Chapter sixteen:
American Eulogy
*static*
"Hello, I'm down here on East 12th street where the murder of the Strangeland family just occurred. A mother, Jodie Strangeland, and her children, James and Matt, were found dead this morning."
Christian turned up the volume on the radio. "We also found many phrases written in blood on the walls such as 'America Is Falling' and 'Mass Hysteria'."
Christian stood up. "Damn right America's Falling. Why the fuck do these things happen?"
Gloria shrugged. "I don't wanna live in the modern world. It's a terrible place."
"Yeah, Peacekeepers, murderers, rapists."
Gloria cringed when Christian said "rapists". Christian walked across the room and sat down on a couch. "I just found out that there's a high school reuinion tomorrow. Class of thirteen."
Gloria looked over at him. "You gonna go?"
"Psh. I'd rather go to a funeral! Plus, I don't like any of the people I went to school with. They're all so fucking useless. A bunch of shit-talking drama queens."
"Christian!"
"What?"
"We met at school, what the fuck!?"
"Not what I meant, you came in the last year- remember? Hell, it wasn't even really school since all of the teachers were either stoned, drunk, or fucking some of the students. And when they werent fucking, they were failing everyone."
Gloria sighed. "I feel like you're trying to stay away from something... Someone?"
"No, it's just... That place brings back bad memories. My music teacher, Mr. Armstrong, he... He died before we could finish the song we were writing. 'Sing us the song of the century, seems like American Eulogy. The dawn of my love and conspiracy- forgotten hope and the class of '13. Tell us a story, into that goodnight. Sing us a song, for me.' It was called 'American Eulogy'. It was about America falling apart. I can only remember parts of it, though.
"I want you to go. Go to the reuinion. It'll be fun, I'll tag along- I was there for a year."
"Alright. For you, Gloria."
The morning,, Christian sat and wrote. He completed the song. American Eulogy was finally done. He found out that Tré was a drummer, so he stopped by his place to give him a sheet of drum music. As it turns out, Tré had also gone to the highschool for his Senior year, and was going to attend. Christian then went to Mike, who was skeptical about going, but Christian convinced him. (Christian and Mike had met at the school.)
Later, at the ruinion-
The former principal stood onstage, reading a sheet of paper. "Says here that we have a musical performance coming up?" A drumkit, guitar, and bass were onstage. Gloria ran around frantically, trying to find Christian. She stopped, and saw Christian, Mike, and Tré on the stage now.
Christian began.
"Sing us the song of the century
That sings like American eulogy
The dawn of my love and conspiracy
Of forgotten hope and the class of 13
Tell me a story into that goodnight
Sing us a song for me
Mass hysteria
Mass hysteria
Mass hysteria
Mass hysteria
Red alert is the color of panic
Elevated to the point of static
Beating into the hearts of the fanatics
And the neighborhood's a loaded gun
Idle thought leads to full-throttle screaming
And the welfare is asphyxiating
Mass confusion is all the new rage
And it's creating a feeding ground
For the bottom feeders of hysteria
Mass hysteria
Mass hysteria
Mass hysteria
Mass hysteria
True sounds of maniacal laughter
And the deaf-mute is misleading the choir
The punchline is a natural disaster
And it's sung by the unemployed
Fight fire with a riot
The class war is hanging on a wire
Because the martyr is a compulsive liar
When he said
'It's just a bunch of niggers throwing gas into the hysteria'
Mass hysteria
Mass hysteria
Mass hysteria
Mass hysteria
There's a disturbance on the oceanside
They tapped into the reserve
The static response is so unclear now
Mayday, this is not a test!
As the neighborhood burns, America is falling
Vigilantes warning you
Calling 'I love you, Gloria!'
I don't want to live in the modern world
I don't want to live in the modern world
I don't want to live in the modern world
I don't want to live in the modern world"
Mike sang,
"I'm the class of thirteen
In the era of dissent
A hostage of the soul
On a strike to pay the rent
The last of the rebels
Without a common ground
I'm gonna light a fire
Into the underground"
"I don't want to live in the modern world
I don't want to live in the modern world
I don't want to live in the modern world
I don't want to live in the modern world
I am a nation
Without bureaucratic ties
Deny the allegation as it's written"
Mike sang again.
"I want to take a ride to the great divide
Beyond the 'up to date'
And the neo-gentrified
The high definition for the low resident
Where the value of your mind
Is not held in contempt
I can hear the sound of
A beating heart
That bleeds beyond a system
That's falling apart
With money to burn
On minimum wage
Cause I don't give a shit
About the modern age"
"I don't want to live in the modern world
I don't want to live in the modern world
I don't want to live in the modern world
I don't want to live in the modern world
I don't want to live in the modern world
Mass hysteria
I don't want to live in the modern world
Mass hysteria
I don't want to live in the modern world
Mass hysteria
I don't want to live in the modern world
Mass hysteria"
Christian ran to a keyboard and made beeping noises. Morse code for "Class of 13." He was pretty sure no one would figure that out, though. Christian and Gloria walked home tht night, chatting.
Christian sighed.
"I don't wanna live in the modern world."