in my pretend dream

Recently, one of my sisters texted in the 3 sister group chat about our brother. Our brother lives in an adult group home. He cannot read beyond a few words. He does not have a job.

He has a girlfriend and she was the topic of the recent text. Our brother is certain that his girlfriend is a social worker. While my sister maintained that his girlfriend is also a client at the adult daycare our brother attends regularly.

“You can’t ask too many questions because then he gets mad.”

The other sister, “Correct.”

On walks or drives together, my brother likes to start conversations with the phrase, “In my pretend dream . . .” which features him as the owner of multiple vehicles (often the make and model of the ones the rest of the family drives) as well as trailers (recreational vehicles) and boats in which he and a couple of friends travel frequently. He has a large home with several garages. There are lots of phones and walkie talkies.

When he was introduced to a vulnerable adult in my church, she was excited to hear that she would be invited to his wedding. At this time, he had been with his new girlfriend for less than a month.

Me, “When you can’t pick your roommates, you can’t drive, you can’t work . . . In my pretend dream . . .”

“Yes, exactly.”

Whenever he calls, he asks, “Hey sis! What are you up to?”

One of his most infamous questions is, “Have you heard the news?”

Of course, I have NOT! The news is often a member of the family purchasing a new phone or a new car.

I must be careful not to relay news that he has not heard, because he immediately exits the call since he must verify all news from the direct source.

In my pretend dream, my brother will be living his pretend dream as well as be the source of all news.

UPDATE: My brother’s girlfriend just “broke his heart.” He is single again.

Birthday guy

Our brother on one of his favorite days!