Tally HO!~~~~~~~
"Come on . . ."
"Hey you guys, I dont think were supposed to be up here"
"Dont be such a baby"
"I'm not a baby!"
"Shh your gonna get us caught!"
"Owww Leo! Raphie Hit me!"
"Shhhh!"
Then the lights came on . . .A stern looking Master Splinter stood with his arms crossed, staring down at four busted little turtles.
"How many times have I told you not to sneak up to the surface?" He said authoritively and quickly.
"Uhhh . . . this month?" Michelangelo started counting his fingers . . .and thinking.
"312 . . . actually" The ten year old donatello said counting this time too.
"Were sorry Master Splinter . . ." They all said at the same time just before the fatherly rat sent them all to their room.
They all were laying on their cots in the same position they usually slept in.
They technically werent sneaking around to the surface, they were going to explore the other sides of the sewers, just to play for awhile.
(Thoughts of a father)
My sons grow older each year, and more curious each day. It will only be a matter of time before their teenaged minds are beckoned by the world above. I found Michelangelo imitating athletes riding skateboards on his own hand made one Donatello helped him build. Leonardo trains and was practicing meditating while Michelangelo fell off that board for the hundredth time. Raphael was going through another growth spurt, he and Leonardo seem to have grown more this year than Donatello and Michelangelo. He practices hitting a wooden dummy, and watching proffessional wrestling on the television. Donatello continues to make his own toys, and gadgets.
The fatherly rat chuckled to himself
Donatello fixed a toaster they had found in the junkyard a few weeks before. He came in very excited to show his brothers the toast he had just made with the fixed appliance.
'Each year . . .They get older, and so do I . . .'
He looked at his sons going to bed after being caught going up to the surface . . .Again. He sighed knowing that . . .There would be things in time he'd have to explain, things they would also find out later on . . .that he could only stand back to watch them fall to learn to get back up on their own. . .
Lessons they would realize on their own . . .about the human world above.
(Why Can't I?)
Leonardo didn't go wake up Michelangelo today, Don did instead. Michelangelo didn't come out with his usual yawning complaints of lack of sleep, or any sort of exuberating vibrancy of an 'awesome' dream he had. . . Not today.
Michelangelo sat in his spot in the semi circle they all filed in around Master Splinter. Michelangelo just looked at the ground blankly, not as up-beat, not Michelangelo.
Everyone noticed the change in mood . . .But didn't say anything, it was better to get training over with before attempting any game plan to cheer him up.
An hour later.
"Upper fist strike"
They complied, their muscles aching but none showing it.
"double kick counter"
They complied.
"Again"
They complied each giving their own vocal burst of energey.
"Finished"
They were dismissed. Michelangelo didn't say anything as they left the room. The fatherly rat watched his sons leave with a concerned sigh and sad frown, Michelangelo was last in line out the doorway . . .
He walked right past the television area . . .
Past the Xbox and playstation . . .
Past his homemade ramp and skateboard. . .
"Hey Mikey . . .Sumo hair stylist is on" Leonardo said holding up the remote with a wave.
"Maybe later" Michelangelo said not looking at his brother.
He continued to walk. Donatello watched Leonardo try and fail to interest Mikey in television . . .which normally wasn't very hard to do.
"Hey uh Mikey do you want to help me observe mixing random chemicals together? I'll let you hold the beaker" Donatello offered. Michelangelo never passes up an oppertunity to play around with Donatello's 'sciencey' stuff , as his brother would so put it.
"No thanks dude" Michelangelo kept walking until he reached his bedroom door turning the knob and walking in. He closed it quietly so it barely was heard . . .
Both Leonardo and Donatello looked at eachother concerned and then back to Michelangelos door . . .where loud music was now coming from behind it, waving at the walls and doors as if to flood out just what their brother was feeling.
". . .He gave up a chance at the t.v all to himself" Leonardo said putting down the remote.
" . . . He never denies a chance to blow something up , or one of us up for that matter with my equipment or projects" Donatello shook his head looking up at Leo from his computer chair.
"Whats goin' on?" Raphael asked after grabbing a bottle of water from the kitchen area.
"Mikey . . .He turned down the t.v" Leonardo said seriously.
"And a chance to play with random dangerous chemicals . . ." Don added.
Raphael gave a glance over at Michelangelos door.
'He's jus' in a mood from that chick dat yelled at 'im last night' He thought understandingly.
". . .He'll get over it" Raphael said walking away, expecting his oddball brother to be up to his antics in no time.
