My name is Jackson. Or as Mena likes to introduce me to her friends as, "Bernice's brother. " She always neglects to mention that I'm her older brother and way too many people make the assumption that I'm her younger brother.
My sister and I grew up together. For as long as I can remember she's always been by my side. She followed me when I was younger, probably out of necessity . There are photos off us jumping off tables pretending to be power rangers, our English came from the same episodes of Play School and re runs of Bananas in Pajamas. Our parents enrolled us in many programs and classes together. Tennis, swimming, Chinese, piano and choir. Bernice, finished learning Chinese, excelled in piano and was an okay singer. Me? I didn't finish Chinese, adequate at best in piano, and horridly poor in choir. You know, not bitter.
And as we grew up, we grew up with different interests and different skills. When Harry Potter, came out, I was 10(?), Bernice was 8. We rushed out to the book store, the day it came out and bought a copy. We came home and we were lying down, reading. After two chapters(?), she was already. "Jack, hurry up! Jack, can I turn the page, I've already finished. Jack, come on! Jack , Jack" Of course, since then Bernice is rarely seen without a book. Whether it's in her spare time or in her studies, her books and the world they bring, has become part of her.
Bernice, took a lot of great traits from my parents. From my father, she gained extraordinary charisma. In high school she was a noted debater and captain. Her ability with words and languages in general, are impossibly amazing, at least for an engineer. At home, around the dinner table, the verbal gymnastics with my father are long and varied, as they share a variety of interest from History, social science to politics.
From my mother, she inherited a tenacity to complete all things difficult. An ability to perservere and overcome all the challenges in her life. For every challenge, life has thrown at my sister, she has stood up and overcome all of them. So many times, she has been told she couldn't or can not and so many times she's come through. Her tenacity seems boundless.
Unless it's cooking. Because she didn't get our mother's culinary skills.
From me, she got nothing useful. Except my sense of humor. When I tell jokes to my friends, often they won't laugh. I will then, have to explain my joke and they still won't laugh. Jokes of course aren't funny when they need to be explained. Bernice, however, understands all my jokes; however unique they are. She might not laugh at them, but at least she gets them and how they're supposed to be funny. For that, my sister will always be my best friend.
When I was younger, one of the first promises I made to our parents was to look after her. I don't think she needs to be looked after anymore. I think you've turned out pretty well and I would like to take all the credit. My promise to you tonight: Know that whatever you need, whenever it might be, I will always be here.
My sister, from day one was destined to be extraordinary. It's silly to say, because I'm not that much older, but it's none the less true. Happy Birthday Bernice. When it comes to you, nothing has been ordinary and I am so proud to be able to call you my sister.
~TastyJacks~
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