Short story written after seeing this morning's episode. What can I say? I felt so sorry for Rip!
P.S. Don't own Loonatics, and, in this, Rev's family hasn't arrived at the Tower yet. They're just about to leave.
It's not fair. No matter what I do, in Pa's eyes, I'll never be good enough.
You don't know what it's like, older bro. Every day, Pa gives me that look. You know, the one he gave us after smashing that 'Mr. Fix-it' on the coffee table while playing indoor football. That look that made us feel so bad we tried to fix it ourselves. I remember, Pa was proud of us, but he was even more proud of you. He thought you did most of it. Don't forget, I did all the work. You just touched up the paint and screwed it back together.
When you left for the city, I thought I could finally have a chance at pleasing Pa. I have about half a dozen half-finished inventions, hidden in the shed. They were worked on for month, months older brother, but I could never finish them. I knew they just weren't good enough for him. Besides, it wouldn't have made a difference. Pa and Ma just talked about how you had a paying job and doing so well... I felt sick to my stomach. They cared more about you than me, even though I never left.
When they heard you were helping to protect the city, they were overjoyed. I remember it clearly because then Pa asked me why I couldn't be more like you. It wasn't fair. I wasn't in the right place at the right time, and for that, I lost every chance of ever pleasing Pa. When you called the other day, inviting us to the Loonatics' Tower, Ma and Pa did a dance of joy. They were saying how good it'd be to see you again. Never mind what I wanted to do, I had to come whether I wanted to or not. And I didn't want to. I didn't want the fact that I was nothing compared to you rubbed in my face.
What is it? What do you have that I don't? That makes Pa and Ma love you more than me? I'm their son too, but it's like I don't exist to them, except as "some roadrunner who lives with us". They'd never say that about you. While they're busy adoring over someone who barely calls or says hi, I'm left out in the cold. Recently, I've taken up astronomy, studying the night sky with a telescope I made. Why, you ask? Because God knows I'll never join the family business. Might as well just choose something else to occupy that emptiness inside. I'm just worried about the day it'll spill over. I doubt Ma or Pa or even you will notice.
And then you guys ask me so many how I can be so slow. Maybe I speak slow and run slow, but, when it comes to family, you're all the slow ones.