Gordon groaned as Alan cornered him as he left his room, heading for the
pool.
'Al...............' he whined trying, unsuccessfully to step around his irritating younger brother, 'get out of the way!'
'Where's your paper?' asked said irritating younger brother, arms folded, looking irritated.
Gordon held his hands up in mock surrender, 'I haven't done it yet' he admitted, 'so shoot me?'
'GORDOOOOOOOON!' Alan shouted, face turning red, 'everyone else has done theres, well except Dad, John's got them all in the space-station and he's going to fax them through for me.'
'Well if John's got them how the heck am I supposed to know what to write?'
'I told you, your FEELINGS!' Alan shouted the last word.
'Alan, I promise I'll do it after my swim ok?'
'No, NOT OK!'
'ALAN...........'
'DON'T ALAN ME! I WANT YOU TO DO THIS GORDY,I NEED YOU TO DO THIS, NOW DO IT!'
Gordon, felt like telling his brother where he could shove his paper but even he knew better than to cross Alan when he was having one of his temper tantrums.
'Oh fine' he grumbled, turning back to his room, 'but all I'm writing about is what a child you are and how we should have left you at that circus,instead of adopting your sorry ass!'
Alan had that innocent smile back on his face, all traces of irritation gone from that deceptively- angelic face, 'now we're getting somewhere' he said before walking away.
Gordon stepped back into his room, stomping over to the dresser in a tantrum of his own, he flung down the paper on the desk and began to write............................
My name is Gordon Tracy and my little brother is seriously annoying,
he doesn't listen to me, he stops me from going for my swim, he tries to steal my girlfriends, he does steal my clothes, he behaves like a child, but he's still my best friend.
Oh Al, you really do try me, with these silly projects, I swear this is the last one I'm doing. And i'm only doing it because I know that Scott, Virg and Johnny will bore your poor teacher to death with their tales of the 'old days' when music, was 'real music', video-phones were only for the rich and children were better behaved!
Well take it from this garage loving, video-phone owning, bad ass, those guys are sooooo past it!
Sometimes I'll look at Scott, when he and father are discussing the days before the 'advance' in technology and I'll just think, what are you on about, I mean Scott's not even thirty yet! And the other day, I swear I'm not kidding I walked in on Virg and Johnny discussing the decor of Thundrebir.....um...ur.....John's workplace! I mean the whole lot of them are getting to be so old, and not even old men, old women!
Jeez, Grandma acts younger than Scott does.
That reminds me, can I send Grandma my paper, on her holiday and then she can do it for me? No? Oh fine!
My first memory must have been when I was about 4, it was when Scott and Dad built us that treehouse, remember? You probably don't remember it being made, I do! I remember Scott telling Virg and John to wait after he and Dad had worked for weeks on it, so I could be the first one in! I remember feeling really safe in Scott's arms, even though he must have only been around 12. But Scott's always ahd that effect on people! He makes them feel safe.
If Scott's the safety though, Virg is the sweetness, I remember him walking us to school when we were little and holding our hands when we crossed the roads, that's our Virg, gentle and patient.
And if Virgil's the patient one then John's the wild-child, Oh he does very well, hiding behind his dreamy exterior, but he is one bad-ass guy. I remember being extremely suprised when I joined the High School in John's final year and finding that people really respected our Johnny. He was tough, I thought they were joking at first but everyone who found out I was John's brother, were quick to be friendly.
He had apparantly had a fight with a high-school bully, in his first week there (I got this from my friend, whos older sister was in John's year), won the fight and got himself detention for a fortnight. The sly dog had told us he had astronomy club, remember? Well, I never looked at our John in the same light again I'll tell you.
I remember from an early age, an overwhelming feeling of, not wanting to become an astronaut, I knew what the rest of you were like, but I never wanted to do that! My first thought that I would have a career in the water, was when Virgil taught me to swim, when I was about 5. I felt peaceful in the sea, I can't explain it, it's like you're far away from life, the stresses and strains and in another world that no-one else can reach. Anyhow I was a better swimmer than Virg after 2 weeks and I know that annoyed the hell out of his 9 year old ego!
I guess if that was my introduction to water, my olympic medal was definately the high point. That rush of adrenaline when you're preparing to dive in at the start of the race, I can't describe it, but it's such an amazing buzz. I know this 'speed-junkie' hypothesis scares Scott and Dad and the others silly, but it's like therapy to me, the more speed the more danger = more adrenaline. The olympics was such a high! Everyone was brilliant and seeing you guys watching proud , from the audience, made it perfect.
I suppose if that was my sea-life, high, the crash was my all time low. You can't ever know what that was like and i hope to God that no-one ever has to go through what I went through. I remember some of that morning, my memories of the whole event are still patchy, a sound here, a sentance there, I guess that's a blessing really.
I remember the Captain and Jack Munroe, Curtis Redding, Noel Dalton, Sam Williams and myself grouping before getting in the hydrofoil. I remember us talking about Suzie this girl Sam liked and the guys ribbing me about the attention I'd been getting from the women at the club the night before. I remember feeling really excited about testing out the hydrofoil. But I also recall feeling, strangely worried, something I never felt in my time at WASP. Speed didn't bother me, but I felt it that morning.
