Outdoor writing contest: Brother Wouldn’t Know

“Turner, let’s go camping!”

my dad calls down the stairs

My brother rolls his eyes and yells,

“You want me to go where?”

“Camping, camping! The great outdoors!”

my dad and I exclaim.

Turner turns back to the TV.

“No, thank you, that sounds lame.”

The meadows full of green,

the mountains powdered with snow,

so incredible are nature’s gifts,

but my brother wouldn’t know.

He sits inside all day

playing violent video games.

He never wants to go outside.

Oh, it’s such a shame.

“Turner, let’s all go skiing –

it snowed a foot last night!”

Turner looks at me and yawns,

he scoffs and says, “Yeah, right.”

“Oh come on, Turner,

there’s not one cloud in the sky!”

Turner turns up his game volume,

“Have a nice time. Bye.”

Snow-kissed noses and sprays of powder

while skiing down the slopes.

Our day on the mountain is spent so well

but would my brother know? Nope.

I knock on Turner’s door,

one last attempt I’ll make.

“Turner!” I yell over the noise of his game,

“Come with us to the lake!”

“I’d rather die, Zoe,

than go to a lake and swim.”

“You’re gonna love it, please come with,”

I say, begging of him.

I leave Turner in his room that day

and go to the lake alone.

I bask in the sun and swim with the waves.

He’d regret staying home.

Each time I go outside

the world puts on a show.

Oh, the beauty that surrounds us,

but my brother wouldn’t know.