TK
"Get the hell out of here!" yelled a store manager.
A blond teenage boy ran out of the convenience store.
"C'mon man, can't I have another chance? Don't let me cry!" asked the blonde boy.
"After you destroyed the junk food isle? Hell no!"
"C'mon…I need the money and-"
The manager started throwing things at the blond boy. He quickly ran away from the area. The blonde boy wandered the streets. He was not good at anything. He has been fired from every job he worked at. All he really had was his mother and his music. He put his hands in his pockets and kicked rocks as he walked home.
"Yo, TK.!" shouted a brown haired teenage boy across the street.
The blonde boy looked across the street in response to his name. The other boy was running to TK.
"Hey, Justin," said TK.
"Wassup man?"
"Ah…just got fired again."
"Man, times must be hard then."
"Nah, I just suck at everything."
"Don't say that, man. You still practicing your break dance moves?"
"…that's what got me fired."
"What? What do you mean?"
"I was practicing a head spin in the store, but my legs opened too wide and I ended up kicking everything off the shelves."
Justin sighed.
"Easy come, easy go, right?"
"You dumbass. Oh yeah, how's your mom?"
"My mom's doing fine."
TK's mother was very weak and rested in her bed most of the day. She used to be a cop until she contracted a terminal illness that started to weaken her body, which forced her to resign.
"I wonder what she's gonna say when you tell her that you lost your job again."
"It'll be fine. See ya, I gotta go."
"See ya, TK."
TK continued heading home as Justin walked away. Justin stopped and turned around.
"Oh, TK!"
TK turns around.
"Yeah?"
"Don't forget! Get chance and luck!"
TK smiled and gave him a thumb up.
"Yeah!"
They started walking away to their homes.
TK opened the door to his house. It was not anything extravagant. It was a plain house with a simple wooden door. It had one bathroom and two bedrooms.
"Terrance? Is that you?" called out an elderly woman's voice.
"Yeah, mom. I'm home," answered TK
"You're home early."
TK saw his mom trying to get out of her bed.
"No, mom, don't try to get up. You might collapse again."
"Can't a mom even give her own son a hug?"
She wobbled a little bit.
"Mom!"
She sat down onto her bed.
"Oh, I'm alright. You worry too much, Terrance."
His mom lied back down onto her bed.
"How was work today?"
"It was, uh…"
He made an ashamed face. His mom sighed.
"What did you do this time?"
"Don't worry, mom. I'll get us the money in no time."
"Terrance, I know you're trying hard, but please don't overwork yourself."
Terrance looked away and saw his father's frame. His father wore a red bandana as he posed with some fellow soldiers.
"I'm also sure that your father would be worried about you too."
"Mom…"
His father had died in the war. The body was buried at a national cemetery. The only thing returned to them was his red bandana, which is now displayed in front of the picture.
"Find a job that you like. Don't force yourself to try and become someone else."
"Thanks, but if it were that easy, I would have done it by now. I'll just look for more part time jobs around the block tomorrow."
"Terrance…"
"It's fine. I think I just want to rest in my room for now. Do you want me to do anything, mom?"
"No, no. I'm fine. Go take a nap if you want. I'll be here and read my book."
"Okay."
TK walked down the hallway to his room. As he walked to his room, he passed by a stack of bills. It started to pile up. He looked at them with disgust and moved onto his room. He opened the door to his room. It was littered with CDs and magazines. He picks up his iPod and listens to his music. To him, this was truly what he ever had. His music soothed his soul and helped him get through rough times. It helped him deal with the loss of his father and the acknowledgement that his mother is terminally ill. With his music, all he was ever good at was dancing. He practiced everyday. Moonwalking, breakdancing, and regular warm up exercises kept him fit and busy.
"Oh yeah. I still have to finish my daily routine," said TK to himself.
He got up and cleared some space. He did some push-ups and sit-ups. Then, he got ready to practice his dance moves.
"C'mon, let's dance."
He turned to his favorite song and started dancing. He began moving back and forth, shuffling his feet. Then he did a quick spin and moonwalked towards his door. He followed it up with a three step and quickly switched to an outlaw step. Then he placed his hand onto the floor and prepared to do a windmill. He kicked the opposite leg from the direction of the door, and then quickly spun to gain the momentum to rotate himself around onto his back and back onto his front. He got ready to do a headspin. He rolled forward, landing his head on the ground, and propelled his body straight up. He put his hands on the ground, ready to spin. Sweat falls down due his nervousness since he has never been able to does this move correctly. He twisted his body and angled his hands so he can spin left. He pushes off. He spun a complete cycle, then another, then another, and then does a final cycle. He stops himself from spinning and quickly gets up.
"I did it!" proclaimed TK.
He felt accomplished.
