Packing Up Memories

There was a dull thud against the door to Jackson’s bedroom, interrupting his process of attempting at packing up for college. He was leaving tomorrow to start a new chapter of his life and he was still trying to figure out how he was going to fit all of it into one car. His concentration was cut short as the door opened, a bundle of cardboard boxes falling into his room. Jackson stared at it before a familiar 16-year-old popped up, her brunette hair frizzy.

“Mom told me to bring up these boxes so you can organize everything.”

Jackson was silent for a moment as he looked between the boxes and the teenager. “Okay. Do you need something, Lily?”

Lily shook her head, stepping over one of the larger boxes and landing next to Jackson’s seated position. “I’m good, I just wanted to see what you were up to.”

“Packing.” Jackson responded; his answers short as he tried to start up where he left off.

“Can I help?” She pondered, looking around, her eyes falling on her brother’s baseball gear.

Jackson let out a controlled breath. “Yeah, you can help by getting out of the way.”

Lily chuckled as she casually grabbed the baseball and threw it up in the air, catching it with ease. “Remember that time you and I were throwing the ball back and forth and I started teasing you about that girl you liked- “

“Monica? Also, can you put that back-” Jackson responded tensely.

“No, the other one who would pop her gum every 5 seconds.”

Jackson blinked in thought before letting out a defeated sigh. “Oh, Jessie.”

She snapped her fingers at Jackson. “Yeah her, well you got so mad you threw that ball so hard that it looked like time itself was bending with it, so I ducked, and it broke the window.”

“Oh yeah! I do remember that; mom grounded me.” Jackson frowned in thought before muttering sarcastically. “Great memory.”

Lily rolled her eyes as she placed the ball back in its place. “Okay, yes, but I’m trying to bring up some good memories.”

“Okay but usually every single one of those has a negative rendition of it.” Jackson cast a glance over at his sister, who’s mouth was gaping open.

“That’s not true- “

“That’s SO true! Are you kidding me? What about- “Jackson quickly reached over into a box labeled ‘Electronics’ and grasped an old black iPhone. “My first phone that I bought.”

Lily blinked slowly and bit her lip in thought. “Okay, well when we bought that it was such a fun day. We went to the mall together and you got it and we went and got food, went for a walk at a park nearby: that was so fun!”

“Lily. You got mad at me cause I flipped you off and you smacked my phone down on the ground and the screen cracked.” Jackson responded curtly, adding emphasis by shoving the phone back into the box.

“Did not!” Lily whined, crossing her arms.

“Yes, you did! You said, and I quote, ‘don’t flip me off that’s rude’ and then you smacked my hand that was holding my phone.”

“Alright fine but what about,” Lily scanned the cardboard boxes and discarded items scattered around the room that still weren’t packed. She suddenly noticed a blanket folded on the bed. “That blanket, I bought that for you when you had the stomach bug cause you complained it was too cold, but you already had all the blankets on top of you, so I went out and bought this one cause it was so soft and comforting. You can’t possibly say anything- “

Jackson flailed his arms, his eyes wide. “You gave me the stomach bug!”

“Oh my god.”

“You did! I had to take care of you for three days.” Her brother commented, his face grimacing at the mere thought of it.

Lily narrowed her eyes, her foot tapping anxiously. “Okay, then look for another positive bonding experience. Being sick is, of course, negative, but we helped each other out, right?”

“Well, yeah. But you still got me sick.”

“Whatever.” The teenager walked away; her arms crossed together as she leaned against the wall. Her brother continued stuffing his belongings half-hazardously into the boxes making her cringe. “You’re gonna break something if you pack like that; here let me help.”

Jackson’s jaw clenched as he turned towards her. “You want to help with packing?”

She walked over towards him and sat down, grabbing one of the boxes on her way. “Sure, why not.”

Jackson just rolled his eyes as he continued packing, aware of his sister right behind him as she mainly just fiddled with some of his belongings before placing it in a box. He wanted to comment on the fact that she was not organizing them in any sense while he had specifically made one for electronics, clothing, food, etc.

