What is a half-brother?

While teaching compound words to my former student, we came upon the word ‘half-brother’ on his workbook. In an instant, I actually wondered how he’d describe half-brother. Then he said, “Ah! Teacher, I know this!” I looked at him as he grabbed a piece of paper, drew a circle, slashed a line through it, then drew a stick figure of a boy on a half. Then he proudly looked at me and said, “Teacher, half-brother.” I actually laughed in front of him.

What is a half-brother? For me, a half-brother is a little hyperactive three year-old who instantly called me “Ate” the first time I met him.

A half-brother is a little boy who was curious about the food I got in the bag, who asked for some cheese bread, then asked for a drink from my c2. Later on, this half-brother would claim all of my c2.

A half-brother is a little boy who handed out his toys to me. All his cars, stuffed toys and balls. Then proudly shows me that he can open the TV set and turn it off as well.

A half-brother is the one who would point at all of his the pictures on the wall. The one who would point at a framed drawing on the wall then tell me that that’s his Dad. Oh, I remember drawing that portrait of my Dad.

A half-brother is the one who showed me their family album. There were pictures of him when he was still a few months old, then he was christened, then he celebrated his first birthday at Jollibee. There he points out his Mom, his Dad, and himself out on a family outing.

A half-brother is a little boy who showed me all of their DVD collection, laid it all on their sofa, then cleaned it all up when his Dad, our Dad arrived to see me and my Mom at his little home.

And finally, a half-brother is someone who, after all his happiness to see a visitor, suddenly shuts up while my Mom and our Dad have a little conversation. Poor boy.

I say hello to all my half-brothers and half-sisters out there, wherever you guys are. I have to say, I don’t really have the desire to meet you, unless by accident of course.