Left in the Dust
Chapter One: The opportunity of a lifetime
Alvin's Point of View
I was walking along the crowded streets of Los Angeles, California, trying to dodge thousands of big feet that were apparently out to crush me. Simon put me in charge of finding food for us, since I'm the athletic one. We're homeless chipmunks that can talk because we were experimented on in a lab, which made us able to talk, learn and have a lifespan as long as humans. That much I was able to process. The rest of it went way over my head, but Simon, somehow, can understand it. I ducked into a bush to catch a whiff of the area, to see if any food was in reach.
I took in a deep smell, letting all the nearby smells of the city fill my nostrils. I exhaled. Yep, definitely food near here. Hot dog stand with a grumpy old man. Perfect, me and my brothers love hot dogs.
I leaped out of the bush, as soon as the human traffic was clear enough for me to do so. I nearly got stepped on my a pink tennis shoe, but I managed to dodge it in time. Geesh, no wonder Simon gave me the job. I'm the only one who can keep from getting crushed!
The hot dog stand comes into view. It's at the street corner. An old grumpy man is selling them. A little boy, about the age of five, and his mother walk up to the guy selling hot dogs. "I'll have to hot dogs with ketchup, please." The mother said to the old man.
I sneaked up really close to the stand as the old man gave the mother a hot dog. "The other will take just a minute, ma'am." The old man said as politely as he could. I started climbing up the boy's legs to get onto the cart and snag the hot dog. I licked my lips, anticipating the taste of a sweet, juicy hot dog in my mouth.
"Hey, Mommy! A chipmunk is crawling up my leg!" The little boy giggled. The mom gasped and screamed, swatting at me while the boy was pleading her not to hurt me. I successfully dodged every swat, thank goodness, and landed acrobatically on the hot dog stand with a bow. The man was holding the hot dog within my jumping reach. I leaped up and snagged the hot dog effortlessly. I slid down the hot dog stand's legs and made a run for it, dragging my prized hot dog behind me. I ambled into our alley, chuckling to myself about how easily I pulled that off.
My brother, Simon, came out behind the garbage bin. He wore black circle rimmed glasses. He can't see two feet in front of his face without them. He realized he needed glasses a couple years ago, so I found a Santa doll wearing some, so I snagged them for him. I still can't believe they were the perfect prescription for him. I guess somethings are just meant to be.
"Alvin, did you get us some food?" Simon asked me, tapping his foot impatiently. Gee, he can be so uptight sometimes. He knows I always get food for us, but I have an irresponsible reputation, according to him.
"Yes, Simon, I got us a hot dog with ketchup and a bun. Hope you're happy." I said rolling my eyes as I put my finger on the ketchup and lick it. "It tastes pretty good, Si." I chuckled. Simon growled to himself. He hates how carefree and clueless I can be sometimes. But, hey, it's part of my nature!
It was now Simon's turn to roll his eyes. "You know one hot dog isn't enough to feed us all, smart guy." Simon stated with a touch of sarcasm. Ha, I love when he does the sarcasm game. I could play that all day.
"As if you have a better idea, smart guy?" I asked him with the same touch of sarcasm. I heard Simon chuckle to himself under his breath. I felt my fur on my neck bristle.
"As I matter of fact, I do, smart guy. We live behind a garbage can. Why don't you, Mr. I'm-so-athletic go in there and get us some more food?" Simon suggested mockingly.
My fur bristled at the very thought. How dare he suggest that? I'm NOT going to go through human's old thrown away trash in hopes of finding half-eaten, moldy slobbery food that will probably make me sick? I am not eating garbage food like some sewer rat! "No! I'm not going to go threw human's rotten garbage in hopes of finding rotten, spoiled food that will gives us all food poisoning! Besides, I could get lost in there! No way, no way, no way! Not in a million trillion, gazilllion years will I ever do that, Simon! Ever!" I spat out indignantly. Our hot dog was enough! I almost killed myself getting it!
"So you want us to starve to death, Alvin? Is that it? You can be so selfish and egotistical sometimes!" Simon fired back his retort. He had some nerve. Me? Selfish? egotistical? I bring back the food! Not him! He never even goes into the outside world; I do! He never even does anything to support our family! It's always me! Me! How can he not see that! That blind, egotistical, selfish idiot of a chipmunk. . .
"Well, I'm sorry that I'm just looking out for the well-being of me and my brothers, Simon! I don't want us to get sick because we ate garbage! This hot dog is fresh off the hot dog stand, I'll have you know!" I fired back, giving him my best death glare.
"Guys, can you please stop fighting. You're not helping anything." A tiny, innocent voice said from behind Simon that could only be my poor brother, Theodore. He never likes it when we fight. We stopped and apologized to him. I hate scaring my little brother. It's my personal duty to protect him. And I will do all that I can to do so.
"You're absolutely right, Theodore. I'm so sorry we scared you. We won't fight anymore. We can eat now." I apologized to my favorite of my two brothers. "Right, Simon?" I glanced over at Simon and gave him the 'eyebrow', which meant go along with what I was doing, you'll thank me later.
