My Brother the Hero!
By Rhonda S.
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
United States
December 23, 2017 4:20am CST
When I was around 9 and my brother was 10, he performed a heroic act that impressed me greatly.
One evening, a puppy fell down into the storm drain, and was crying and whining.
The storm drain openings are rectangular slits on the side of a curb (think of the original IT).
On top of the sidewalk, there is a manhole cover, in case a city worker wants to go down there.
Rodney and I saw the crowd and ran across the street to find out what happened. Two men had the cover off, and were discussing ways of getting the puppy out. When they saw my brother, they both stopped and starred at him.
He was extremely tall and even more thin, so I think an idea popped into both their heads at the same time.
They asked him if they could lower him down head first, while holding his feet and he could retrieve the puppy.
I was horrified, because it was dark out and pitch blackness down where the puppy was.
He agreed right away. The rescue was a complete success--he brought the dog up within minutes.
Sadly, no one was impressed by his courage, and if fact I felt the men made fun of how skinny he was.
Everyone dispersed quite quickly, and I stood there stunned. I felt that everyone should have patted him on the back and told him how great he was. They should have gone to my parents and made a big deal about him.
He was so brave and I don't even know if I ever told him how proud I was of him, but I've always been in awe of his bravery that evening.
19 people like this
20 responses
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
23 Dec 17
He should be commended, not ridiculed. They asked him, after all. He didn't ask them.
3 people like this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
24 Dec 17
He was so skinny that he was made fun of a lot, so maybe the men just joined into fun.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157494)
• United States
24 Dec 17
This is a good memory to share, and you can tell him now how much you looked up to him then. He was brave.
2 people like this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
24 Dec 17
I haven't seen him in awhile, but I hope to see him again, and then I will most definitely tell him.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
23 Dec 17
it was very heroic, had they let go of him he would have ended up as trapped and endangered as the puppy
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
24 Dec 17
@misunderstood_zombie he certainly deserved more credit than he got at the time
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
24 Dec 17
At the time, I didn't even think about that, because they looked so big and strong. I just thought of the complete darkness. I guess, if they let go, the fire department would have come out and saved them both.
1 person likes this
@YrNemo (20261)
•
25 Dec 17
@misunderstood_zombie How is he these days? Hope he hasn't been putting himself in danger too often.
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
24 Dec 17
That's the only free photo of the storm drain I could find. I don't think there was any water down there, thank goodness.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
24 Dec 17
Yes, unfortunately that is the way life is. No one wants to take time to Thank someone for a courageous deed like that, and because of that, when people retell their story some find it hard to believe.
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
25 Dec 17
That would be sad to do a good deed and no one believes you.
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
25 Dec 17
He wasn't always brave, but he was that night.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
23 Dec 17
Well, I agree with you, that was very brave of him and he did deserve to be made a big deal of. He was very brave.
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
24 Dec 17
I thought so too, I wouldn't go down there even feet first.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
23 Dec 17
He did good @misunderstood_zombie . What happened to the puppy?
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
23 Dec 17
Sorry, I don't remember. I'm sure it was returned to the owner.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
23 Dec 17
What a wonderful story! Did the owner of the dog thanks him?
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
24 Dec 17
I don't remember, I hope so. This happened a very long time ago.
@creativeaashish (2609)
• Kathmandu, Nepal
23 Dec 17
Bravery comes from heart. Thanks for him.
Oh do not fear to tell him thanks. It is never late anyway. In one sense you have already thanked him by posting discussions among the world. This is also a great thanks. Personally you can do the same!
I hope it might not be the great piece of suggestion but it might help you!
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
23 Dec 17
Thank you, and I like what you said about bravery comes from the heart.
@thedevilinme (3893)
• Northampton, England
23 Dec 17
Best post I have read for a while. Thats what brothers are for
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
23 Dec 17
Wow, thank you, and I agree all brothers should be heroes.
@shaggin (71659)
• United States
25 Dec 17
Aww that took a lot of courage to do what he did. I am pretty scared in the dark so I don’t know if I could have done it. Whatever happened to the puppy?
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
23 Dec 17
even at age 9, you knew something wasn't right. did you parents ever know about it?
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
23 Dec 17
I don't remember. No one would do that to a child in the present time without permission from the parents, that's for sure.
1 person likes this
@Madshadi (8849)
• Brussels, Belgium
24 Dec 17
@misunderstood_zombie that’s a good one. I’m glad you figured out a way to make them shut up without a fight. I was too mocked by other (older) kids for being a shorty. Wish I had a comeback 
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
24 Dec 17
I guess it was a different time back then. Now, I don't think two (normal) men would ever even think to touch a 10 year old without the parents standing right there and giving permission.
My brother and I were made fun of lot, because we were tall and skinny, extreme skinny, though we both ate constantly. My brother was especially tormented for this by other boys, plus he wasn't a fighter, and he had a sensitive soul.
We had a good comeback though, for those that called us skinny. We said, "We would rather be skinny than fat like you."
Pretty good comeback don't you think?
2 people like this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
23 Dec 17
I just don't remember, since I was a kid when this happened, and it just never came up after we became adults.
2 people like this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
23 Dec 17
Thank you, I could never do this, even as an adult.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129379)
• Israel
24 Dec 17
That was so sad how the men treated him. He was a big hero. They could not do it. He volunteered right away. You knew he was a hero and that is what matters.
