Alrighty, as I said in the first chapter, go check out my petition, sign it and spread the word. Look up 'Remember the Chipmunks' on youtube to find my video for the petition and share that with as many people as you can.
Hm...chapter 12 is finally here...Wow, it seems like it's been so long since I wrote this...I wrote this chapter last February, believe it or not. Just after this chapter I got into a writing slump and left this story in the cobwebs at the back of my mind for a month or two...Then I forced myself to pick it back up around mid-April. Thanks for the reviews everyone, keep it up.
Thanks for your time guys. Remember, spread the word! Things won't change if no one knows about my petition. Tell people you wouldn't expect to sign too. I did. I took my petition to my church and got live signatures from EVERYONE, old, middle-age, and young. Believe me, good changes happen, but only if we fight for the change we want. Now, without further ranting, Chapter 12:
The Lessons they Teach
Chapter 12
"Brittany, are you sure you showed me everything you ate yesterday?" Jeanette asked for the sixth time Friday.
"I'm positive," Brittany's voice hoarsely replied.
"You had to have eaten something that you didn't pass through me, because everything you showed me was ok. That is…unless…"
"Unless what?"
"You were sick before, already. Those can last a whole week too, and then some sometimes." Brittany shook her head.
"No! Why me? Why today?"
"Miller girls!" the music teacher called. "Who will be first? Brittany, you're first alphabetically."
"I can't sing today!" The teacher backed away at the sound.
"Well, ok…why don't we put you at the end of the list then? You can audition last. How does that sound?" Brittany nodded. "Ok, Eleanor?"
"Coming!" she giggled, running off to the office. They'd finished what they could that day already and the class period they were working through was in the morning. Starting anything new would carry them over into lunch, and no one was in a particular mood to skip their lunches that day. Brittany growled a little more, glancing around for Alvin. She wanted so badly to vent on him. He was the only one who took her whining. He, however, was busy trying to shake Cal, well outside of everyone's sights.
"Bet Simon was real grateful to ya, getting me suspended like that," Cal was saying. Alvin turned to try to say something in comeback, but still nothing came out. He wanted to say 'you got yourself suspended,' but all he could do was nod. "You know, I'm not too grateful for that. If it hadn't been for that, I wouldn't have to control myself so much or put on a show for all the teachers."
Alvin started to head back for the auditorium, but Cal got in the way. "The news-people say that your surgery was a success and it's only a matter of time before you start talking again. Then you'll be back on stage, showing off for the whole world, eh? So why is it that you're not even trying to talk? You just let the teachers baby you and you write down anything you want to say, or have your brothers translate. Heh, you'd better get your voice back soon or you'll be out. Face it, you've been famous for as long as you've lived with your family. Once you have no more use, you'll be out." Alvin shook his head crazily. "Don't believe me? Just you wait. It's what happened to my dad. His parents were trainers, and he was their trainee. When he couldn't play the sport anymore, they kicked him out. They didn't need dead weight like him leaching their money."
"Alvin!" someone called from inside the room.
"Sorry, I've held you up too long. See ya runt." Alvin hurried back in, turning back to glare as Cal went in and helped some guys who had been charged with moving the now-set-up bleachers three inches left without taking the whole set down again.
"What's wrong?" Theodore asked. Alvin shook his head, suppressing a shudder. The thing was, he could visualize Dave getting fed up and kicking him out. They were the paycheck, their fame kept them fed. Without his voice, they Chipmunks weren't going to be singing. If they didn't perform, they wouldn't get the money they needed to live…He shook his head again. There was no way Dave would do that. He was their dad for Pete's sake!
"Cal tried being friendly with you, didn't he?" Simon asked. Alvin waved his hand in the 'sort-of' motion. "Brittany's audition has been moved to last. Let's just hope it holds out."
'If it doesn't, you can just make something as a 'cure' for your concoction,' Alvin scribbled down. 'Just don't let it get out that you have the common cold in a bottle.'
