(my latest short story-I'd love to hear what you think!)
It
begins when we’re very young and only intensifies as age becomes us, the desire
to be like those who have gone on before.
The stories are recited countless times to rapt audiences. There are moments the epic tales seem too
good to be true. How could such daring
exist in a single entity? Yet, the
examples laid out are what we all aspire to: success. One day we will all reach the same path but
the result that transpires will depend solely on our own wit and decisiveness. Will shame or honor be our legacy?
I remember it quite clearly, the morning
that changed everything. I awoke to the
sound of birds chirping, rather incessantly, I might add. Was there a particular reason they sang so
early? It was a beautiful day so perhaps
that was what struck their need to proclaim it to the world. Sleep, it seemed, was no longer my
companion. I stretched, feeling every
muscle pop, warmth spreading throughout my body. My brothers were already up and had gone,
most likely to get breakfast. Mother was
still sleeping so I left quietly.
Foster found me immediately. His eyes were wide and I could tell something
had happened. His breaths were short and he twitched slightly.
“Corbin!
I’m so glad you’re up!”
I shook my head vigorously, willing
myself to be alert. “What’s wrong,
friend?”
“It’s Benson! He’s been talking all morning like he wants
to go. We don’t know what to do!”
I sighed. Of course he was. My brother had been threatening to go
prematurely for days now. It wasn’t
entirely his fault, though. His desire
to make his mark in the community was steepening with each passing day. It didn’t matter to him that the stories we’d
heard of were successful attempts made by those much older than us. They were told for our benefit, to learn and
study, not to challenge and outdo.
Benson was notorious for overlooking the
obvious dangers and believing that none applied to him. Unfortunately, this was the exact thinking
that lost us our father. He was too brave
for his own good and while he had made the run countless times, it only took
one moment of indecision to make it his last.
Our mother called it an act of nature; I believed it was a failure to
know one’s limitations.
Regardless, my brother was determined to
make this run in honor of our father, to finish it for him. While this may have been honorable, it was
too soon for Benson to attempt such an impressive feat. We were too young.
“I’ll show you to him,” Foster squeaked,
turning on a dime and rushing away. I
moved quickly, staying on his tail.
Hopefully it was still a concern and not another story to add to our
history.
The scene was prestigious in its own
right. Benson was surrounded by our
peers, his head held high, speaking solemnly.
“Our earliest memories are ones of
encouragement and preparation for when our time will come. We are trained, ingrained even with the need
to accept our impending duty, and in some cases, fate. Our forefathers accomplished this with speed
and agility. Their examples are to be
revered and in some respects, finished.”
The crowd nodded, agreeing in hushed
tones, their faces in pure awe of the brave one before them.
“But no one our age has ever gone
before!” the small one just to his right pointed out. “We’ve all been told that we have to wait
until we’re old enough to leave home.
We’re still young.”
Benson scoffed. “I left home this morning.”
Whispers of surprise rose around
him. I’d had enough.
“Brother, this is preposterous. You can’t go now.”
He looked over as if he hadn’t noticed
me standing there for the last moment.
“Oh, Corbin, I’m glad you finally joined us. It will be good to have another family member
to testify to Mother of my act. No doubt
it will be too amazing to believe.”
“It’s too soon!” I urged.
“Father was twice our age when he gave his first go. He studied and examined those before
him. He waited until he was strong and
fast enough to take the risk.”
“And look what happened to him,” Benson
said coldly. “I’ve thought long and hard
of this, brother, and come to the conclusion that age does not mean
everything. Some of us come to greatness
on our own accord and without the aid of those gone on before.”
Our friends could now see it, the
arrogance that illuminated his words.
His attempt today was not to bring honor to our family, but to him
alone. Pride in oneself only results in
the fall of oneself.
“You’re making a mistake,” I said
heatedly. “Don’t do this now, just wait
a little longer. That’s all I ask. If not for me, then for mother. Don’t cause her pain twice in one cycle.”
“I don’t intend to cause her tears. I will show her that we can prevail, our
family will move on and gain our status among the community once more. This is my chance to remove our shame.” With that, he pushed through those huddled
around him and approached his target. He
looked steadily across, his body arched at the ready. He charged forward and at first I believed he
might actually be successful.
But in a moment, it was over. I watched in horror as my brother was stopped
short and forced to meet his fate, from an end he would not return. My heart lay broken as the scene before me, a
twisted repeat of past moments in my life.
We mourned where we stood, knowing there was nothing we could do. Benson had let his pride overpower his common
sense and it was a lesson to us all.
Instead of redemption, he made our family an infamous example that would
be remembered for many years to come.
If only he waited. If only our honor were not subject to such
danger. If only time could reverse and
bring us those we have lost. But alas,
that is our life. This is our mark on
the world.
***
“Mommy!
You just hit him!”
She sighed, switching lanes without a
blinker. “Honey, it’s just a
squirrel. They run out in front of cars
all the time and no one knows why. It’s
just a part of life.”
The little girl looked sadly out the
back window, the scene growing smaller as they traveled down the road. A group of squirrels gathered at the corner,
their heads bowed in honor of their fallen friend.
the
end.
