit that in your mouth”.
The challenge.
His face flickered and for a brief moment I saw some uncertainty beneath that haughty façade. He knew that by rejecting the challenge he was consequently giving up his position of power.
He had to accept.
This was too good to miss, I watched with anticipation as he opened his mouth to accommodate the awkwardly shaped egg beater. This was going to be difficult. Much to my surprise, he managed it. A look of triumph crossed his face as he emitted a muffled cheer. He proceeded to remove the beater.
It wouldn’t budge.
Glee quickly turned to shock, confusion and finally fear as the realisation of what had just occurred hit him. I leant against the bench, arms crossed, chuckling with satisfaction as Mum hurried in to the room to see what all the noise was about.
I had done it. I managed to topple the one person I constantly have to live up to. It may have only been for a small moment in time and space, but the fact I can always say that at one point in my life I had the upper hand is all I need. I conquered the mountain, even if only for a day.
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