worn and broken

worn and broken, originally uploaded by getawayplans.

Summers were once bike rides together into the woods, along the trail up to the creek. Then park, jump to the opposit bank, and spend the rest of the afternoon playing tag and GI Joe under the cool canopy. We'd come home for dinner with dirty hands and scraped knees and scruffy sneakers.

More than a decade's passed since the last Cops'n'Robbers summer. Those woods were bulldozed to make way for an expensive neighborhood and the creek's been diverted at the source. He's replaced his worn sneakers with equally worn boots and all the other trappings of reluctant adulthood. Everything's changed, but it's not so different, really. He's still my kid brother.
Today was his first appearance in court. From here on in, things will pick up speed, kinetic energy and an overworked judicial system will drive it forward. He's my kid brother, but all we can do is try to hold off the impending panic.