All By Myself

Jared, Chris, and James decided to play a board game together.   Unfortunately, the kitchen table was covered in papers and pencils and plates and forks. Chris, the middle child, frowned. “We’ll have to clean up this mess. Let’s get started.”

He looked at his older brother Jared and his younger brother James.   Jared was looking at his fingernails.   James folded his arms and pouted.   “Why are you looking at me?” James asked.

“Well, I’m willing to pick up a bit,” Chris said. “It looks like a fun game and I’d really like to play it.   Who will help me?”

“Not me,” Jared said.

“Not me,” James said.

“Then I’ll do it myself,” Chris said.

“Call us when you’re done,” Jared said.

So Chris put away everything on the table. He put the schoolwork and schoolbooks into backpacks. He recycled the extra papers and put the pencils in the pencil jar. He put the plates and forks in the dishwasher. He found a packet of crackers and resealed them and put them in the cupboard. He threw away the candy wrappers. “I’m done,” he said.

Jared and James came back. “The table’s sticky,” Jared said.

“I put everything away,” Chris said. “So who wants to wipe the table?”

“Not me,” Jared said.

“Not me,” James said.

“Really? Fine. Then I’ll do it myself,” Chris said.

“Call us when you’re done,” James said.

Chris got a kitchen sponge wet and scrubbed at all the sticky spots. He rinsed and repeated until the sticky spots were gone. Then he got a towel and dried off the table. “I’m done,” he said.

Jared and James came back into the kitchen again. “Did you get the game out?” James asked.

Chris sighed. “No.   So, who’s going to get it?”

“Not me,” Jared said.

“Not me,” James said.

“Forget it. I’ll do it myself,” Chris said. And he did. James and Jared were sitting at the table. “Does anyone know how to play this?”

“Nope,” Jared said.

“Me either,” James said.

“Someone should read the rules. Who wants to read them and then explain them to everyone?” Chris asked.

“Not me,” Jared said.

“Not me,” James said.

“I’ll do it,” Chris said.

“Call us when you’re done,” Jared said.

So Chris read the rules. He got lost several times and had to flip back to earlier things he’d read. When he was pretty sure he understood the rules, he called his brothers back. They sat at the table and he explained the rules. “So, let’s set up the game,” he said. “It’ll go faster if we work together. Who wants to help?”

“Not me,” Jared said.

“Not me,” James said.

“Then I’ll do it myself,” Chris said. James and Jared watched while he set up the game and handed out the tokens and game pieces.

“We need snacks,” James said.

“Great idea,” Chris said. “Who wants to help me get them?”

“Not me,” Jared said.

“Not me,” James said.

“Fine, I’ll do it,” Chris said. He brought back the crackers and some bags of candy. “Who’s going to help me eat all this?” he asked.

“I will,” Jared said.

“I will,” James said.

“You’re kidding,” Chris said. “You haven’t helped me do anything else. I’m going to eat them all myself. Get your own snacks if you want some. Now, let’s play the game.” And they did.