"Oh, yes, right you are, Alvin. Theo, we are very sorry we upset. We'll eat this hot dog that Alvin has so graciously got for us. Let's dig in now." Simon said, with adding a little bit of sarcastic emphasis on the graciously.
Theodore smiled his big innocent smile at both of us. "That's better! Come on, guys! Let's eat!" He was so innocent, so oblivious to the cruelty of the rest of the world. And, believe me, I'm doing all in my power to keep it that way.
All three of us began to chow down on my well-snagged hot dog, while Theodore happily chattered about his day. Simon and Theodore's days are usually very boring, since they never do anything fun or adventurous. Simon had long-since given up on talking about his long research-spent days, since they bore me to death and Theo hardly understands it. I like listening to Theodore's days, no matter how boring, because he gave it so much optimism. That was Theodore's trait, likablity, innocence, and optimism.
Just then, a page of a newspaper flew into Simon, knocking him over. Theodore immediately rushed over to help him. "Simon, Simon? Are you OK?" He asked worriedly.
Simon merely grunted as he got up and dusted himself off. "I'm fine, Theo. It just knocked me off my feet because I didn't expect it." He said, adjusting his glasses as he spoke. He always does that. It's like a second nature to him.
Theodore looked completely relieved. "Oh, well, that's good! I'm glad you're not hurt!"
Simon didn't seem to hear him, however. He looked completely ingrossed in the newspaper page. I waved my paw in front of his face. "Hello, Earth to Simon! Are you on Jupiter or something?" I asked him, chuckling. I haven't seen Simon so ingrossed in something since I found a pocket sized encyclopedia!
He looked up, startled. "Oh, kind of zoned out, didn't I?" he chuckled in embarrassment. But, then, his whole face lighted up in a wide grin. "Alvin, Theo, come look! Look at this newspaper article!" He spoke faster than normal, which indicated that he was excited about something. I looked down at the article he was pointing at.
Rich Pop Sensation Beatrice Miller Adopted 3 Orphan Girls
Beatrice Miller, famous actress and singer, adopted three orphaned, homeless girls who were crying in the rain near her mansion. She couldn't resist the three girls pleas and cries and took them in to adopt them. Miller is offering interviews for other children to get adopted, if she feels that the children are right for her. Apparently money isn't all Ms. Miller has. She also has a big heart, especially for the children. Continued on page 2b.
I can't believe it. Me and my brothers could possibly be adopted. I know, I'll persuade her with my athletic ability and my stand up comedy. Or just the fact I'm talking chipmunk may be enough, but I need to audition like a human kid. No challenge is to great for Alvin!
"Isn't it great? I'm going to impress her with my intelligence and potential inventions! I have so many ideas! Now they could become a reality!" Simon gushed. I tuned him out. I needed a plan to impress this Beatrice Miller.
"I'm going to show off my athletic ability. Maybe throw in some stand-up comedy. Show her how I can play the ladies. There are no end to the Great Alvin's talents, as you can see." I stated proudly in my fake French accent that no one but me can do, another one of my talents.
Simon scoffed. "Oh, please, you don't have any talents. You couldn't impress her if you tried. I, on the other paw, may just have what it takes to impress the greatt Beatrice Miller."
"You want to go there, Si? I have many talents, a whole lot more than you do! And you? Impress Ms. Miller? Don't make me laugh. Pop-stars don't exactly go for the likes of nerds such as yourself." I retorted. He was getting on my last nerve, him and his lies. I'm sick of it, absolutely sick of it.
"Oh, you little egotistical, stupid, selfish brat of a chipmunk. . ." Simon started to say, but Theo cut him off.
"Guys, please don't start this again. I bet we can impress her by just being ourselves." Theodore suggested innocently.
Simon and I look at each other, shaking our heads. For once, we were both thinking the same thing. Us? Impress a pop-star? By just being ourselves? Now, that's a stretch. We need to practice our act to impress the likes of Beatrice Miller. "Nah, that ain't happening. You got to work up a perfect act to impress the likes of Miller." I stated. Simon actually agreed with me for a change.
"Alvin's right. What act are you going for, Theo?" Simon agreed. He looked at Theodore, expecting an answer.
"Uh, like I said, I'm going to be myself! She'll like that! You'll see!" Theodore snapped, starting to sound like me and Simon toward the end. He ran back behind the garbage can, crying. Oh no. I've just upset my baby brother. I didn't mean to do that. I've never wanted to do that, ever.
"It's all your fault!" Simon hissed at me, trying to keep his voice out of Theodore's earshot. "You made him cry!"
"My fault? You're the one who started it!" I fired back. Simon just glared at me, shook his head and followed Theodore behind the garbage bin. I will not live behind a garbage bag ever again. I will win Miller over, if it's the last thing I do. And nothing will stop me. Tomorrow night, I'll be a Miller, living the good life in the Miller's Mansion downtown. Nothing will stand in my way, not Simon, not Theodore. Nobody. This will be my destiny.
