The episode of drama with my brother never seems to end. Last time the fight was his pettiness. Now it is his lack of consideration for others.

Whenever confronted with a flaw, my brother's defense is either to leave or refuse to listen to what he is being told of and casually blurt out "I don't need to hear that, I'm an adult." And whenever I hear this I cannot help but be annoyed at his juvenile behavior.

Claiming to be an adult is a lot of things. For one you must be able to prove that you can sustain yourself. But as it happens at 27 my brother has had only one job, and it lasted for less than a year. Second for someone who says that he is no longer a child, he finds it difficult to remember and do a simple act of courtesy, which is letting people he lives with know, where he's going to be.

I tried to be patient with him. There have been numerous occasions when he would go out not saying where he's going or who he'll be meeting, and then he'll just come home in the afternoon the next day. Casually walk into the house without bothering to say sorry or offer an explanation. As if it is the most natural thing to do. I guess it is not only my brother but a lot of young people these days seem to neglect this or they find it intrusive whenever a parent wants to know his or her whereabouts. But these days with so many unpleasant elements, crooks and criminals scattered all over the country, one cannot be too careful.

I have also scolded his friend Musmar, as he is partly responsible for this incident. He was after all the one who constantly come to the house and takes my brother with him - though of course the choice was entirely my brother's. I do not know where I have gone wrong with him. My mum seems to think I am to blame because I spoiled him when he was younger. This just proves how difficult it is to raise a child and why I will never wish to have one.