(Another day down)
Michelangelo was laying on his bed again, staring up at the ceiling. The music loud to block out any noise. He locked his door . . .
'They know' He thought with a sigh turning over. The flashing memory all he could think about.
'Keep away from me!
It had happened before . . . so why was this time bothering him so bad?
18 years of being a mutant turtle , ya think you'd get used to it. Every day went by the same.
Train
Get stronger
Be the hero
Save the day
Get screamed in the face
Or on a good day . . .They'd say thankyou . . .But thats only if they were hiding, and the people they might've helped out hadn't run away yet or called the cops. He'd always been able to push that feeling out of the way. Video games, training, hanging out with his bro's , practicing his skateboard moves, improving his amazing pizza chef skills. If he stayed a kid as long as possible then . . .He wouldn't have to feel alone.
'Kinda dumb huh' He thought to himself . . .
He'd think of how cool it would be . . .As much as he loved being a turtle, to . . . Not have to hide.
He was gonna be considered 18 years old this year.
Regular 18 year old dudes would be out hangin' out with their buds, skateboarding, highschool, partyin', finding a girlfriend . . .
He got to do some pretty cool stuff no other regular dude could do. He kicked some serious shell, years worth of training and able to take on the foot clan, gangs, purple dragons, even dudes way bigger than he was. His skateboarding skills were just as good as Tony Hawks, minus the publicity and newer gear. Plus . . .Tony had chicks all over him in his glory days.
'Keep away from me!'
No matter how hard he dreamed, that scream would not go away. He made a plea noise and gritted his teeth plopping a pillow over the side of his head. . .
'Everyones got somewhere to go' . . . Michelangelo thought. So he closed his eyes . . .thinking of someplace else, someplace where people accepted him for him . . .and even thought he was pretty cool.
(Over the Years)
(Son of man: Phil Collins)
'Hep'
Michelangelo hit his elbow again for the hundredth thousandth bagillionth time with his nunchucks. "Ow" . . .
"Here my son" Master Splinter held one up and showed him again.
Michelangelo could see it and tried to do it just like splinter did. . .he hit his elbow again. He called out in frustration , tears forming slightly in his eyes as he sat down.
They had just gotten toy weapons to play with. But his were real, wooden. Splinter said they were for begginers.
"Do not become impatient my son . . .You will get better, in time".
Michelangelo stared at his new weapons arms and legs crossed . . .
Oh the power to be strong
and the wisdom to be wise
8 years old Michelangelo did a move Splinter showed him, and did it perfectly. "Well done Michelangelo . . .Practice is key" Splinter said pointing. Michelangelo smiled whirling his weapons like they were apart of him.
All these things
will come to you in time
twelve year old Donatello sat infront of this old radio he was trying to fix. He couldn't get the connection. It was an old Bakelite radio, and the circuitry was different than the modern day radios. He fiddled with it some more for awhile. Thinking he might have gotten it , he turned it on , the box smoked and the radio seemingly died.
He pushed it away feeling failure fill his chest.
On this journey
that your making
He looked up at a motivational poster with Albert Einsteins face on the front. "Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius-and alot of courage-to move in the opposite direction" . . .Quoted on the poster by Mr. Einstein.
There'll be answers
that you'll seek
"Opposite direction? . . .Capacitors . . .resistors? . . .Of course"
Donatello put his new theory to work moving small parts around slightly or tweaking them. He put the cover back on and pulled up the antennae . . .He heard old jazz music playing
"YES!"
and its you who 'll climb
the mountain
Master Splinter smiled as Donatello's confidance grew larger. Watching him fix one of Michelangelos broken toys. Michelangelo as a reward hugged his brother before they joined Raphael and Leonardo in a game.
It's you who
reached the peak
The old rat smiled watching his sons play, chasing eachother in their own world of pretend, where everything is right and the world is black and white with bright spots of color.
Son of man
look to the sky
Lift your spirit
Set it free
someday you'll walk tall with pride
Son of Man a Man in time
You'll be
A fourteen year old Raphael had argued that morning after training with Leonardo.
The old rat had sensed the competition between the two. Leonardo didn't engage fully unless Raphael provoked, usually. But both would end in a battle of which was the strongest, fastest, the better ninja . . .
Raphael had thought about it all day, he needed ta get out, he was gonna go topside for awhile when it got dark.
He didn't expect Leonardo to follow him as he was sneaking out.
'that hot head' . . .Leonardo thought shaking his head following his brother.
'Splinta Jr. . . .damn teacher's pet' Raphael thought to himself as he made his way to the nearest ladder wrung and manhole cover.