"Heh. Even if I'm not talented in anything else but this, I will surely get enough money to pay the bills and mom's treatment."
He opened the door and ran out to the living room. He picked up the telephone and began to dial a number. There was a ring. Then the phone got picked up during the second ring.
"Hello?" asked the voice.
"Justin! Is the B-boy competition still open?"
"The one for Japan? Wait, don't tell you're actually going to enter after all," said Justin.
TK rejected Justin's invitation the first time because he thought he was not good enough, but now, he feels confident that he can actually win.
"I have to. The grand prize is fifty thousand dollars, isn't it?"
"Yeah, but…the people heading there are at the top of their game, definitely way more skillful than you."
"Who cares if they are? It doesn't once I beat them."
"You said confident."
"That's because I am confident."
"What do you mean?"
"Look, just let me join up with you on the way to Japan. I know you're going too."
"Well…I'll let you come along if you have the money for the flight."
"How much is it?"
"Thirteen hundred bucks."
"Are you serious?"
"Sadly, yeah. Do you have the money to get a ticket?"
TK looked over to an envelope left behind by his father. His father had left him with two thousand dollars before he went to fight in the war.
"Great. Just get to the airport tomorrow then. I'll meet you there. You're lucky we still had one spot open on our crew. You remember Keith and Jenny, right?"
"Yeah. Are they the other members?"
"Yeah. They're the best people I could find. As you know, I invited you too, but you didn't want to. Glad to see that you changed your mind."
"Yeah. I need to win this more than anything."
TK remembered the bills on the table.
"Okay. That's a good attitude! Oh...what about your mom though?"
"Oh, right."
TK remembered that his mom will have to alone here while he's gone.
"I'll take care of that. Just be ready when I get there."
"Will do. See ya tomorrow morning at the airport then. We should be there around six or seven."
"Yeah. See ya."
He hung up the phone.
"Man…scrambled it, troubled down. This is going to be hard to explain."
He walked over to his mom's room.
"Terrance, did you need something?"
"I don't know how to say this…"
"Say what honey?"
He kneels by her bedside.
"I…I want to go to a break dancing contest in Japan! I want to win the money!"
There was silence within the room for a few seconds, but for TK, it seemed to take forever. Then, his mom patted his head.
"That's great."
She smiled. That was the smile that TK loved to see.
"But that's means that you'll be here alone…"
"Oh, it's alright. I've been able to take care of myself before, so don't worry. Go dance, TK!"
TK turned to his side to look away.
"Hmm? Something wrong, Terrance? I said you could go. In fact, I would be happy if you were chasing your dreams."
"It's not that…it's just…"
He pondered for a second. His mom looked at him curiously.
"I'm just sorry."
"Eh? About what?"
"About not being talented in anything else but dancing. I wish I had the talent to be able to make a lot of money so we could pay the bills easier and you could get better…"
"Oh, is that it? Haha! Terrance, it's fine. Listen, it doesn't matter how many things you're talented in, it only matters if you focus on a talent you really enjoy. That way, you can find its true potential and become recognized for it."
She smiled again. He felt happy after hearing those words.
"Thanks, mom."
"Oh it's nothing. Besides, if your dad was here, he would be fully supported of your decision."
"Really?"
"Yeah, just like how I fully supported him and you."
"Yeah."
He looked at the picture again. For some reason, he felt happy to see his dad's face. Then he thought of something as he looked at the red bandana.
"Oh, mom, I don't know if you'll let me, but can I wear dad's bandana when I go to Japan?"
"Eh? Sure, but why?"
"Because when I show them my talent, I want something to make me stand out, make people remember who Terrance Keegan is, and I think dad's bandana would be noticeable…and I always thought that it would look cool to wear around my head."
She reached for the bandana and grabbed it. She handed it over to TK.
"If he was here, this would be like him passing the Keegan family honor to his son. Hehehe."
"Hehe. Thanks mom."
"You should thank your dad too. He was able to bring this back."
"Yeah. Thanks dad."
"Now, now! You have a plane to catch. When is it?"
"Around six or seven in the morning tomorrow."
"Oh! You should sleep early then. Here, I'll help you pack your things."
His mom tried to get up.
"No, no, no! Mom, you stay here and rest! I'll be able to pack on my own. Don't worry."
"C'mon, Terrance! I'll help you pack. I want to at least know you're packing stuff to last in Japan."
"It's not like I'm going away forever or anything…"
"Heh, but even when you go out for just a short while, I still miss you."
"Good to know then."
"Now then…"
She makes a kissing face.
"I kiss you!"
She kissed him on the cheek.
"Gah! Mom! I'm not a kid anymore!"
He started wiping off the saliva on his cheek. His mom laughed.
"It's still fun to do that! Haha!"
She slowly got out of bed and TK supported her as they walk over to his room.