"Don't worry about that. That's one thing that I'll never admit to making, so you guys and Eleanor are the only ones who know." Jeanette nodded as she readjusted herself in her chair. Those who weren't working were sitting in the audience part of the auditorium. Theodore was looking over a recipe he'd been working to perfect. He kept saying that something tasted 'not-quite-right,' even though the pastries were the best his friends and family had ever had.
Brittany was busy brooding across the room when Cal casually went up and started talking to her. At first they watched her scooting away, but then they saw her scooting back to where she'd begun. They talked until class was over, when Brittany said her goodbyes and ran back to join them all. Eleanor had asked a few questions when she returned from her audition, and Jeanette had come back with a 'did I miss anything?' Now, Brittany had a little grin on her face.
"What's going on?" Eleanor asked.
"Oh, he's just not…well, not what you'd expect." They cringed a little at her hoarse voice, wondering how Cal had put up with it for so long. "He just came over to tell me he hoped I'd get better soon 'cause he's a big fan of mine and loves hearing me sing and he can't wait to hear me center stage at the musical." They should have figured she was so happy because he'd buttered her up. "Oh, and I'm going to the closing night party with him."
"What?" Jeanette scolded. "Since when?"
"He asked me." She skipped ahead of them, leaving all mouths wide open. All, that is, except for Alvin. He kept his head down, glaring at the floor. Cal just wasn't going to give up, was he? He hadn't asked Brittany because he wanted to ask her with his own voice, and now it was too late.
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
"Cal's really doing a good job at trying to be nice now," Simon commented at the dinner table a week later. "He was the only one who could figure out how to calm Brittany down when the teacher gave her a chorus part because she couldn't audition." Alvin banged his fork against his glass. "Sorry, but she wanted to hear those words, not read them…" He cringed a little, trying so hard not to insult his brother any more.
"So, I hope he's completely changed," Theodore tried. "He hasn't been mean to anybody since he came back…well, at least not on purpose. And when he is mean, he says he's sorry. It's a completely different person."
"That's good to hear," Dave replied. He wasn't really paying much attention. What was on his mind was how to break it to Alvin that both he and Dr. Dell thought it would be best if he saw a psychiatrist. It wasn't going to be easy, and he certainly didn't want the other two around when he said it. He wanted it to be one on one.
"Dave?" Simon called. "Earth to Dave!"
"Huh?"
"You're spacing out."
"Sorry." He looked over the three of them, each of them scrutinizing him.
"You got dumped again, didn't you?"
"What? No!" He laughed. He'd dumped his last girlfriend well before the concert. She'd only wanted to go out with him for the money, and somewhere along the line he figured that out. She wanted to use the Chipmunks to find her own fame. "It has nothing to do with girls, I promise." They glared a little, but took his answer. He darted to be the first to grab the phone when it rang, and he made sure to pick up the one in the den instead of the kitchen.
"What's he keeping from us?"
"Who knows," Theodore sighed. "You know, I don't think he's going out with that girl anymore. We haven't seen her in almost a month, and remember one day he was really mad for no reason and then the next day he seemed relieved?"
"That was a while ago…that would mean he broke up with her back then…He wouldn't get a new girlfriend without telling us, would he?" They all three lined up in the doorway, straining to listen.
"Not even a little sound…" echoed back. "Yeah, I know, but I can't really find one that's affordable. They know who I am because of the kids, so they'd never give me a break just because of how famous my boys are."
"He's trying to buy something?" Simon whispered.
"Really?...Thanks! That'd be great…Oh, thank you again. You've helped us so much…Bye." They darted for the table again as he came back in. He had a smile, until he looked at Alvin. Then his face turned back to its concerned look. Alvin noticed that and looked down. So Dave was upset because of him. That wasn't completely unexpected…he wasn't talking yet, no matter how much he tried. Everyone was worrying, even though they all tried to pretend everything was normal.
