As Jeff tries to come up with an idea of what to try out next, he hears his little brother Riley in the next room, no doubt playing his favorite video game “Mario Cart”.
Jeff looks towards his door, a weird feeling of sadness suddenly overcomes him, he and his little brother don’t really get along, and as he thinks about it, Jeff feels as if HE is the major cause of the cliff between them: he always tells Riley to stop “bugging” him, even though Riley just asked him for help with his homework, or for his opinion, with not such a friendly tone.
The teen looks back at his laptop screen, the program still open, ‘I’ve been so mean to Riley,’ Jeff thinks to himself, ‘he is such a good kid, annoying at times and a little mischievous, but not in a “evil” way. However, I feel like I am the main reason for this huge void between us, I want to have a good relationship with him. I want him to look up to me, to see me as the cool big brother who is always there for him’.
Jeff then gets an idea, ‘it’s risky, but… I feel like this would be the perfect way for us to bond, or at least a first step,’ he thinks to himself.
Having made up his mind, Jeff calls out, “RILEY, COME IN MY ROOM FOR A MINUTE!”
Jeff hears footsteps approach his room and when the door opens he sees the head of his eight-year-old brother Riley peek in, the boy has a nervous expression on his face, “wh-what is it,” Riley asks, “u-usually you only call me to shout at me!”
Jeff shakes his head, “I promise, Riley, this is different,” he says, “please, come in and sit on my bed. I’ll explain everything to you”.
Confused and still nervous, Riley steps into the room, closing the door behind him before sitting on the edge of Jeff’s bed, “so… what… what is this about?”
Jeff smiles kindly, “no need to be nervous, Riley,” he says, then lets out a sigh, “I know we don’t get along so well, and I know that I am the one to blame for the void between us”.
Riley looks surprised, “um…,” he says, unsure of what to say.
Jeff lets out a sigh before continuing, “I want our relationship be better, I want us to bond… and I want to be the “cool” big brother you look up to and who you can rely on if you need help with anything”.
“Um… yeah… that would be nice,” Riley says.
Jeff looks at Riley, “and I might know how we could bond,” he says, he then goes to explain and show the program to Riley.
At first Riley is sceptic, but when Jeff uses the program to change his hair from black to green and back to black, Riley sits there with wide eyes.
Jeff smiles, “so, I was thinking, to make up for being mean to you, and for us to bond,” he says, “I’d allow you to think of something I should become for the weekend”.
“You mean… you are allowing me to decide what you should become,” Riley asks, “I can think of… anything?”
Jeff nods and smiles, “yup,” he says.
Riley thinks for a while, “this… this could actually be fun,” he says, smiling, “I think this is a good way for us to bond”.
Jeff smiles wide, “I’m glad,” he says, “so, what do you have in mind?”