Around seven years ago Alex wanted a K'Nex set for Christmas. Char was less than thrilled with the idea and kept trying to steer him towards other things, and finally decided that he had a wish list long enough that if he didn't get one, he'd still be happy and she wouldn't be faced with dozens of little toy pieces laying around the house.

Where she saw clutter, I saw construction; I also saw a six or seven year old me wanting Legos in a desperate way and not getting them because I was incapable of picking my stuff up and putting it away, and my mother was just as against those as Char was against the K'Nex set. So I did what any father would do.

I bought them anyway. Only I danced on her last nerve by getting him several sets (tape together so it was technically one gift) and wrapping them before she had a chance to protest. Her tight you did not do this and dammit there must be ten thousand pieces to this smile was tempered by Alex's Christmas morning excitement and she forgave me, though I was farily certain I was not getting what I really wanted for Christmas later that night.

He was good about picking the pieces up when he was done playing and we rarely had to really get on him about it. There were the odd times when we'd step on something in the middle of the night (she could fume; I was not allowed to complain) but nine times out of ten he either left what he'd built connected and in his room, or he deconstructed it and put things away.

Kevin coveted those K'nex toys. He never asked for any of his own (which was good because I was never able to replicate the sets I originally purchased) but occassionally pestered Alex to pull one or two boxes out and let him play with them. I never saw Alex let Kevin have them outright for even an hour; they always built things together, but it was no secret that Kevin wanted those badly.

This afternoon, after we returned from Brad's house (painting is done, thank God) Kevin asked Alex to help him reach toys on his closet shelf, and for a moment I thought Alex was going to refuse. He was tired, he wanted to take a shower, and he was going to be late walking over to Stephanie's if he didn't start getting ready.

He peeled himself off the sofa and told Kevin he had something better for him to play with, as long as he swore to keep the pieces picked up, because if he didn't, Mom would throw them out. He disappeared into his room for a minute, and when he came out he was carrying most of the boxes of his old K'nex sets and told Kevin he'd get the rest in a few minutes.

You're never allowed to give these away. Someday our kids are going to play with them.

For Christmas we gave Kevin a drum set (I know, what were we thinking), an art set he's wanted for nearly a year, and reservations for a dance camp. Yet I don't think anything meant as much to him as getting those toys from Alex.

I also don't think Alex realizes what he did for his little brother. He dumped everything in Kevin's room, took his shower, yelled at Kevin to get out of his way once or twice, and then left for Stephanie's house. Kevin spent the rest of the afternoon in his room and had to be practically dragged out for dinner. He finally put everthing away half an hour before bedtime and came out to get a snack; we sat at the table with him and listened to him jabber on about Alex this and Alex that, until Alex actually came home.

There are worse heroes Kevin could have, as long as he avoids the lure or the ink.