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
"Goodnight you two…" Dave waved to Simon and Theodore before going to steak out the bathroom as he waited for Alvin to come out. When the door finally opened, Dave looked down to see two curious, blue eyes. "I need to talk to you about something." Alvin gulped a little nodding as he followed Dave back downstairs.
"Simon…didn't you say Dave was looking at psychiatrists the other day?" Theodore asked as the leaned out their bedroom door.
"Yeah…I was hoping I wasn't right about the reason why."
"You know, everyone's getting worried," Dave said as they sat down downstairs. Alvin merely nodded. "Well, the doctor thinks…and I don't think it can hurt anything…but he thinks it might be best if you try visiting a psychiatrist." More nodding. Dave rubbed the back of his neck, pretending to have an itch. "So…you'd give it a try?" Alvin sighed, nodding again. He took in a deep breath, trying hard not to cry. That meant the doctor thought it was all in his head, but he could swear that it wasn't in his head. He was trying, he really was. Just nothing was coming out. He let out that breath when he felt Dave's arms around him. "Don't worry. You'll be talking again soon, I know you will. You're too stubborn to not get through this."
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
The psychiatrist had gotten in touch with the school's office, nurse, and councilor. He was sitting with full reports of everyone in Alvin's grade in front of him, flipping through them as the chipmunk acquainted himself with the room. Alvin could care less what the shrink was looking at. He just wanted the whole thing over and done with. It had been a week since Dave had asked him and he still wasn't talking, no matter how hard he tried. So he found himself in the office of some old freak.
"So, I suppose you probably wouldn't want to autograph a picture for my granddaughter, would you?" the old man joked. Alvin glared, but grabbed a pen and signed the picture that the psychiatrist pushed at him. "You're her favorite. She's been really worried about you. I've never seen her ever watch the news so often, but every time she comes over she turns the TV on. She always asks me 'has he talked yet?' even though she just checked not even ten minutes earlier."
'I try to talk, really I do,' he wrote down in response, passing the paper back.
"I know. But you know…all this has to be frustrating. I mean, the whole incident on stage was big, and your adoring fans are waiting to hear you again. And now you're having trouble talking…You know, the reason you're here is because maybe I can help you get that voice back." Alvin nodded. "So…how's school?"
'What's that got to do with anything?'
"Oh, nothing really. I figure it'd be easier if we're friends." Alvin tried his hardest not to make a face. He did not want to be friends with this old geezer.
'The musical auditions took place a while ago, and when the sign was posted everyone was ticked off. Simon got the thief while Cal got the scientist and Brittany is the only girl in our grade the chorus while Jeanette has the lead girl's role and Amy is the bookstore girl. Theodore is the only one in the right place as playing the chef. Of course, I'm just going to be helping out backstage.'
"Just backstage? Don't you think you can get your voice back in time to sing with them?"
'Even if I do, I won't have time to learn everything.'
"But you're a professional. You make a living out of music and dancing. I think you can learn them in no time. I bet you already have both your brothers' parts memorized." Alvin paused, nodding in agreement. "So…does it bother you much, that you lost your voice on stage?"
'A little, but I know that the fans understand. They've all lost their voices before too.'
"So true. Not a single person has been spared from that. But having it happen on stage? In the middle of a solo? With the press waiting for, and getting, the biggest story of their year?"
'There's bigger stories.'
"Only because they make those stories big. This story was big on its own. Well, anyway, I heard you stood up to a bully that gave your brother a really nasty black eye. That's pretty courageous. So, how's it been with the bully since you went back to school?"
'He's…strange. He's so nice to everyone, always helping them. He even asked Brittany to the musical's party. But to me…he keeps saying things like 'if you can't make money anymore then you're worthless to your family' and then, whenever anyone else comes around he smiles and says stuff like 'I wish I had a brother like you before I moved to this school 'cuz I got picked on a lot.''
"That's…interesting." The shrink looked over some papers, holding the blank side up when Alvin tried to peer over the edge. His eyes skimmed over the lines that said 'watching him closely' and 'had cameras installed to prevent any more harm to the kids' in Cal's record. He quickly scribbled down a note to himself to call the school and check in on that. "So…you're going to hate this question, but how does that make you feel?"
