Silent Voices
Chapter 1.
The school is having a big sports banquette for all the players on the teams and the Douglas family couldn't be more proud of their sons, Samuel and Jeffery- well, Rocky and Colt to their mom...their father still needed time on them.
He always says, "All you need to know about life you can lean through sports." but Colt would always retort back with some sort of sarcastic remark like- "Yeah dad, I can see me now walking up to a girl I like and whacking her with a baseball bat, saying you're a home run how's about a date?"
Always being himself, never a dull moment for him. Colt was on the Baseball team the Dragons while Rocky tried out for something a little different- Soccer.
Since Rocky always fought with his legs he figured he might as well keep them in shape and Soccer was the best sport for that, much like Colt's thoughts about Baseball good for his arms his most used weapon when they fought.
Tum tum was on a team as well, but that was in the middle school and they weren't having their sports banquette until next Thursday. He played Basket Ball which worked out everything which in his combat exactly what he used.
"Good evening parents," a coach the boys didn't know was up at a podium saying, "and students. We're going to give out the awards for our players and VIPs for the best of the best- not that they aren't all fine players, but these specific people show they have everything it takes to be in this position, and we should give them all recognition." Everyone sitting at the tables clapped proudly for the son or daughter they knew- or hoped- were being talked about.
"We're gonna start with a very valuable sport to us, the swim team." The crowd resumed with their clapping as the coach called out some names and gave speeches. Rocky looked around the cafeteria at the faces of players on other teams and then at his parents, they were so proud of him and Colt and Tum tum- even people they didn't know!
It made him smile to see that kind of feeling being shown for them and it made all their problems before seem like a distant joke. There was a flash in his face and he snapped out of it seeing his mom put her camera down out of her eyes and he smiled when she did, but that flash hadn't come from her direction...'Then where?' He wondered, not seeing the girl drop the camera from her face and look at him adoringly.
"And our MVP for the Baseball team goes to someone I'm sure we're all familiar with in more ways than one." The coach said as a joke and enough people laughed because they had a good idea whom that person was. "For the best pitching, for the most home runs, for the most-..." he was cut off by a familiar voice shouting, "Just give me my award already!" some of the people laughed and their fathers voice called out in a scolding tone. "Jeffrey."
"Hey, the man said it best. It's our very own, Jeffery Douglas!" The coach said in honor and pride. Colt, as always was making the best of his moment and came strolling up to the podium wiping fake tears and bowing with a huge smile. "Where would I be with out.....me?" Everyone laughed and he walked down kissing a girl who was definitely his girlfriend......now.
When the other teams went on to get their awards Rocky turned to his brother with a slight frown. "Colt I really wish you wouldn't be so.....wild, sometimes it's really unnecessary." He turned back in his seat to face forwards and he received a pat on his shoulder, "I understand Rock', but it's okay, cause I'm not blaming you or anything."
"What?" Asked Rocky wondering what Colt was about to go on now. "It's like the song goes, jealousy's a moth-..." he was cut off from Tum who was becoming bored, because they had served them food long before any of this speech stuff started and he was restless with out a snack.
It was pushing eight o' clock they had been there since six! "Moooom. I'm bored and tired. I wanna go home." She silenced him as though he were younger than he actually were. "Hush baby, we're almost out of here. We just need to wait for Rocky's coach to call out the names, okay?" He slouched in his chair crossing his arms in frustration but waited it out like his mother had asked.
"And now for the MVP on the soccer field...Brandon Micah!" The coach said smiling as a boy walked up to the stage to receive his trophy and Rocky's mouth barely twitched in surprise, as opposed to the rest of his family who of which were in total shock.
"I can't believe that guy didn't call your name Rock'." Colt said in utter shock. "Well believe it, he was better than me in some parts so he deserves it more." He smiled quaintly with no pain behind it that his family could see. "Alright Brando! Woo!" Rocky shouted clapping. Colt just shook his head while his family sighed deeply.
* * *
Rocky found himself sitting outside on the porch swing in the backyard, tossing a baseball in the air and catching it mindlessly. 'Why did I have to get sick all those days?' He sighed in his chest and looked into the sky. 'I'm a good player. If only I'd of been around more.....'
"Swallow it down, Rock'. Jagged little pill it is though." He said with a slight laugh remembering the Alannis Moresette song. After another sigh he heard a knock on the fence door and a smile spread across his face expecting the usual visitor. "Hello, Emily." He said being caught off guard as a strange girl walked into the yard; She had short shoulder length brown hair, pretty little brown eyes, and a petite size.
She greeted him with a slight wave and walked over to where he was sitting and sat down beside him with a little hesitation as if asking silently. He nodded, curious as to what the stranger might have to say.
"Hi." She said following it with a smile. Rocky looked at her cocking his head. "Feels like my brain is buzzing, Why does she make me feel like this? Who is this girl?" He wondered, feeling a fuzzy vibration in the back of his head as she talked to him. "My name is, Maria Atkinson." She held out her hand, "and it's really nice to finally meet you- in person I mean."
He shook her hand and smiled in return. "My name is Sam Douglas, and forgive my question but, have we met before?" She shook her head to the question and he just nodded turning back to his ball as he fiddled with it in his hand. "I think it was un-fair that you didn't win. The award was yours, I know.....I take all the pictures for the paper and the year book. Have you seen them?" Rocky nodded catching the ball then looking back at her again with the same curiosity on his face.
"......I wanna......I wanted to ask you if maybe you'd...sometime like to goooo-..." She stammered through but couldn't finish because a girl cleared her throat behind her head. When she turned around to see where the sound had come from a blonde girl was standing behind her and Rocky greeted her with a smile and kiss on the cheek.
"This is Emily." He said and she nodded with Emily adding, "His girlfriend."
"Nice to meet you," Maria said shaking her hand and standing to leave. "Wait. What were you gonna ask me, Maria?" Rocky asked her. "U-u-uh, nothing. Nice talking to you Rocky. Emily."
Her eyes were shaded as she walked out of the peaceful backyard. "What a weird girl." Emily noted out loud putting her arms around Rocky's neck giving him a better kiss. "Nah, I think she's sweet. She's one of the papers photographers and she's on year book." He almost sounded as if he had so much more pride in her from that then he'd ever have in Emily for anything she'd ever done.
"Don't make that face, Em'. I have no interest in her." The blonde boy said to her. "I hate it when you do that mind reading stuff it's creepy I told you that." Emily said pinching his nose between her knuckles. Rocky's laugh came out funny and he pulled away snatching her hands out of the air constraining them.
"I'm not reading your mind, you're just acting sooooo predictable." He teased and she pushed him in the shoulder and proceeded to chase him around when he ran from her.
On the other side of the fence Maria stood listening to them, with a frown on her lips. "Someday, really soon...he'll be with me." She thought casually and walked away.