I remember getting into the hydrofoil, and I remember us slicing through the water, I got the same rush, the rush i always felt at going fast. That's where my memory starts to go, I remember a flash, like a photograph, I remember Curtis laughing, the Captain barking orders, then a sensation of being upside down like on a roller-coaster ride, then nothing. Then Scott's face, lined, with almost a rough beard covering his face, staring down at me, he was saying something but I couldn't hear it, I could just see his lips move. The next time I woke up you were all there, Virg, pale and sick- looking, John, sombre and unshaven, Dad grey and old and you, crying and I managed to stay conscious for a few minutes at least.
Hearing that someone had sabotaged our vessel and that I was the only survivor of 6 WASP members was the hardest thing I've ever had to hear. Scott told me. To say I was depressed is an understatement, a four doses of prozac kind of understatement! I'll be honest with you Al, there were times in that hospital bed, that I wanted to die, I couldn't walk, I could hardly move, I was in pain, every minute of every day, but I couldn't think of anything other than my friends.The guys who had died, I kept asking myself why I was still alive when they were all dead.
Of course Scott got me to open up, I told him how I felt, he had that worried frown across his face, you know the look I mean. He told me it was 'survivors guilt', that what I was feeling was normal. But no matter how many times you guys told me, you were so greatful I'd been spared, I just felt worse. When Virgil suggested a counsellor I was furious, but she really helped and I learnt to deal with life again.
Ask me how I feel now, and I'll tell you I'm alright. I suppose that's a bit of a lie, I'm not over it, I never will be, but I've learnt to deal with it, and you know what? When you go through something like that, it makes you stronger. I can't pretend if I ever found out who sabotaged the hydrofoil I wouldn't kill them, but I don't feel guilty for being alive anymore.
I'm sorry, you said you wanted some Gordon wit in here and I've only gone and depressed you, sorry. I love you Al, I love all of my family, even when you annoy the hell out of me. But every time you do I remember how you came to every one of my physio lessons to help, you never once got bored, and how when I'm in thund...ur... (sorry)...my vessel, and my back hurts you're the only one who knows and makes some silly comment to take my mind off the pain.
Thanks Al, for everything. I guess that's it, geez I was going to rush this to go for my swim, but once you get me started you know I can't stop prattling on, I guess i'm like one of those Duracell bunnies!
My quote is, 'I feel the need for speed!', because I do, still, after everything, need to go fast.
Love ya Kiddo,
your sophisticated, sexier older brother,
Gordon xxxxx
'Al...............' he whined trying, unsuccessfully to step around his irritating younger brother, 'get out of the way!'
'Where's your paper?' asked said irritating younger brother, arms folded, looking irritated.
Gordon held his hands up in mock surrender, 'I haven't done it yet' he admitted, 'so shoot me?'
'GORDOOOOOOOON!' Alan shouted, face turning red, 'everyone else has done theres, well except Dad, John's got them all in the space-station and he's going to fax them through for me.'
'Well if John's got them how the heck am I supposed to know what to write?'
'I told you, your FEELINGS!' Alan shouted the last word.
'Alan, I promise I'll do it after my swim ok?'
'No, NOT OK!'
'ALAN...........'
'DON'T ALAN ME! I WANT YOU TO DO THIS GORDY,I NEED YOU TO DO THIS, NOW DO IT!'
Gordon, felt like telling his brother where he could shove his paper but even he knew better than to cross Alan when he was having one of his temper tantrums.
'Oh fine' he grumbled, turning back to his room, 'but all I'm writing about is what a child you are and how we should have left you at that circus,instead of adopting your sorry ass!'
Alan had that innocent smile back on his face, all traces of irritation gone from that deceptively- angelic face, 'now we're getting somewhere' he said before walking away.
Gordon stepped back into his room, stomping over to the dresser in a tantrum of his own, he flung down the paper on the desk and began to write............................
My name is Gordon Tracy and my little brother is seriously annoying,
he doesn't listen to me, he stops me from going for my swim, he tries to steal my girlfriends, he does steal my clothes, he behaves like a child, but he's still my best friend.
Oh Al, you really do try me, with these silly projects, I swear this is the last one I'm doing. And i'm only doing it because I know that Scott, Virg and Johnny will bore your poor teacher to death with their tales of the 'old days' when music, was 'real music', video-phones were only for the rich and children were better behaved!
Well take it from this garage loving, video-phone owning, bad ass, those guys are sooooo past it!
Sometimes I'll look at Scott, when he and father are discussing the days before the 'advance' in technology and I'll just think, what are you on about, I mean Scott's not even thirty yet! And the other day, I swear I'm not kidding I walked in on Virg and Johnny discussing the decor of Thundrebir.....um...ur.....John's workplace! I mean the whole lot of them are getting to be so old, and not even old men, old women!
Jeez, Grandma acts younger than Scott does.
That reminds me, can I send Grandma my paper, on her holiday and then she can do it for me? No? Oh fine!