'Like he's out to get me! That or he thinks he's helping me by being so pessimistic.' The doctor sighed. He wanted Alvin to dig even deeper.
"Ok, how does that make you feel?" He laughed as Alvin's face scrunched up as though he was growling. "Just bear with it. Go on. Answer."
'That he had a bad life?'
"Ok, let me re-phrase that. Instead of how that makes you feel in general, how does what he says make you feel about yourself? Being famous, it must be rare finding someone who says that your family won't still be your family if you can't make money for them. After all, they've been your family for…you're nine, right?" Alvin nodded. "For the last nine years."
'Eight and a couple months. We did spend the first few months with our mother after all.'
"Ah, right. Sorry. But you've always had your brothers. Would they be any less your brothers if you suddenly couldn't sing?"
'I've never been not able to sing. Well, not since I learned to talk at least.'
"That's not my point."
'We'd still be related.'
"That's better…So, has this been bothering you? The not-ever-singing-again possibility?"
'Of course it has! Simon may have his science and Theodore may have his cooking, but I want to grow up to be a rock and roll star.'
"You don't have to grow up to be a star. But I know you can do more than just sing. You're a C average student without trying, and when you like something you do just as well as Simon in that subject. Well, maybe not just as well with all his extra credit and over 100's, but you get 99 when you want to. And you're the star of your gym class, the only thing slowing you down is track racing and even that doesn't do much more than put you in second place sometimes."
'So? Sports players don't have long careers before they have to retire or something.'
"So? You can go on to coach the next generation, or, heck, you could be a police officer or a spy even. That involves quite a bit of physical work, as well as your particular kind of smarts. You seem to do better in on-the-spot situations than most people." Alvin glared as the psychiatrist just scribbled down all sorts of notes. "Oh, don't worry about this. These are just notes for myself for the next time I see you."
'Next time?'
"This isn't a one time deal. You'll be seeing me twice a week until you get your voice back. Well, twice a week except for holiday weeks." Alvin's eyes turned huge, getting a good laugh out of the doctor. "Look, I look into some things. If we can find proof that Cal's been doing this, and if it's bad enough to be considered bullying, then we'll get him for it again. Maybe he'll learn his lesson this time. I promise I won't tell anyone any more than I need to."
'What's any more than you need to?'
"Well, I can say I'm a worried parent looking in to make sure they put in those cameras they mentioned…it also says that they were suggested at the last parent meeting by…Well, look here. By a Mr. David Seville. It looks like he's really looking out for you guys, eh? Our hour is just about up, though, so how about you take this dollar and get yourself a snack or a drink or something? Your dad should be here in a few minutes, so I'd like to talk to him…and no, I won't tell him anything you told me. You can do that yourself. But I'd still like to talk to him all the same."
Alvin gave one last look over his shoulder before hurrying off for the vending machine, making sure to point back at the office when Dave came in.
"Well?" Dave whispered as Alvin sat down in one of the chairs to wait.
"Well, I'm not at liberty to disclose anything he told me, which really wasn't much more than you probably know to begin with, but I can say what I'm thinking. Like we thought, it's in his head. Right at the moment, however, I'm not sure enough to say if he's convincing himself that someone else is telling him what he thinks or if the other person really is saying those things…and there's no way to tell if that's the cause of it at all, but I think that's a good place to start. With the doubts."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Be there for him. Love him like you've always loved him. Oh, and take them out for some fun before the temperatures get cold. The weather-people are predicting we'll get temperatures down in the forties by Christmas and we may even get some frosts, so go out and have fun while you can. It'd be good for him."
"You think so? I mean, out in public where all the fans are?"
"Well…his brothers know how to hold back the crowd by now. Besides, maybe one of them will say something that he'll really want to answer and he just will. Won't that fan feel special?"
"They've been wanting to go to the amusement park before the prices spike for the people who come for the winter."
