Spotlight: NUTS
By Henry Keating

Saving some one is more than just throwing them a life vest; it's making sure you pick them up in the boat as well. I'm the oldest out of 3 bundles of joy (me, my brother, and my sister), and my “job” as the biggest brother or head honcho of small people in the Alter family is to make sure my brother and sister stay out of trouble. I'm like a guardian angel watching over them. But when I was in 2nd grade it didn't go so smoothly. I remember the day. We had a bake sale, and the smell of freshly baked cookies, the frosting on the Kannnigan's cupcakes, and the other homemade goods gave a beautiful aroma throughout the entire school. My brother loves sweets and at this one bake sale he bought a cookie and two brownies, one for me and one for him. I hate dark chocolate but I took the brownie and put it in my backpack and went to my classroom.

Instead of saving the brownie for lunch, I decided to take a bite during snack time. I bit into the chocolate square and I felt something crunchy between my teeth. When I asked my teacher what it was she replied, “Nuts”. My heart sank. My brother was allergic to nuts. He could stop breathing when he eats a nut. I felt sick. I didn't know what to do. All these horrible thoughts were running through my head. What if he already ate the brownie? What if he is dead? It must've been a dream, I mean my brother would spit it out, right? What if… As my mind raced, I suddenly realized I had I had to act fast, but I couldn't. My palms were sweaty, my legs were numb, My head was spinning and suddenly math was unimportant and my brother was all that mattered, and I think I was about to stop breathing too I was in so much shock! All the questions, all the confusion. But all I could do was cry. I could not help myself and other kids wanted to know what was wrong and I just cried. Finally my teacher asked me what was wrong.

I shouted, “MY BROTHER IS PROBABLY DEAD BY NOW!”

“What?” the teacher asked.

“We bought brownies, they have nuts, he's allergic, he could die”, and I felt more tears welling in my eyes.

My teacher said, “Well, go try and save him”.

So I took off. I sprinted out of the classroom before you could say Nuts. It was like I was a lion and I was chasing after the Antelope. I even remember running by the office as the secretary yelled, “SLOW DOWN” and I managed to pant back, “It's an emergency!”

When I got to my brother's classroom he had the brownie out on his desk, and he was eating a cookie. I ran into the class and hugged him. That is all I could do. I was so happy to see his dorky, little face. I know we pretend to hate each other, but we also love each other because we are brothers. My brother was so surprised to see me run into his classroom. Once he heard the story, he understood.

I remember this story every time I see the badge in my room that I got for saving my brother's life, but it's not all about saving my brother's life. It's comes down to the fact that even though our bond might not be as strong as it was in 2 nd grade, I have that badge to remind me we're brothers for life. That's what's most important, an unbreakable bond that will last forever.