His thoughts were interrupted as his sister’s voice, yet again, piped up. “Hey, you’re bringing this picture?”

Jackson looked over at the picture; he had been wearing his favorite blue and black plaid shirt and Lily had on a navy dress with her arm draped around his waist. “Oh. Yeah, that one. I look pretty good in it, so I thought why not.”

“It’s not because I’m in it? Ouch, my heart.” Lily emphasized her comment by placing a hand dramatically on her chest.

Jackson let out a brief breath of air. “Okay, fine, it’s also cause you’re in it.”

She smiled in response before knocking his arm playfully. “That’s better, except mom and dad might get angry.”

“I’ll probably see them more than I see you, so they get the luxury of seeing me all the time.”

Lily paused briefly in her packing. She had been planning on visiting him almost every week for lunch or just to spend time with him, and yet, here he was making comments as though she doesn’t care. “What? You think you’re not going to see me? Jackson I’m gonna visit.”

“Yeah, whatever you say.”

She again paused, her hand holding his alarm clock. “I’m serious! You think I would help you pack if I wasn’t going to go and visit you?”

A snort left Jackson’s mouth as he arched an eyebrow and just stared at her. “For free? No way. Mom and dad probably paid you to help.”

“Have you met them? They would say, ‘you shouldn’t get paid just because you’re helping your brother’. I’m helping you pack, Jackson, because I’m going to miss you, and besides, this is a positive memory that’s happening right here! There are no negative renditions that have occurred so I’m frankly doing this just so that way you won’t be able to say that we don’t have any good memories. In fact, hold on.” Lily got up and quickly went to her room and over to the plastic bags that laid, untouched, on her bed. Reaching inside she found exactly what she needed. She made her way back to Jackson’s room and sat down next to him, grabbing a pen that had been sitting on the desk.

Curiosity took over as Jackson shifted, leaning to the side and look over her shoulder. “What are you doing?”

“Hey! No peeking.” Lily scooted away, her back colliding with the wall as she continued writing on the first page. She continued on, the pen’s ink bleeding into the page as she wrote all the way until her words were printed on the final line of the notebook. “There, it’s done.”

“Can I read it?”

“No, you have to eat it- yes you can read it.”

Dear Jackson,

To start, you’re an idiot.

“Wow, beautiful start- “

“Just shut your mouth and keep reading.”

However, you’re MY idiot brother. I know we tend to get irritated with each other easily and I know it’s hard to think of any pure positive memories. But we are brother and sister, it’s in the metaphorical rule book that there are going to be moments where we simply despise each other and then other moments where we really, truly care for each other. Sure, I gave you the stomach bug, but we cared for each other: you know? You weren’t suffering in your room with a 103 fever alone (Hint: it was because I was there).

“You’re so modest.”

“I’m going to kick you if you don’t keep reading.”

The point I am trying to make as you keep distracting me from writing, is that I’ll always love you, or whatever. You’re my brother and you’re family. The little things that go on involve us being together and frankly that’s all I need. When you go off to college, of course I’m going to visit, and we are going to argue but you’re going to love it: I know you will. It’s the time we spend together, you doofus, that really matters but because you’re all materialistic and what not, I figure I would write you this so you can always remember how annoying I am.

Love,

Lily

Jackson looked at the letter, the black ink glistening slightly. “Well, thank you.”

Lily couldn’t help but deflate a little at the simple response, but she smiled back. “No problem. Now, hand me that box because you leave tomorrow and half your room is still existing.”

He nodded in response and handed her a cardboard box before turning back to the notebook as he placed it, carefully, on top of one of his full boxes. He wanted to remain macho and show no emotion at the sentimental offer that his sister had made. His comments were mainly to tease and annoy her, as that was how their conversations usually went. But, now, sitting in the midst of all the boxes and personal belongings, he couldn’t help but to smile softly at the small gesture. Jackson looked down at the black notebook once more before folding the cardboard flaps, packing up the memories for later.