If Tyler skipped class, their mother said the teacher was probably not interesting.
If he forgot an assignment, their father blamed the school for giving teenagers too much work.
If he broke something, lost money, or needed a ride at midnight, they called my husband, Roy.
« He’s your little brother, » they would say.
Roy was 12 years older than Tyler and had been more parent than sibling for most of Tyler’s life.
He taught him to ride a bicycle and helped with homework.
He attended parent-teacher meetings when their parents were too busy.
He drove him to football practice until Tyler quit halfway through the season.
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