The War of '89

One of the things I love about coming from a big family (4 sisters and a brother), is the many alliances you form over the years. For example, after watching a National Geographic special, on alligators, Robyn and I became "croc sisters". We had a can-can-like dance, and little chant that went along with it. We didn't do anything special, aside from the song and dance, but we were VERY exclusive, and NO ONE could become another croc sister. I believe my sisters Stephany, Emily and Brittany were "Super Sisters". Now, because I wasn't a member, I don't know exactly what they did, but I believe it had something to key chains and trips to Wendy's. You may look at the descriptions and say that being a "Super Sister" was "cooler", but there were 3 in that faction, and only 2 croc sisters. More exclusive=cooler. Duh.


You may notice someone missing from these friendly associations. Andrew, my brother. Well, ladies and gentleman, that's because he was a typical only boy in a family of girls. That is to say, he was mean. I one time almost started an alliance with him. We were playing basketball in the backyard, and he was bring very nice. I should have known something was up, but being the sensitive Pisces I am, I was just savoring the moment. On a whim, I jumped, twisted and wildly threw the ball behind my head. When I looked at my brother, he was in complete awe.
"Do that again!!!!" So, I did. "Kate, you made BOTH those shots!"
My head was swimming. Not only was my brother impressed, but I finally found something that could get me on Johnny Carson, or perhaps even The Cosby Show. I kept shooting, and kept making them. Andrew clasped his hands under his chin, and watched in amazement. After the 15th or 16th shot, I could actually see tears in his eyes. Maybe we could be the b-ball gang, or something, WHO KNOWS? I thought to myself. As if he had read my thoughts, Andrew chimed "Can I tell you something?"
"Of course Drew, I was thinking I'd start calling you Drew."
"Well sis. You didn't make a single one of those shots, you ding dong!"
My head was spinning. HOW COULD HE? Well, the answer is simple, he could because he was the only boy in a family of girls, and maybe he was a little sore that he wasn't a "Super Sister".


Anyway, all the alliances, all the factions, all the friendly associations, led to the War of '89. I don't know exactly what brought it about. Now that I'm a grown up I think the War may have been a disagreement between the older girls and Andrew. I don't think I was directly wronged in anyway, but I was just so pleased to be included in what the older kids were doing. I was enlisted to fight with the girls, while Andrew scooped up Emily. Brittany was only two at the time, so she was completely useless, and therefore uninvolved. I remember sitting in the playroom, and planning our attack. We didn't want to kill each other, I don't think, but we certainly acted like we did. I was sent behind enemy lines. I belly-crawled across the house to behind the couch, Emily and Andrew's headquarters. I was spotted immediately and sent running for my life back to the playroom.
"What are they planning?" Asked Robyn, upon my return.
"Oh, I don't know. What are your hopes for the future?" I responded. I really wanted to use the time to really get to know my older sisters.
There was some more planning, and then the countdown started. 3-2-1, and we were off. Screaming and waving our arms as we ran through the kitchen, past our mother who was chatting on the phone. Hearing our battle cry, Andrew and Emily came running toward us. Our house isn't that big, so the approach couldn't have lasted more than one second. Somewhere in there Emily got hurt (surprise, surprise), and started crying. This alerted our mom, and she halfheartedly yelled over her shoulder to be nice. Our mother is very soft-spoken, so we knew she meant business. Looking back, I wonder if that wasn't their plan all along. They knew they were outnumbered, and had to play to their strengths (i.e. Emily's wimpyness. JK Emily isn't a wimp. She's actually alarmingly competitive). All in all I can't imagine the War of '89 lasted more than 8 minutes, but boy what a ride!


XOXOXOXO
Kate