Okay, I admit it, the only time I’ve seen a good brother/sister story in science fiction is Podcayne of Mars by Robert Heinlein. Ryder and his sister don’t always get along, but what is their true relationship. Many elements of the story are drawn from my own five children, including the tv controller incident in this excerpt. Ryder is certainly an introvert by nature. Debbie is the polar opposite. Friends who have read the book indicate they can clearly identify who Debbie is based on. As you read the book you may not believe anyone could really be like that, but she is more real than fictional. In the previous excerpt we saw how Debbie stands up for Ryder, but how about the other way around?
Ryder was surprised how easily his parents had gone along with his going abroad for a year. They sounded almost as if they had been expecting the trip to Europe. Mom had gone so far as to say, “We knew it had to come up sooner or later.” They had been more hesitant about Debbie going along.
“She’s too young,” Mother had said.
“I’m not so much worried about her age as her sense of adventure,” Dad had stated. “She’s not afraid of anything, and I don’t think she has the judgment to avoid mischief. I just don’t think she’s ready for Europe and all that goes with it.” Ryder would never admit it to Debbie, but he had finally sold his parents on letting her come. She had been in tears when she ran to her bedroom. “I’ll take care of her,” Ryder volunteered. “I’ll make sure she stays out of trouble.”
Ryder tossed and turned as he tried to get to sleep that night. The excitement of visiting a far-off land had him contemplating the things he might see, the places he might visit. He rose three different times to check out information about the Swiss Alps, the Prado, and finally the Black Forest. He could not seem to get his mind to shut down. Finally, he decided to get up and grab a snack from the refrigerator. As he reached the kitchen, he could overhear voices in the dining room.
“Elise, we knew this day would come. We’ve been planning on it for what, six years now?” he heard his father console.
“But it wasn’t for another year. William isn’t even sixteen yet.” His mother sounded on the edge of tears. “And Deborah? You know the troubles I had. She isn’t even close to old enough to go.”
“Yes, I was surprised that Debbie was invited too. But it makes some sense. She’ll have William to keep an eye on her. I’d rather she went the same time he goes,” his dad replied.
“It isn’t safe,” Mother stuttered.
Ryder felt embarrassed. He never liked to be around when she, or anyone else for that matter, was crying.
“Frankly,” Ryder’s dad interjected, “after what William experienced at that ridiculous excuse of a school, I think they will both be safer at Europe. Who knows, maybe they’ll bring us back some dewsnips?”
Ryder heard his mother laugh halfheartedly as he slipped back down the stairs. He decided he would have to bring some dewsnips home. He spent the next hour trying to find the word online, but despite using every combination he could think of, he came up empty. The search did get his mind off the upcoming trip, and eventually he dozed off at his computer.
Over the next few weeks Ryder frequently regretted talking his parents into letting Debbie come along. She seemed twice as irritating as normal, and her confidence seemed to be expanding beyond reality.
“I’ll bet I can get the pilot to let me fly the plane,” she boasted. She would then go on to say she was going to be a pilot when she grew up. Later, she was going to join the Air Force. Then she was going to be the President of the United States.
“After that I assume you’ll be an astronaut and become a multi-millionaire selling energy drinks,” Ryder responded sarcastically.
The fire in Debbie’s eye warned him in time, and he ducked as the TV controller sailed past his head and broke against the far wall.
“Dad’s going to kill you.” Ryder laughed as he fled to his room, locking the door behind him as Debbie’s body slammed into it.