Alfred and Mathew-Rising Up
The morning started out like any other. Alfred came running down the stairs two at a time while pulling his jacket on and stumbling with his shoes. He had overslept again. After the alarm had went off he simply rolled over and fell back asleep for another half hour and now he was going to be late. In the kitchen he could hear Mathew preparing their breakfast. He was already dressed for work and humming along to the radio as he flipped pancakes. Then he caught sight of his brother.
"Good morning. I was beginning to wonder if you were ever getting out of bed."
"Why didn't you come and wake me sooner?"
"You're not in high school anymore Al, you should be able to get yourself out of bed without me or mom coming to check on you."
Alfred finished pulling on his other shoe and straightened up from the kitchen doorway. His face broke into a grin as he pointed his finger mockingly.
"Yeah, well at least mom didn't look as much like a housewife in that apron." Alfred said drawing attention to the pink frilly apron his brother had wrapped around his waist.
"And here I went ahead and made you breakfast too."
Waiting on the table where Alfred sat was a plate with bacon, eggs, and sausage. Along with a cup of coffee and stack of toast.
"Man I take back anything I ever said about you."
"That's what I thought."
Alfred sat down and ate his breakfast, while Mathew finished piling a stack of pancakes onto his own plate. They both listened to the radio as they ate.
"Hey Radio XYZ, do you got what it takes to sing live on stage? Well here's your chance to find out! Diament Studio is hosting their second regional singing contest and live concert. The winner gets their own record label and tour. So if your ready to take your singing out of the shower and onto the stage come audition this week at Diament Studios!"
"Mattie did you here that?! Oh, we so gotta go and try out! Just think, we could sing on a stage, have a crowd of cheering fans, and have our own record label! Come' on it'll be awesome!"
"Not trying to be a kill joy but you know it's a contest right? You'd have to compete against others to win, and have you thought about how you would even get there? You don't drive remember. Not to mention you would have to get off work to-"
"Aww I know all that! The auditions are all next week right, so you could drive us on our next day off. I'll talk to Lisa about getting time off if we pass auditions-though I doubt it will be very hard you know how much she loves me. Easy peasy."
"You got this all mapped out huh?"
"All I'm saying is that we at least check it out. Come on man, you can't get anywhere in life if you don't take chances."
Mathew looked at his brother wearily. He was leaning across the table, dangerously close to getting bacon grease on his shirt, pressing his lips in a trembling pout and furrowing his brow into his notorious puppy dog pout. Mathew could tell that his mind was determined about this audition and that there was no real way of getting out of it. He took a sip from his coffee mug and feigned to ponder the notion before sighing in relent.
"Alright. I'll drive you to auditions on our next day off."
"Yeah! Thanks Mattie you're the best!"
Fifteen minutes later they were both dressed for work and climbing into Mathew's Chevy Monte Carlo. Matt took his place in the driver seat, revving the engine to life, and Alfred cranked up the AC and tuned the radio from the passengers seat. Now, some might think it's strange that the younger of the two got his license first and is the one in charge of their commute to work, but it's not due to Al's lack of trying. He had taken -and failed- his test enough times that it was reaching the tweens. He'd studied hard to get his permit, but the physical test was just hard to pass. Matt tried giving him pointers once but they just proved more stressful and pressurizing. Now Mathew stuck to operating the transportation for them both. Alfred couldn't complain, it was far better then his old alternative. He used to cycle to work in the weather and up hill, boy was he appreciative. Mathew didn't mind either, they worked at the same place and it was thanks to his brother that he got the job. They'd both moved into the apartment building they were at now to attend the Community College, and rather than share a dorm with other students, they worked out a payment plan between them and their parents. Alfred had already been working for nearly two years after graduating high school, while Mathew was finding acquiring a job to be difficult. After deciding to attend the same college, Alfred made a point to put in a good word and get Matt hired at the same place. Now here they were, living co-independently. The younger of the two driving and cooking meals, while the older reminding him to relax once in a while and dragging him to social events.
Buckled and surfing the stations, Alfred was still buzzing from the radio broadcast earlier. They would really have a chance to perform live on stage for the chance at a record deal! Well, not till passing the auditions first. He was so pumped his kept drumming his fingers on the dash.
"This is gonna be totally sweet! Just think what we could do with our own record deal! I need to pick what song to use for the auditions. What song do you have in mind Mattie?"
