Dirty, gross, smelly, disgusting, annoying, aggressive, did I mention dirty? Brothers. Need I say more?

I am the middle child, and the only girl. Smooshed between two boys… when I say smooshed, I really mean it. I grew up doing basically everything they did, except I was never quite as talented as they were. To me frogs were slimy and ugly, to them, they were fun to touch, fish with, and keep. Hunting to me was a long, boring, silent, and pointless endeavor. To them, it was peaceful, thrilling and rewarding, most of the time. Soon, they realized our differences. Then I got kicked out of fishing and hunting trips because apparently I cried and got tired too easily…

Another thing that I am certain boys might love even more than these things is wrestling--always looking for a fight. The older one always saying “don’t touch me, you’ll get hurt” so naturally, I respond with “I’m not touching you” as my finger was a speck away from his arm. Well, that always ended with me running and screaming to the nearest parent around. However, once in a while I could hold my own. Tumbling around on the carpet close to tears but determined to beat one of them up. Looking back, it’s a miracle I’m still in one piece.

Along with everything else, they were the kings of smack talking. Some of the harshest things I’ve heard have come from them. I cried, tried to come to hate them for what they said but never could. Knowing they never really meant it.

Brothers are awful, there is no doubt about that. But, as you grow older you begin to realize you still love them despite how dirty, smelly, gross, and mean they can be. They’re family and you could never not love them. When it truly counts, they’re the ones who you can go to. They are the ones who in a heartbeat would beat a boy up for hurting you, or pull you out of a ditch, or even help you decide on an outfit. Sure, they fart in your face and pull unbelievable pranks on you, but you always end up laughing and telling the story later. They have a strange way of showing love, let’s just put it that way.

Now that we have all grown up a little bit, those brothers I used to call boys are shaping into men. Men that deeply care about their crybaby, frog-hating sister. My brothers taught me how to be tough and adventurous. They both have grown into people I look up to and love, despite the fact that they still smell really, really, gross sometimes.

So to all those girls stuck with brothers, everything they give to you, give it right back. Whether that’s a fight, a snowball to the face, or love and advice. They’re a pain yes, but they’re all we have and honestly when it comes down to it, all we need.