It is small, it is black, it is shaped like a square, but when you open it up it looks more like a rectangle. It has a lot of different compartments in it as well.

I got it from my older brothers. It is important because it has a family history, but it also carries all of the Student IDs I’ve had since sixth grade. I like it because it has a lot of space to hold all my money and cards. My brothers used it, and now I use it and have all my pictures in it. Although it weighs close to nothing, its symbolic weight is pretty heavy, as it has more than just one meaning behind it.

I’ve learned a lot from my brothers, two of whom are older than me, and one of whom is younger. One has short, brown hair lined up almost perfectly. Two have longer hair. Their heads are topped with tight black curls with a nice low fade on the backs of their heads. One has a more rounded face with a well-trimmed beard. The other has a more structured face with little to no facial hair, however, his green eyes distract anyone as the sun beams onto them, shining brightly like a tree’s leaves. The last still has a baby face with no facial hair at all, with eyes the color of a tree stump, different from all my other brothers and me.

My brothers held onto it, and now I am able to do the same. Back to when it all started… 2004. My brother was given a wallet by my dad. Nine years later on July 4, 2013, my other brother was given the wallet. Then, just about three years later, I was only 11, and I was given the wallet. It was a family tradition that had been going on for over a decade now. The tiny, black, squared leather is so easy to miss, but so hard to lose. I hold onto it as if my life depends on it. As if something bad were to happen if I let loose. As if I would die if it left my side.

The light coming into my room on my birthday fills me with instant joy. The thoughts of presents, celebrations, and cake all flood through my head. I wash my face and brush my teeth and quickly rinse my mouth out, trying to get rid of the spicy cinnamon flavor. I relaxed for a little while until my whole family came over. Waiting patiently, I am constantly thinking about one thing. That thought doesn’t leave my mind for even a second. I am blowing the candles out on the white-frosted cake when my brother hands me two gift bags. Instantly, my face brightens up even more. I already know what it is, but I pretend like I don’t. He hands me the wallet that everyone in my family has once used. The sun suddenly glares into the kitchen onto the wallet and my birthday is made. Everyone is happy and the mood is just overall much better.

As soon as the wallet is in my possession, I know that I must fulfill this duty. I must not lose this wallet. I must not do damage to this wallet. And I must be the last to give the wallet to the youngest brother in just a short couple of years. A couple of years sounds so far, yet so close. The next 795 days or so that this wallet is with me will be cherished. I put my student IDs in the wallet. All pictures from sixth grade up until now fill me with joy. They represent how much passion and hard work I’ve gone through in my life’s journey thus far. It shows that no matter what, I will still be me at the end of the day. No matter what, I will get through it. No matter what, this is me.

I am not quite sure how I will feel when it’s out of my reach and my younger brother has it. There is no one after him. Will he give it to his kids? Will my oldest brother give it to his kids? Will my middle brother give it to his kids? Will I give it to my kids? I don’t know what will happen, but what I do know is that this wallet has made a lasting impact on me. On my brothers. And it will make a lasting impact in the future, whenever that is.