"I'm not going."
"Whatdoya' mean you're not going?! You said you where going on our next day off!"
"I said I'd take you to audition, never that I was going to try out."
"No way bro, you're going to audition and that's final."
"Al, you can't just decide for other people. Besides, I'm more comfortable making the music then singing it. You on the other hand, can be heard putting on your own contact from the shower."
Alfred didn't bite at the playful jab. He was too preoccupied twisting the dial on the radio to any station that wasn't playing an ad. Finally he found a classic rock station. The instrumental intro started and they both recognized it. Mathew gripped the steering wheel while Alfred's eyes ignite with adrenaline. He turns to look at his twin with that one hundred watts smile.
"No." Mathew strains his voice with every amount of sternness he can muster but it's no use, he's already lost.
"Yeees! Come on Mattie! You gotta! Please?!" Alfred cracks up the stereo even louder. Enough that when Mathew pulled up to the stop light the passengers in car next to them glanced over. But right now they were the least of his worries. Besides he was sure that if any pedestrians passing weren't throwing him dirty looks for his stereo volume they were certainly gawking at the mass of head bobbing and flailing arms in his passenger seat. Alfred's ecstatic arms drumming and hair whipping, causing the idle vehicle to shake. Then as the music cuts, he jerked his head up and turned to face his brother.
"Risin' up, back on the street
Did my time, took my chances
Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet
Just a man and his will to survive"
Alfred shot his left arm the width of the dashboard then brought it back into a fist clutched to his chest.
"So many times, it happens too fast
You trade your passion for glory"
He held up his index finger while shouldering his brother over the console, jabbed a thumb toward the back seat, then finished by pumping his fist triumphantly while bobbing his head.
"Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive"
Alfred brought his right hand upward pointing at both of his eyes with his index and middle finger. He then used both arms to mimic a boxing stance-
"It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight"
then striking his arm out towards the windshield and horizon. He turned his hand in a circular motion pointing upward.
"Risin' up to the challenge of our rival"
He squared his shoulders, raising both hands, and swaying side to side. Then pointing to his eyes again and turning to look at his brother.
"And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he's watchin' us all with the eye of the tiger"
"Come on Mattie! Join in!" He cried to his otherwise unfazed twin. The light had changed back to green and he was checking his lanes before pulling up. He couldn't however help the slight shake of his head and quiet sigh as he saw the others pleading expression out his peripheral vision. There was never any fighting what was about to come, he knew this deep down, but he would at least keep the enthusiasm to a minimum lest they be late to work due to a driving ticket. Mathew began to sing the next verse, resulting in an exultant cry from the other as he continued to dance animatedly.
"Face to face, out in the heat
Hangin' tough, stayin' hungry
They stack the odds 'till we take to the street
For the kill with the skill to survive"
Progressively they both bobbed, swayed, gestured, and made facial expressions throughout their voyage.
"It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight
Risin' up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he's watchin' us all with the eye of the tiger"
They continued even as they pulled into the parking lot. Not caring about any inlookers or passerby's that saw them. Both unfastened their restraints and turned to face one another. Each a mirror version of the others actions, trying to break the others concentration. But neither relenting.
"Risin' up, straight to the top
Had the guts, got the glory
Went the distance, now I'm not gonna stop
Just a man and his will to survive
It's the eye of the tiger, it's the dream of the fight
Risin' up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he's watchin' us all with the eye
...of the tiger"
The melody faded and in its absence an ad for he local discount store or weather report aired, but neither occupant was paying attention. They both smiled ridiculously gitty grins and heaved to catch their breaths after the long ending note. Alfred punched his brother playfully in the shoulder and bursted out with laughter.
"Ya see, what'd I tell ya?! We're gonna kill it at the auditions! Just wait and see."
Mathew took in Alfred's reassured smile, like he could see into the future and know what adventure awaited them. He chucked to himself for getting pulled into yet another of his brother schemes. But really what else was there to do. With Alfred there never was any chance of fighting it.
"We sure are."
Hope you enjoyed!
The song was Eye of the Tiger by Survivor
and if you listened and danced along with Alfred then you're an awesome goofball.
I will say that Al's dance moves where adapted by my own. I basically described what I look like when I sing along in the car. ;P
Until next time~