This one should never be forgotten. I think I had it written down years ago. It may be one that was lost in a site-failure. And then I remembered it, and searched my site, but can’t find it. So I’m going to write it down again.
In this story . . .
Everett was probably about 2 or maybe 3, and Calvin was 4, perhaps 5. We were out and about for the day, and we stopped at McDonalds for some lunch and a break on the playground. The kids ate their lunch, and set off for the fun of the jungle gym. Another boy, probably Calvin’s age, but quite a bit bigger than him, approached Calvin to play. And I saw this whole event in wide angle . . .
Everett, playing at the bottom of the slide, seeing the large boy making his way toward Calvin, jumped up with determination and ran to Calvin, jumping in front of him just as the boy stepped within reach. Then, raising his pointer finger to the boy’s chest, Everett looked up at this boy (who towered over the little toddler) and said with his Everett-fierce-determination: “No, this is my brother, you leave him alone!”
And the boy backed up in confused alarm. After a moment or two Everett realized the boy was not a foe, but a friend and the three went off in happy play.
But I was both astonished and bemused at Everett’s loyalty and love for his big brother – enough to throw himself into harm’s way to protect him.
That story perfectly sums up who Everett is as a soul.