Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Hear (07/08/10)
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TITLE: Some Things Just Stink | Previous Challenge Entry
By Amanda Brogan
07/14/10 -
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His mother leaned against the doorframe of his bedroom, arms crossed along her chest. The patience in her face may as well have had a “low-battery” sign. “Young man, I won’t tolerate talk like that, nor your attitude.” She paused slightly, seeming determined not to blow up at him. “If anything stinks, it’s your behavior.”
“It’s just not fair!” He turned to face her. “Everybody in the world has updated tech stuff except me. My iPod should be in the technology hall of fame. It can’t even take a video!” He flopped face-first onto his bed.
“First of all, not everyone has an iPod that can take a video. Secondly, what would you do with it if it could take a video?”
“I don’t know.” Came a pathetic mumble from the blankets.
She moved to the foot of his bed and sat down. “Maybe you should start thinking about what you have, instead of whining about what you want. You’re so blessed, Colin. There are probably hundreds of kids in this world who would love to be in your position.”
“New-iPod-less?”
His mom pursed her lips and shook her head. “Have you ever thought that there are people who don’t have iPods or don’t have a bed like the one you’re pouting on?”
He didn’t answer.
“Have you ever thought that maybe there are people who can’t even hear the music you have on that thing?”
He glanced at the rejected gadget, then mumbled, “At least they could use the camera on an iPod nano.”
She tossed her hands in the air and stood up. “Ya know what, you think about it. If you don’t want that thing, then fine – give it away. But I’m not getting you an updated one when you’re acting like that. You don’t deserve what you have.”
When she was gone, Colin punched his fist into the bed. “It’s not fair.” He repeated.
Mom didn’t understand. He couldn’t whine to her.
Travis!
His best friend would feel his pain.
Travis’ house was only a few blocks down, so Colin rode his bike. As he suspected, his buddy was happy to see him.
“Hey, bro! What the dizzle?” Travis was the 13-year-old king of street talk as far as Colin was concerned.
“The dizzle is not sizzlin’, that’s for sure.” Good thing Travis was patient with his attempts at the ghetto language.
“Ah, fo’ real? What’s goin’ down?”
Colin then proceeded to explain all that was “going down” with his non-technologicalness.
Travis listened intently, nodding every so often. “Wish I could help, man. That’s a bummer. But ya know, your mom’s got a point. It would totally stink not to hear.”
Colin squirmed. “Yeah, I guess. But that’s not the point here.”
His friend shrugged. “If you say so. Hey, I’m gonna get us some drinks.”
Colin leaned back against the giant surround-sound speaker behind him as Travis disappeared to the kitchen.
It would stink not to hear.
Before he could process the comment, he was assaulted by a huge blast of sound. He jumped away from the speaker, hands pressed against his ringing ears.
“What was that?” He screamed over the noise.
Travis’ two teenage brothers came be-bopping into the room. They looked surprised at Colin’s position on the floor – kneeling with his hands on his ears. He must’ve been blocking out most of the music because all he could hear was ringing.
Travis ran back into the room and soon all three boys were beside Colin, motioning to him. He took his hands off his ears but all he heard were muffled voices. His heart-rate sped up. What was going on?
One of the boys called his mom who frantically drove him to the emergency room.
It was weird, like being under water. In place of voices and everyday sounds, all he heard was incessant ringing and very muffled noises.
The doctor had a look at him and stuck a strange tool in his ears, he guessed to check his hearing. Doc said something to his mother and handed her a sheet of paper. Colin glanced over her shoulder, catching key words. “Temporary loss. Can last up to three days.”
He sighed in relief.
He wouldn’t be deaf. But he knew he would be thankful for much more than his iPod when all this was over.
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Loved it from beginning to end!
Great story. Enjoyed the street language too.
I loved the reference to LOW BATTERY Sign on the mother!
I agree that the "street language" sounds off-- but the reality is, I am very out of that loop and when my cousin comes over, I can't understand a word he says. So. take that with a grain of salt.
I think this was a great story. Enjoyable read. if my battery were fully-charged I could maybe be more helpful with some pinkish ink, but all I've got is good words today. Hope you don't mind :)
Good job, girl, keep writing!