Little Boys Learn Early

I grew up in multigenerational household. We were lots of kids, and typically older sisters were surrogate mothers to kids down the line. One of the duties of older sisters was taking the younger boys to the bathroom. Boys, it seemed, could not aim.

Horacio, who was six, had to go, and our sister Tatiana was delegated. She was eight, but old enough for that job. Horacio complained, he wanted abuelita. When pressed as to why Tatiana shouldn't help him, Horacio answered loud and clear. Abuelita's hand trembled.