07.02.25. The Elder Brother

25. THE ELDER BROTHER A brother twenty-five years his senior who had been away from home during most of Todd’s lifetime came for a visit, and hearing of the recklessness of the younger brother said, "I believe I can handle him." One day he asked him to go for a walk and when they were well away from the house he said, "Now, Todd, I want to help you, and if you will promise me that you will quit cigarettes, never drink and never swear, I will do something for you." When he had finished the boy said, "I will not promise anything." "Why?" "Because I have promised my other brothers, and I have made promises to my father and mother which I did not keep, and I am not going to make any more, and I will not promise you that I will ever try to do any different." When he said that, the big brother turned in seeming disgust and walked back to the house leaving him alone.

Todd did not take that attitude because he was all bad, or wanted to be bad, but because he did not want to add any more broken promises to those already against him.