This Is How to Be a Big Brother

Press A, not B;

shoot with the left trigger, not the right one;

this is how to play a video game;

this is how to be the last man standing on this map;

move your head as you see my elbow move back;

keep your fists up;

this is how to throw a punch;

this is how to dodge one;

this is how to wash your car;

this is how to play music too loud;

do not let him near you;

do not tell guys who do not care what you would only tell someone who would;

this is how to avoid getting your heart broken;

this is how to avoid getting used;

this is how to tell which guys are the good ones;

what if he says all the right things?

his is how to tell them to talk to your older brother;

do not succumb to your genuine mindset and allow yourself to be walked on;

this is how to fall down;

this is how to pick yourself back up;

this is how to come to someone when you are in trouble;

this is how to swallow your pride;

this is how to choke it back up;

this is how to apologize;

always mean your apologies;

this is how to mess up;

this is how to fix it;

this is how to be yourself;

this is how to take what someone says about you and forget about it;

this is how to listen to music even when mom says it’s too inappropriate;

this is what a cigarette tastes like;

that’s gross;

this is how to make sure you always say that;

this is what whiskey tastes like;

this is how to fill the bottle back up with water so mom doesn’t notice;

this is how to grow up;

this is how to come home drunk at 4am and not wake anyone up;

this is how to explain yourself if you do;

this is how to dial my number when you don’t feel safe;

this is how to make yourself feel safe;

this is how to key a car if a boy ever cheats on you;

don’t touch the car before you do;

remember, keep your fists up;

this is how to stay up too late and still be on time for school in the morning;

this is how to put a thermometer to a light bulb and then under your tongue so you don’t have to go to school;

always wait for it to cool down, apparently 108 degree fevers are deathly;

this is how to be a kid at the age of 21;

this is how to come home and be best friends with mom and a dog;

this is how to take the charms only out of the Lucky Charms box;

always put the box back like it was;

this is how to walk with your key sticking out of your knuckles when you’re alone in a parking lot;

this is how to clean up a spill before mom notices;

this is how to love somebody correctly;

if you question that, ask me;

this is how to be okay;

this is how to be content with knowing the least of a situation;

this is how to pretend you don’t know the entire thing;

this is how to win over people;

how do you know so much?

this is how to live with mistakes;

this is how to pass the knowledge on;

fists up; get ready to dodge;

this is how to make sure your little sister can always put up a fight.

This is how to be strong.