Why do some siblings never get along?

John and Matt grew up in a cozy suburban home. As children, they constantly competed for their parents’ attention and praise, which led to many arguments. Their parents tried so hard to create harmony between them, but nothing seemed to work.

Their beloved Grandfather Dudus was always in the middle, trying to reconcile his grandsons. He would sit them down and share wisdom and stories, hoping to mend their bond.

“Brothers should be each other’s best friends,” he often said, but his words fell on deaf ears. John and Matt’s quarrels continued, and the bitterness followed them into adulthood.

John was the older brother, and he always felt a need to prove himself. He wanted to be the best at everything.

Matt, who was just two years younger, resented always being in his brother’s shadow. He wanted recognition, too, but felt overshadowed by John’s achievements.

Their parents were exhausted from the constant bickering. They hoped the brothers would find common ground one day. But that day never came. Small disagreements over toys and games turned into bigger conflicts over achievements.

Grandfather Dudus’s efforts never managed to bridge the gap either. He tried his best to end the conflict between the boys, but John and Matt couldn’t see past their rivalry.

An elderly man sitting on a couch with two boys | Source: Midjourney

Years passed, and the rivalry grew more intense.

John excelled in school, sports, and later in his career. Matt tried different paths to outshine his brother but never felt successful. Their childhood arguments became adult resentments. Family gatherings became tense and uncomfortable.

As adults, their relationship remained strained. The unresolved tensions of their childhood had a lasting impact. Despite their parents’ hopes and Grandfather Dudus’s wisdom, John and Matt never found peace. They never became friends.

Then, one day, their beloved Grandpa passed away. John and Matt were heartbroken.
Despite never listening to him when he tried to make peace between them, they had always loved him deeply. Grandpa Dudus had always been there for them, sharing stories, giving advice, and showing them unconditional love.

After the funeral, the brothers were invited to Dudus’s lawyer’s office. The two brothers shifted in their seats as the lawyer, Mr. Campbell, finally entered and sat down.

“Thank you for coming, boys,” he began as he pulled out a document. “Your grandfather has left a substantial inheritance for both of you. This includes a house, some land, a car, and a significant amount of money in the bank.”

John and Matt exchanged looks, their old rivalry flaring up. The lawyer continued, “But there’s a condition. You can only use the inheritance when you come to me and say you’ve split it fairly, with no complaints.”

John frowned. “That’s ridiculous! I deserve more! I always took care of Grandpa!”

Matt shook his head. “You? You were never around. I was the one visiting him every week.”

The lawyer raised a hand to calm them. “Gentlemen, your grandfather wanted this to bring you together, not drive you apart.”
John’s voice was sharp. “But I did more for him! I should get more!”

“Cut it, John! You’re just trying to take everything, as usual!” Matt sneered.

Their voices rose, echoing in the office. The lawyer sighed, watching them argue. He even tried to interrupt them, but neither of the two men would listen.

“I’m not giving in to you, Matt,” John stood up, anger flashing in his eyes. “I deserve a bigger share. I’m the older one.”
Matt stood up, too, matching his brother’s glare. “How does that make you entitled to a bigger share? If you want to keep doing this, fine! Then we both get nothing. Are you happy with that?”

At that moment, the room fell silent. The lawyer looked at them both and sighed. “Is this how you want to remember your grandfather? By fighting over his gift?”

John and Matt looked away, their anger still simmering but mixed with shame.

“Your grandfather believed in both of you. He wanted you to work together. I suggest you take some time to think about this, boys. His legacy is in your hands,” Mr. Campbell finished.
And so it happened that a week later, in John’s living room, the brothers sat down to negotiate the inheritance. The atmosphere was tense as they each proposed different distributions.

John wanted the house and half of the money, leaving Matt the land, the car, and the rest of the money. Matt, however, felt the house should be shared, with the money and other assets split evenly.

“You’re just trying to take more than your share!” John accused, his voice rising with a sense of superiority.

