The Price of Perfection

My brother and I were the perfect kids in everyone's eyes.

No matter how tough the test, we always aced it, topping the class.

Until this month's exam, when I only came in second, just one point shy of first.

That was the first time Mom looked at me with such disappointment.

"Leo, aren't you ashamed of how badly you did?"

My brother, Noah, who had just finished a game, looked up at me too.

"Dude, you're so dumb."

"How could you even lose such easy points?"

I clenched my shirt tightly and started to promise, "Next time..."