DUAL QUESTS

My oldest brother Max owns a guide service and climbs Mountain Rainier regularly. This is his escape from life, as he has no friends. His abusive personality destroys relationships but I found a way to salvage ours when we scaled the mountain together.

He scoffed when I told him I wanted to conquer the summit, saying I was worthless and out of shape. Such barbs were never jokes and I wondered if I was wasting my time.

I can't remember the last mile to the summit. I was exhausted and Max was ahead of me, looking back and shaking his head as if guiding a failure. This stirred in me a seething fury and my mind locked on that rage. It put me in a numbing trance and when my mind finally cleared I realized I was standing on the summit. Not realizing it, I had passed Max up and stomped my way to the top. Ten minutes later he joined me at the apex. I was dazed and worn out from the climb but refused to show it.

"Quite an accomplishment," he said. "I didn't think you had it in you."

"Of course you didn't!" I snapped. "But you know, climbing this mountain wasn't my only goal."

"Oh? What's the other?"

"Gaining your respect," I answered, looking him in the eye.

There was silence and in that moment Max's realization of my dual quests leveled him. We've been the best of friends ever since.

THE END

To Stories by Max contents