"Wow…you really haven't cleaned this place…"
"Sorry…"
They made their way around the CDs and magazines and reached his closet.
"Now where is it…oh! There it is!"
His mom pulls out a suitcase.
"Alright, time to start packing."
They started grabbing clothes and folded them up. Then, they stacked them into the suitcase.
"Haha! You're going to need a lot of these!" said his mom as she stretched out a pair of boxers.
"Mom!" yelled TK as he takes his boxers away from his mom's hands.
They continued until the suitcase was full.
"Phew, I think that's it."
"Yeah. I have everything I need for Japan. Thanks mom."
"Aw, it's nothing."
TK helped his mother up from the floor and supported her back to her room. She lied down onto the bed again.
"It's getting late. Both of us should be going to sleep. Especially you since you have a plane to catch tomorrow."
"Yeah. You should sleep too."
"Don't worry. I will. Good night, Terrance."
"Good night mom."
He walked out of the room and closed the door. He started heading back to his room. He entered his room.
"This is it, isn't it?"
He walked over to the desk that his dad's bandana is on. He grabs it and went over to his bed. He sat down on his bed and looked at the bandana.
"Yeah…I will definitely win that contest."
He lied down on his bed, pulled the blankets over him, and went to sleep.
"Come back home with a trophy, okay?" said his mom as she waved goodbye.
She was sitting in the car as she saw TK off.
"I will! If things get too hard, you better call your sister."
"Don't worry. I'll call your aunt if anything comes up."
"Okay, see ya mom."
"Mhm. Good luck."
He opened the car door.
"Wait, wait!"
TK turned around.
"What happened?"
"I forgot to give you this!"
She held up a wrapped up gift box.
"What's this?"
"Well, since you're a taking a part of your dad with you, I might as well give you something as well! And, this could be a late birthday present since I wasn't able to do anything for your birthday."
"Aw…mom. You didn't have to."
"Of course I have to. I'm your mom!"
She pouted.
"Alright, alright."
He took the box. He ripped up the wrapping paper. He opened up the box and inside was a pair of handcuffs with a string going through the middle. He realized it was a necklace.
"Mom…how did you…"
"I still had a pair of those around, so I fashioned a necklace for you to wear along with your dad's bandana. Now, you have a part of both of us."
"Thanks, mom!"
TK put on the necklace. He flicked his new necklace.
"These are cool!"
"Hehe. I'm happy you said that!"
His mom smiled.
"Now, now. You should go before you miss your plane!"
"Oh right! Bye mom!"
"Bye, Terrance!"
He closed the door and put on his earphones. He started walking towards the entrance of the airport as his mom drove away. He snapped his fingers to the beats of the song that he was listening to.
"Yo, TK!" shouted a teenage girl.
TK kept walking. His earphones blocked any sounds from the outside.
"He's listening to music isn't he…" asked a teenage boy.
"Seems like it…"
"TK!"
TK heard his name since the music was changing. He turned in the direction that he was being called from. He saw Justin, a girl, and a boy.
"Hey!" shouts TK.
He paused his music and began jogging over to them.
"Hey, so I heard you decided to come with us at the last minute," said the girl.
"Yeah. Long time no see, Jenny."
"Heh, nice necklace."
"Thanks. It is pretty cool."
"Man, we're glad you decided to come, or else we would've had to look for a fourth member in Japan, and you were the only one in the group that knew a bit of Japanese," said the boy.
"C'mon…is that really how you greet me, Keith?"
"Heh, yeah, yeah."
"Anyways, let's go. Our plane's waiting," said Justin.
"Right. Let's hurry up!"
They start walking to their terminal.
They get their tickets and get on their plane. They find their seats. TK and Keith sat in the same while Justin and Jenny got the row behind them. TK got the window seat.
"Man…Japan. I always wanted to go there," said Keith.
"Yeah. It sounds like a great to visit," said TK
"Don't forget why we're going though. We need to win!" shouts Jenny.
"Yeah. Fifty grand would be nice, but then there's four of us so we would get twelve and a half grand each," says Justin.
"More than what I'm getting now!" said Keith.
"Yeah, I think that's the same for all of us."
"I'm guessing we're going to have to sit here for a while. How long are we going to sit here?" asked TK
"Probably around nine hours. It's going to be a long flight…" said Jenny.
"Oh well. We could just sleep most of the time," said Justin.
"Yeah, that would probably be the fastest way to past time," said Jenny.
"Yeah. Too bad we can't practice while we're on here," said TK.
"Yeah. Nine hours would be a good amount of time."
"Oh, I almost forgot."
TK pulled out his father's bandana from his pocket.
"What's that?" asked Justin.
TK tied it around his head, covering the top part of his eyes. He smiled, snaped, and gave two thumbs up.
"Oh! It's a bandana!"
