I’ll Fix Anthony
Matthew 5:38-42
Illustration
by Judith Viorst

In Judith Viorst's children's book, "I'll Fix Anthony," the younger brother complains about the way his older brother Anthony treats him: "My brother Anthony can read books now, but he won't read any books to me. He plays checkers with Bruce from his school. But when I want to play he says, "Go away or I'll clobber you." I let him wear my Snoopy sweatshirt, but he never lets me borrow his sword. Mother says deep down in his heart Anthony loves me. Anthony says deep down in his heart he thinks I stink. Mother says deep deep down in his heart, where he doesn't even know it, Anthony loves me. Anthony says deep deep down in his heart he still thinks I stink. When I'm six I'll fix Anthony...When I'm six I'll float, but Anthony will sink to the bottom. I'll dive off the board, but Anthony will change his mind. I'll breathe in and out when I should, but Anthony will only go glug, glug...When I'm six my teeth will fall out, and I'll put them under the bed, and the tooth fairy will take them away and leave dimes. Anthony's teeth won't fall out. He'll wiggle and wiggle them, but they won't fall out. I might sell him one of my teeth, but I might not...Anthony is chasing me out of the playroom. He says I stink. He says he is going to clobber me. I have to run now, but I won't have to run when I'm six. When I'm six, I'll fix Anthony."

Can you see how these brothers are missing out? Instead of playing and romping, these boys are trapped in a negative cycle of jealousy, anger, and bullying. Can you just imagine how their relationship would change if Anthony read his favorite story to his younger brother? Or realized the person who is potentially his biggest fan in the whole world, is just about done with him for good? It sounds like the younger brother might be done turning the other cheek and is plotting his revenge, which only hurts both kids and poisons one of the most important relationships in both their lives.

ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc., ChristianGlobe Illustrations, by Judith Viorst