The Generation
Chapter 22-Max
I stared at my mother across the room. Time seemed to stand frozen for one precious moment. It's a moment that I would remember for a lifetime. I knew her, and she knew me. It was a moment of total understanding. Then the music began, my last act of defiance.
"Chill out
Whatcha yellin' for
Lay back
It's all been done before
And if you could only let it be
You will see"
Aw man, was that my voice sailing up and down the notes? I felt, alive! It was the joy of music! I felt strong and weak and happy and sad all at once! I bared my soul to the world.
"I like you the way you are
When we're drivin in your car
And you're talkin to me one-on-one
But you become
Somebody else
From everyone else
Watchin your back
Like you can't relax
You tryin to be cool
You look like a fool to me
Tell me"
It was! It was my voice! I had discovered the joy of music with a message, of choosing just the right song for the occasion. I discovered how to sing something and mean it, how to mean it with all my heart and soul.
"Why'd you have to go and make things so complicated?
I see the way you're actin like you're somebody else
Gets me frusterated
Life's like this you
You fall and you crawl and you break and you take what you get
And you turn it into
Honestly, you promised me
I'm never gonna find you fake it"
That was for my mother. When all of this was over I would talk it out with her. I would convince her to let me fight, and I would never lie to her again!
"You come over unannounced
Dressed up like you're somethin else
Where you are and where it's at you see
You're makin me
Laugh out
When you strike a pose
Take off
All your preppy clothes
You know
You're not foolin anyone
When you become"
Translation: Mother please don't hold me back! I know you're worried about me and I know you love me, but this is something that I have to learn and do and discover for myself!
"Somebody else
Round everyone else
Watchin your back
Like you can't relax
You tryin to be cool
You look like a fool to me
Tell me"
Translation: I know you've got your secrets, I have mine. It hurts me when you hide from me. I'm your son, your miracle, your pride and joy. Can't you trust me with whatever it is you're hiding?
"Why'd you have to go and make things so complicated?
I see the way you're actin like you're somebody else
Gets me frusterated
Life's like this you
You fall and you crawl and you break and you take what you get
And you turn it into
Honestly, you promised me
I'm never gonna find you fake it"
I looked at her from across the room. My mother had tears in her eyes.
"No no no
(no no no)
No no
(no no no)
No no
(no no no)
No no"
No mother, never, never, EVER again. I won't hide from you, and you won't hide from me! Deal?
"Chill out
What you yellin for?
Lay back
It's all been done before
And if you could only let it be
You will see"
Trust me mother! Like I trusted you for all of those years. Trust me to be brave and good and strong! And even though the whole thing seems outrageous, just chill! Because it will all turn out fine in the end!
"Somebody else
Round everyone else
Watchin your back
Like you can't relax
You tryin to be cool
You look like a fool to me
Tell me"
Tell me mother. Why can't you trust me? Why can't you have faith that everything will turn out alright?
"Why'd you have to go and make things so complicated?
I see the way you're
Acting like you're somebody else
Get's me frustrated
Life's like this you
You fall and you crawl and you break and you take what you get
And you turn it into
Honestly, you promised me
I'm never gonna find you fake it
No no"
Oh yes, things were complicated alright, but only one thing wasn't; Our family. The audience was in a frenzy, dancing and crying and singing along with the music. I guess every teen can relate. Perhaps not with my own situation, but surely every teen has some kind of complication in their lives. My mother was even singing along!
"Why'd you have to go and make things so complicated?
(yeah yeah)
I see the way you're actin like you're somebody else
Gets me frusterated
Life's like this you
You fall and you crawl and you break and you take what you get
And you turn it into
Honestly, you promised me
I'm never gonna find you fake it
No no no."
She had tears in her eyes. I did too. The music ended with a shock as keen as pain.
I stood there for a moment. Then I smiled, gave a bow, and walked off stage. Jake's brother Tom was waiting for me in the shadows off stage. "Pretty good act Max of the Blade Breakers." He said with a malicious, demonic grin. "Too bad you'll have to wait awhile to get your kudos!" And with that he hit me from the back of the head.
Stunned, I lay on the ground. With mounting terror, I heard the music play.
"Do you ever question your life
Do you ever wonder why
Do you ever see in your dreams
All the castles in the sky?"
It was the signal. The signal came too late. Tom placed his foot in the small of my back. "You're coming with me Blade Breaker."
He pressed a small, cool feeling, spray canister to my neck. As I blacked out I heard…
"Oh tell me why
Do we build castles in the sky
Oh tell me why
All the castles way up high
Please tell me why
Do we build castles in the sky
Oh tell me why
All the castles way up high."
~tbc~
DUM DUM DUM!! Stay tuned after… "These messages." (AKA: A bad, bad, Ax joke.)