Self Control

Empty soda bottles make a very distinctive sound when crashing across the floor. It's a sound that most people recognize; a sort of hollow, bouncing sound mixed with a sharp thunk. My mother, my father, and I, were all sitting in our living room, watching a movie, when we heard that very specific sound - not just once, but enough for an entire battalion of bottles to be attacking the floor.

My mom looked at me, I looked at my dad, and my dad looked at mom. My mom looked at my dad, my dad looked at me, and I looked at my mom...

Well, we all exchanged glances.

We got up and walked into the kitchen to see where the sound came from, since that's where all of the bottles were stored. As we entered the kitchen, it became very clear where the sound came from. My older brother was laying flat on his back in the snow angel position, amid three bags of empty soda bottles (we recycle them in our little northern state). He looked up at us, dazed and blinking in confusion.

"Well?" my father demanded, hooking a hand on his hip.

My brother shrugged, "I had the hiccups."

It must take a lot of self control to hold your breath until you pass out.