My son has four brothers...who all have other mothers...adopted mothers, that is. Flapjack is the youngest. He has three brothers who live with one family and then the oldest brother lives with another family. All the boys live in the same town and know each other. Flapjack and the brother closest in age to him...let's call him Brother #1 love to spend time together. There is a 2 year age difference but you wouldn't know it to see them together.

This summer they have spent a ton of time together at the pool and back and forth at each other's houses. They think it is hilarious to tell people they are brothers. One of them will usually say, "This is my brother with another mother" and then burst into gales of laughter. No one else gets the joke. Today at the pool they were talking to a life guard and I could see the discussion was getting heated.

I swam near them and brother #1 yells out, "Tell her we're brothers!"

So I said, "Okay, they're brothers." The lifeguard laughed and said, "Yeah, right."

I said again, "They really are brothers." Poor thing...I should have offered an explanation but honestly the look on her face was priceless. Wonder if she'll figure it out on her own? Or if she'll ask? The boys were just happy I settled the matter.

It is odd how happy it makes me feel that they have such a strong bond. Seeing them together it is clear they are more than friends. They have an unbreakable bond...that survives the fights they often have...just like normal brothers do.