The Missing Brother

They gathered from around the globe this year, at the old home place.  Families getting together, all in one place.  this hadn't happened in a while, she recalled.  All but one was there.  He had gone from them a few years back, only long enough to still be missed in a terrible heart wrenching way.  They all missed him.  All.  Tears in the eyes kind of missed.  He wasn't her brother, but might as well have been.  Even though he had lived thousands of miles away, he was there.  When he returned, which happened every few years or so, it was if he had never been away. 

On the day they laid him in the ground, they raised their glass in toast. It was in respect of him that they did this.  He would have wanted drinks rather than tears.. he got both.  Not all were there that day, the oldest missing.  But not this day.  She watched, as they all came from their cars, trucks, jeeps and made their way to the family plot.  "Hello father, Hello mother, Hello Brother"..  Greetings came easy.  They stood for a moment, still not believing that this was part of their here and now.  The youngest offered small plastic cups,  mainly to the brothers and sisters who gathered.  and proceeded to pour "a wee dram".    She watched as they raised their cups.. "to our brother", they said.  and the youngest took the bottle, The Brothers favourite drink, and poured a "wee dram" on the grave.  Drink up brother, this is for you..