It was a sunny day at the beach. The sand was hot under our feet. My little brother Xoli started crying. “Pick him up, Busi,” my mother said.

I picked him up. He was so heavy. And his nose was dirty. I didn’t want that snot on my summer top! I put him down and he started crying again. “Pick him up!” my mother shouted. I picked him up again, wishing I didn’t have a baby brother who was always such a pain.

Finally we got to a good spot and spread out the towels. My mother got out her magazine and started reading. I tried to play on my cellphone but the sun was too bright. So I lay down and closed my eyes.

Suddenly I realised it was quiet – too quiet. I sat up and looked for Xoli. He was nowhere around. Then I saw him. He was digging in the sand close to the water and a big wave was coming. “Xoli!” I shouted. But he didn’t hear me.

I started running as fast as I could. My mother had heard me and she came after me too. But we were too late. The huge wave swept him off his feet. I rushed into the water and managed to grab hold of his arm before he could be sucked out to sea. I picked him up. He was spluttering and crying. When I saw he was all right I nearly started crying too. “Why did you go so far?” I started shouting.

But my mother took him from me gently. “He is just a baby, Busi. We should have been watching him.”
The two of us sat with Xoli and built a sandcastle. I found shells to decorate the castle and Xoli clapped his hands. My mother went to buy us ice creams.

That day I realised how much I love my baby brother.