Matt, frustrated, shot back, “And you’re being selfish, as always. This isn’t just about you!”
Their voices echoed through the house, and every attempt at negotiation ended in frustration. Neither brother was willing to give an inch, and their relationship, already fragile, seemed on the verge of breaking entirely.

“We need to think of what Grandpa wanted,” Matt said, trying to calm the situation. “He wanted us to work together.”

John scoffed. “You think I don’t know that? But I did more for him! I deserve more!”

“That’s not true, and you know it,” Matt replied, his frustration growing. “We both loved him!”

“You’re impossible to deal with,” John said, shaking his head.

“And you’re just as stubborn,” Matt replied.

The brothers eventually sat in silence, each lost in their thoughts. They realized that something had to change, but neither knew how to make the first move.

Meanwhile, the lawyer’s words echoed in their minds: “Your grandfather believed in both of you. His legacy is in your hands.”
Days passed, and the brothers were no closer to an agreement. One afternoon, while arguing on a busy city street, John and Matt were at it again.

“I should get the house and the car,” John insisted, his voice rising. “I took care of Grandpa more than you did!”

Matt’s face turned red. “That’s not true! I visited him every week. You just want the best parts for yourself.”

Their heated argument caught the attention of a homeless man sitting nearby. He watched them for a while before approaching.

“I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation,” he said gently.

John and Matt stopped arguing and looked at the man with irritation. “What do you want?” Matt snapped.

“Yeah, this is none of your business,” John added dismissively.

The homeless man smiled kindly. “I heard you two arguing about your grandfather’s inheritance. I once heard a parable about two men who couldn’t divide a plot of land. So they came up with an idea. One of the men would divide the plot into two parts as he decided and thought would be fair, and the other was to be the first to choose one of the parts for himself. Thus, the first man did everything to make the parts equal. The other simply chose from the two already equal parts.”

The brothers exchanged glances.

“Maybe we should try it,” John said reluctantly.

Matt nodded, equally hesitant but willing to give it a shot. “Alright, let’s see if it works,” he agreed.

And so, a few days later, they met in John’s living room again. The tension was still there, but the memory of the homeless man’s story gave them hope. John took a deep breath and said, “I’ll divide the inheritance. You choose first.”

Matt nodded. “Okay, let’s see what you come up with.”
John carefully divided the assets: the house, the car, the land, and the money. He made sure each part was as equal as possible. When he finished, he looked at Matt. “Here you go.”

Matt studied the divisions, his face thoughtful. After a long pause, he pointed to one half. “I’ll take this one.”

John nodded, a sense of relief washing over him. “Alright. That’s fair.”

A week later, John and Matt found themselves back in the lawyer’s office, but this time, their demeanor was markedly different from their previous visit.

When they presented their decision to Mr. Campbell, he was pleasantly surprised by the fairness of their division. “For the first time, I see you two agreeing on something,” he remarked, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

John and Matt exchanged glances. “We realized it was the best way to honor Grandpa,” John said.

Matt nodded. “It wasn’t easy, but we managed.”

Mr. Campbell looked at them, pleased. “It’s a testament to your grandfather’s wisdom and his enduring influence on your lives. Well done, boys.”
As they signed the necessary documents, Mr. Campbell observed the transformation in their relationship. The brothers, once bitter rivals, now stood as partners and friends.

Walking out of the lawyer’s office, John turned to Matt and extended his hand. “Let’s make this work,” he said sincerely.

Matt shook his brother’s hand firmly. “Agreed. For Grandpa.”

“I still can’t believe we did it, though. We actually worked together.”

Matt smiled. “Yeah, it feels good. Grandpa would be proud.”

John chuckled. “I never thought we’d see the day when we weren’t at each other’s throats.”

An old man holding a cane | Source: Pexels

Matt laughed. “Me neither. But here we are.”

If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one: Jack arrives home every night at 2 a.m., exhausted from his late shift. Without fail, he sees a woman standing by her window, waving at him. He can’t shake the feeling that something is off about this nightly wave. When he finally decides to uncover the truth, he is shocked.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.