Table for 5
November 3rd, 2025
Photo: Ishwari Bhatt
Writer: Taylor Brecher
Editor: Maya Stone
“So, is your brother like...an accident?”
That question has followed me for years. I have mastered my unphased facial expression and slight awkward smirk, which often gives away my response without even saying anything. The answer remains the same: “No.”
Drew was certainly not an accident — he is the missing piece of our family that has completely altered our dynamic. When I first found out my mom was pregnant (funnily enough) through a game of hangman, I never anticipated the impact he would have on my life. Although Drew is seven years younger than I am and ten years younger than my sister, he is not only my little brother but also my sidekick. He brings life and energy into my household, with Legos and action figures spread across the floor. Just as I felt my childhood slipping away, he swooped in and saved it.
Reflecting on my time spent with Drew is funny because I ask him to play more often than he asks me. I am the nagging sibling in our relationship. We love our intense wiffle ball and basketball games or time spent trying to play video games on his PS5 - which I still don’t know how to use.
Since I am the older sister, I like to believe Drew looks up to me, but in reality, I look up to him in many ways. His ability to live in the moment, without fear and anxiety about the world, inspires me and takes me back to a simpler version of myself. One where I wasn’t constantly thinking about what lies ahead, but rather living and enjoying every moment. In those times, I’m little Taylor asking which game we’d play next.
One of my favorite games we share is ping-pong. These intense tournaments have turned into a weekly tradition, a way for us to connect and reflect despite our seven-year age gap. The ping pong table provides a forum where age has no significance. Trust me, he beats me plenty! Per usual, one Friday afternoon, after a long day at school, we played in the basement. I won a point with a slam down the middle, and immediately, his frustration was clear. I used this as an “older sister moment” and explained to him that there will always be challenges and setbacks in life, but they must be faced head-on; giving up isn’t an option. I told him, “Life is like ping-pong, things fluctuate, and sometimes the ball doesn’t land as you hope, but that doesn’t mean you stop playing”. As our conversation evolved into a more general conversation about confidence and perseverance, a lesson I wish I'd learned at his age, he hit an impossible slice across the table. I guess my advice worked!
Beyond lessons at the ping pong table, I look to remind Drew to appreciate everything about being a kid. I wish I could go back and tell myself the same, since in the blink of an eye, I became a teenager. However, I get brought back when we are playing games together. It feels like time is frozen, and as soon as the game ends, everything speeds up again.
Drew has grown up faster than most. He knows way more about the college admissions process than any sixth grader should, asking me “how hard it is to get in” and if his “grades are good enough”. He got a phone much earlier than my sister and I did, stays out late, and does not play outside as much. In this generation, everything is fast-paced. I can’t recall the last time he watched TV, rather than his iPad or phone. He’s never seen the Disney classics, and many of my hobbies growing up are now irrelevant to him. Honestly, it scares me. A lot.
Nonetheless, Drew’s energy and presence in my house are loud and known. He brings the energy to my home, making everything more fun and light-hearted.
I look up to Drew more than he will ever understand.