"Yeah! I thought this would look cool so I had it with me."
"Cool. It would make us stand out," said Jenny.
"Yeah, and it fits you, TK."
"Hehe. Yeah."
He gets his iPod.
"Well, if anyone needs me, just tap my shoulder."
"Okay," answered the other three.
He plugged in his earplugs and listened to his music. He looked at the window. This land will be out of view for a while.
Some time passed and the plane began to gain speed. It took off and they were high above the ground. TK looked out the window. Everything looked distant and tiny. TK takes off his earplugs and looked at the scenery.
"Wow! Everything is so small!" shouted TK.
"What did you expect? We're miles off the ground," said Justin.
"Hmm…we still need to come up with a group name though…" said Jenny.
"Oh yeah. We haven't come up with one since we didn't have a fourth member," said Keith.
They all pondered for a second. Then TK snaps his fingers.
"How about 'Dancers in the Shadows'?"
They all looked at him.
"Heh…I got nothing better," said Keith.
"Sounds flashy. I like it," said Justin.
"Yeah. I don't have a problem with that name either," said Jenny.
"Then it's settled. From now on, we're "Dancers of the Shadows'!" proclaimed Justin.
"Woohoo!" shouted the other three.
A person shushed them from behind.
"Ehehehehe…sorry," said Justin.
"So, what are we doing once we reach Japan?" asked Jenny.
"Well first, we should-"
Suddenly, the plane shook violently. Then, it became stable again after ten seconds.
"What the hell was that?" shouted Keith.
Then the overhead speakers went off.
"This is your captain speaking. We are experiencing some rough turbulence. Please remain calm in your seats."
The plane shook again. This time, more violently. It was as if the plane was being thrown around like a child's toy. The emergency siren goes off and oxygen masks deploy. The plane took a sudden nosedive.
"Oh my god!" screams a nearby passenger.
"We're going to crash!" yelled Justin.
TK caught a glimpse of the outside through the window. Everything was flying up faster than he can comprehend; no, the plane was just falling faster than he can comprehend. There were screams and crying everywhere. All TK could do was close his eyes and hope for the best. He could not hear anyone or feel anything. He only shouted one thing:
"Is this really how it's going to end?"
The plane crashed into the ground and caused a large boom.
TK slowly opened his eyes. There were fires and people screaming everywhere. Some people were crawling, some managed to get up, but some were slumped over in their seats. He looked around him. Keith, Justin, and Jenny seemed to be unconscious and they were breathing. TK was relieved, but there was something still bothering him. A large amount of pain was surging through his body. He did not notice it before, but there was something warm and wet around his mouth. He tried to move his arm, but his limbs will not obey. Then, he looks down. There was blood on the floor. Another drop of blood landed onto the floor. He soon realized that it was the blood that came out of his mouth. His entire body ached. He felt weak and dizzy. His legs started getting numb. TK sees his iPod. The song playing on the cracked screen was called "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." The bottom half of his body starts to feel numb and he is faintly able to hear the screams that were loud and dreadful before. Then he realized one important thing.
"I'm dying?"
That fact ran through his mind and it seemed to be accepted by his body, as his body started to get more numb.
"No! I can't die yet!"
He felt his energy escaping him.
"No! There's still something I have to do!"
His vision started to blur.
"I haven't been able to use my talent yet!"
It got harder for him to breathe properly.
"I can't…I just can't die here!"
But it was too late. Both his mind, body, and willpower know it is too late. The fact remained that was going to die here, before he reached his goal.
"I was…so close…"
His mind starts to cloud up. His breathing started getting very faint.
"I'm…sorry…Mom…Dad…"
His breathing eventually got fainter and fainter, until his body gave up and released one final breath. As the world faded to white around him, he was able to faintly hear, "TK! Stay with me TK! No, TK!"
TK stands alone in the afterlife high school after fighting off the shadows that attacked him and the SSS brigade, practicing his dance moves as a daily routine, never stopping until he was able to master his talent. He stops. He finally realizes what his goal after all of this time. His goal was not to be talented in everything, but rather to just have the talent to make his mom smile. He worked hard because he did not want to see his mom sad like the time when his dad never made it back home. He just could not to see her like that ever again.
"Yeah…all I ever did was to make my parents happy."
He takes off his bandana and holds his necklace in his other hand.
"But they were already proud of my talents."
He clenches them.
"Both of you were with me the whole time, and both of you were happy that I made it as far as I could."
He brought those two items up to his chest. He remembered what the last song on his iPod was.
"Knockin' on Heaven's Door…heh, and when I do knock, I hope dad lets me in."
TK accepts his fate. He is happy with his parents, his group, his new crazy friends…and himself.
"I had the talent this whole time…and I'm happy I was able to use it…"
TK disappears, leaving no trace behind.
