Pineapples

    Braeden looked up from his DS when Tyler walked in with groceries. He jumped up to help, pulling a few bags from Tyler’s arms.

    “I thought this would be the easiest job,” Tyler muttered, putting stuff in the refrigerator and pantry and dropping the empty bags to the floor.

    “Getting the groceries out of the car is easy,” Braden replied, gathering up the bags from the floor and putting them in the recycling bin. “Blaine’s the one who drives to get them.”

    “Driving is easy! Besides, Blaine’s just using this as an excuse to drive with his new license.” Tyler sighed, looking at the platter of fruit that he had left out.

    “We only have three more years until we turn sixteen, Ty. I think we can survive doing other chores until then.” Braeden smiled, opening the platter and popping a blueberry into his mouth. Tyler went straight for the pineapple slices, eating a few pieces of his favorite fruit before offering some to Braeden.

    “I don’t like pineapples,” he said. “The texture is weird, and the flavor isn’t even that good. Plus, I feel funny afterwards.” Tyler’s jaw dropped before he practically tackled Braedan.

    “You have to like pineapples! I’m sure you’ll have a change of heart! IT’s been a few years since you’ve had one, right? Your taste buds probably changed since you’re growing up anyway.” Tyler pressed the fruit against Braeden’s lips, but he refused to open them.  

     “T-Tyler, Braeden, is that you?” Cooper slowly walked into the kitchen, glancing around with scared eyes. His bottom lip quivered as the silence stretched on.

     Braeden finally opened his mouth to say something, but Tyler shoved the pineapple into his mouth, making him choke. Braeden tried to spit it out, but was eventually forced to swallow.

     Suddenly, Blaine and Adonis walked into the house. “What is going on?” Blaine questioned, dragging Tyler off of Braeden.

     “I made him eat a pineapple!” he said with a triumphant grin. Adonis growled, picking up his little brother.

     “When we get home, Tyler, I’m going to kill you,” he spat before heading out to the car.

     “What did I do?” Tyler asked, looking up at his facepalming brother.

     “You idiot, Braeden’s allergic to pineapples!”