My first memory must have been when I was about 4, it was when Scott and Dad built us that treehouse, remember? You probably don't remember it being made, I do! I remember Scott telling Virg and John to wait after he and Dad had worked for weeks on it, so I could be the first one in! I remember feeling really safe in Scott's arms, even though he must have only been around 12. But Scott's always ahd that effect on people! He makes them feel safe.
If Scott's the safety though, Virg is the sweetness, I remember him walking us to school when we were little and holding our hands when we crossed the roads, that's our Virg, gentle and patient.
And if Virgil's the patient one then John's the wild-child, Oh he does very well, hiding behind his dreamy exterior, but he is one bad-ass guy. I remember being extremely suprised when I joined the High School in John's final year and finding that people really respected our Johnny. He was tough, I thought they were joking at first but everyone who found out I was John's brother, were quick to be friendly.
He had apparantly had a fight with a high-school bully, in his first week there (I got this from my friend, whos older sister was in John's year), won the fight and got himself detention for a fortnight. The sly dog had told us he had astronomy club, remember? Well, I never looked at our John in the same light again I'll tell you.
I remember from an early age, an overwhelming feeling of, not wanting to become an astronaut, I knew what the rest of you were like, but I never wanted to do that! My first thought that I would have a career in the water, was when Virgil taught me to swim, when I was about 5. I felt peaceful in the sea, I can't explain it, it's like you're far away from life, the stresses and strains and in another world that no-one else can reach. Anyhow I was a better swimmer than Virg after 2 weeks and I know that annoyed the hell out of his 9 year old ego!
I guess if that was my introduction to water, my olympic medal was definately the high point. That rush of adrenaline when you're preparing to dive in at the start of the race, I can't describe it, but it's such an amazing buzz. I know this 'speed-junkie' hypothesis scares Scott and Dad and the others silly, but it's like therapy to me, the more speed the more danger = more adrenaline. The olympics was such a high! Everyone was brilliant and seeing you guys watching proud , from the audience, made it perfect.
I suppose if that was my sea-life, high, the crash was my all time low. You can't ever know what that was like and i hope to God that no-one ever has to go through what I went through. I remember some of that morning, my memories of the whole event are still patchy, a sound here, a sentance there, I guess that's a blessing really.
I remember the Captain and Jack Munroe, Curtis Redding, Noel Dalton, Sam Williams and myself grouping before getting in the hydrofoil. I remember us talking about Suzie this girl Sam liked and the guys ribbing me about the attention I'd been getting from the women at the club the night before. I remember feeling really excited about testing out the hydrofoil. But I also recall feeling, strangely worried, something I never felt in my time at WASP. Speed didn't bother me, but I felt it that morning.
I remember getting into the hydrofoil, and I remember us slicing through the water, I got the same rush, the rush i always felt at going fast. That's where my memory starts to go, I remember a flash, like a photograph, I remember Curtis laughing, the Captain barking orders, then a sensation of being upside down like on a roller-coaster ride, then nothing. Then Scott's face, lined, with almost a rough beard covering his face, staring down at me, he was saying something but I couldn't hear it, I could just see his lips move. The next time I woke up you were all there, Virg, pale and sick- looking, John, sombre and unshaven, Dad grey and old and you, crying and I managed to stay conscious for a few minutes at least.
Hearing that someone had sabotaged our vessel and that I was the only survivor of 6 WASP members was the hardest thing I've ever had to hear. Scott told me. To say I was depressed is an understatement, a four doses of prozac kind of understatement! I'll be honest with you Al, there were times in that hospital bed, that I wanted to die, I couldn't walk, I could hardly move, I was in pain, every minute of every day, but I couldn't think of anything other than my friends.The guys who had died, I kept asking myself why I was still alive when they were all dead.
Of course Scott got me to open up, I told him how I felt, he had that worried frown across his face, you know the look I mean. He told me it was 'survivors guilt', that what I was feeling was normal. But no matter how many times you guys told me, you were so greatful I'd been spared, I just felt worse. When Virgil suggested a counsellor I was furious, but she really helped and I learnt to deal with life again.
Ask me how I feel now, and I'll tell you I'm alright. I suppose that's a bit of a lie, I'm not over it, I never will be, but I've learnt to deal with it, and you know what? When you go through something like that, it makes you stronger. I can't pretend if I ever found out who sabotaged the hydrofoil I wouldn't kill them, but I don't feel guilty for being alive anymore.
I'm sorry, you said you wanted some Gordon wit in here and I've only gone and depressed you, sorry. I love you Al, I love all of my family, even when you annoy the hell out of me. But every time you do I remember how you came to every one of my physio lessons to help, you never once got bored, and how when I'm in thund...ur... (sorry)...my vessel, and my back hurts you're the only one who knows and makes some silly comment to take my mind off the pain.
Thanks Al, for everything. I guess that's it, geez I was going to rush this to go for my swim, but once you get me started you know I can't stop prattling on, I guess i'm like one of those Duracell bunnies!
My quote is, 'I feel the need for speed!', because I do, still, after everything, need to go fast.
Love ya Kiddo,
your sophisticated, sexier older brother,
Gordon xxxxx