Oh theres no one there
to guide you
No one to take your hand
When Raphael reached the surface, and the sounds and smells of New York washed over him. He felt something grab his leg, another green hand.
Both brothers argued, and Raphael ended up running off, and didn't return for hours. Leonardo stayed up at the manhole entrance up the ladder waiting for his brother.
when Raphael returned he reached the home with no witnesses . . .
"Raphael"
The fourteen year old gave a small wince half cringe of his face realizing he was busted. Master splinter had his arms crossed when he turned.
But with faith and understanding
You will journey
from boy to man
"I uhhh . . ." Raphael turned to attempt to explain.
"It was my fault master splinter . . ." A voice butted in.
"Leonardo?" Master Splinter asked questioningly.
"I went up to the surface, Raphael went up to get me . . ." Leonardo looked towards his brother who looked back shocked.
In the end . . .They both were sent to bed but had to do flips tomorrow as punishment.
"Ya didn't have ta do dat bro" Raphael said the next day doing flips along side Leonardo, both in punishment.
"I know" Leonardo gave a smirk.
Son of man look to the sky
Lift your spirit set it free
someday you'll walk tall with pride
son of man a man in time
You'll be
The fifteen year old turtles met April O Neil, and Raphael met his first bud , Casey Jones. Life wasn't so boring, especially after they defeated the shredder . . .and seemingly the foot. But that brought about a whole new playing field. when the foot was littled to barely anything but hired guns and petty street theives, the purple dragons made their grand entrance. With Hun . . .The shredders former second in command as the head of this new opposing gang in New York. The foot hadn't been an issue since then. The shredder was dead . . .
Their first real victory came when they found Master Splinter Alive . . .
In learnin' you will teach
and in teachin' you will learn
Leonardo spent all the time he could to improve his own skill, to better himself in everyway possible. Sometimes he would immerse himself in it so much he'd forget . . .the important things.
"Heya Leo whatcha doin'?" A curious Michelangelo said mischieviously as Leonardo was trying to meditate.
"Dont your legs get sore sitting like that?" Donatello asked teasingly.
"You should get some light in 'ere' . . .You'll ruin yer' eyes" Raphael would throw the lights on.
You'll find a place beside the ones
You love
He found he could make it up by being there for them when they most needed it. He left for a year to train to be a better leader . . .In South America. His family seemingly fallen apart, the team disbanded. Everyone doing their own thing. Donatello took a part time IT tech teletmarketing assist job. Michelangelo started a cowabunga carl business, entertaining little kids at birthday parties and wearing a giant mascott head and attaching a zipper to the front. Raphael found his . . .own line of work . . .Sleeping all day and being 'The nightwatcher' at night.
Oh and all the things you dreamed of
the visions that you saw
Leonardo came back, and while they didn't mesh together like they hoped at first. It took a life or death battle, and a battle between brothers for them to realize they needed eachother, and that they were a team . . .
Well the time is drawing near now
It's yours to claim it all
Son of man look to the sky
Lift your spirit
set it free
someday you'll walk tall with pride
Son of man
a man in time
you'll be
Though things had died down a little . . . They had eachother to get through it, even the boring times.
Son of man
Son of man
a man is what you'll see
Michelangelo woke up from an all day snooze.
Walking out of his room. Donatello was at his corner of the home , Michelangelo could hear his brother talk to a customer over the headset.
'Did you turn it on?'
'is it plugged in?'
Raphael was no where to be seen , probably sleepin'. Leo was probably off somewhere meditating or training like normal.
Michelangelo sighed, Maybe if he stalked the fridge or something it would occupy his mind enough. 'Or make it turn to goo' . . .Mikey thought about killing time over cold pizza and video games, and a big back of cornchips. Going past the kitchen area, he could hear Leo talk over the phone.
"Sure . . .Well were not exactly doing much right now anyway"
"Sure . . .It'll give us an excuse to get out" Leonardo complied with whatever whoever was saying on the other end.
"One second April - Mikey?"
Michelangelo looked up from the fridge.
"Aprils cleaning out her shop, she was wondering if she could get a few extra hands to help out" Leonardo inferred.
"Sure" Michelangelo grabbed one of the boxes of leftovers and a bag of chips on the counter slowly kicking the fridge closed.
"Sure" Leonardo said before hanging up.
"We'll go later on tonight around 8" Leonardo said walking away to go tell the others.
"Great . . ." Mikey thought unenthusiastically taking a large bite of pizza and the video game starting with morbid music and the sound of gunshots and zombie calls.
