Chapter 5 - Alvin and the Chipmunks - Part 1

“Mama, can we go to the park on the way?” [Alvin]

“Babie, we have to be home before your dad comes” [Mom]

“But the park is right there. I won’t take long. Just a quick peek and I’ll be back” [Alvin]

“Alvin, we are not supposed to go there. There might be people who don’t want us there”

After a brief moment of hesitation and lot of pleading and puppy eyes from me, mom brightly smiled and we went to the park. Everyone was gawking at us. My mom is a caretaker in St.Auster’s hospital. May be she has admirers?

Mom held me as close to her as possible. It didn’t bother me at all. Every now and then she holds me close and tight. She must think I will run around. I am an obedient kid and I love her so much.

As we were walking, I noticed a group of people smoking and shouting words I haven’t heard of. I was curious to go over there, but mom strictly forbid me to ever go there and never to repeat what I heard.

Uneventfully our park trip concluded. I still managed to get a glimpse of a kid who was looking at a board game. Mom later told me that it was chess and we were not supposed to play that. May be that game is too costly for us? [Alvin - 7 years old]

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“Hey, y’all are not allowed here. Papa says y’all should eat over there” [Kidd]

The place he pointed to was a bench where the brutality of the sun was at its maximum. I saw a couple of other kids eating over there. It’s always a good idea to do what your elders say. Especially one so much bigger than you.

I moved to the bench and tried to make friends.

“Hi, I am Alvin Payne”

“I am Olivia Darthy. Nice to meet you Alvin”

“I am Andy Garson. Nice to meet you Alvin”

Two is better than nothing I guess. They were about my age and continued eating quietly when Kidd glared at them.

Half way through our lunch in silence, I saw a kid being beaten by Kidd. The kid probably didn’t do what Kidd said and is getting himself kicked. ‘Mama said to do as they’all say’. ‘Its for your own good boy’, papa said. They are wise people. [Alvin - still 7 years old]

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“Y’all. From today, this little shit will be eating with y’all” [Kidd]

And he literally dragged a kid almost half his size towards our table and motioned us to be quiet or else, he signed something about his thumb going across his neck. He is big, but he has mud for brains.

During our lunch, none of us spoke and the new kid didn’t introduce himself. He must be shy. Tomorrow, I’ll ask about it.

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That night when I was playing with Mr.Anderson, that is my teddy bear, I heard some quiet whispers. Papa and mama got it for my 6th birthday. All of my friends had to go to the dentist that day. Poor kids. The dentist let me off the hook ‘cause it was my birthday. Lucky me.

“They’re going to brand him like us” [Dad]

“He doesn’t notice everyone jeering at us. He is so innocent and naive” [Mom]

“Bah, he has to know. We have to tell him” [Dad]

“No. Please let him be till he has no more innocence left” [Mom]

“I tell you woman. You are spoiling him too much. When they come for him like they did for us, he wouldn’t know what to do” [Dad]

“Let it be. If things come to that, we will tell him. No sooner” [Mom]

“Hmmph… you are by yourself. I won’t always be here. When you tell him, tell him to obey them. He is a good kid, they won’t trouble him if he keeps his head down and do as he was told” [Dad]

“I know. He is meek. He will be fine” [Mom] .. she muttered after dad left, “At least I hope he will be”

Mr.Anderson and I slept with wonderful dreams.

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I am 8 years old now and I am noticing things. First, Kidd hates me for some reason. Not only me, there are quite few others like Olivia and Andy. He despises us. I don’t know what his problem is, but someone might have done something very bad to him previously.

The kid that eats with us, the scrawny little kid, he is called Barry Allen. He insists we call him Allen. If his name was Barry Allen, we should call him Barry. He doesn’t know even this small thing. May be that is why Kidd beats him everyday. Allen eats quietly and every now and then talks to himself. He must’ve been messed up in the head.

The town folks act ok in front of me. Their behavior changes terribly when I am with mama or papa. Mama and papa slouches in front of Mr.Gilmore and Mr.Peters. Mrs.Gilmore gives us vegetables from her farm and Mrs.Peters bakes our bread. Papa does a variety of jobs. He is a construction worker when there is construction going on. He also fixes people’s pipes and electricals. He knows everything. I came to know that the church we go has lots of other people like us who also slouch and do everything like my papa does.

I managed to meet Mr and Mrs.Darthy and Mr and Mrs.Garson. Olivia and Andy are now my best buddies. Life couldn't be any better.

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I am 9 years old now

Allen, Kidd and I are all now in the same class. I sit in the last desk while Kidd sits somewhere in the middle. Allen was at the first desk when the term started. He however moved close to mine after Kidd beat him up.

Allen is very quiet usually. His habit of talking to himself and disobeying others has not changed. Kidd beats him up everyday for some reason. One day, he beat up Allen for his milk, the other day he beat up for his jelly. Kidd must really like beating Allen up.

Maths is a boring class. The teacher writes something and asks us to solve it. Allen is able to come up with solutions so fast even before I can copy the question. Teachers praise Allen a lot. I have seen Kidd’s mom scorn Allen while scolding Kidd for being dumb. I think I now know the reason why Kidd beat up Allen so much.

“Hey Allen, why do you let Kidd beat u up so much” [Alvin]

“Because he is dumb. He wants things to go his way and others to bow down to him” [Allen]

Allen replied and continued with his book. It was a huge book on some fan or motors.

“Why can’t you bow down to him? He is big and mama says to do as you are told” [Alvin]

“That will not change anything. You bow and they treat you like crap. At least by disobeying you are doing what you want” [Allen]

Unable to understand his logic I continued, “Papa says to call others with respect and keep my head down. Kidd doesn’t trouble you if you do that” [Alvin]

Allen looked at me with shock, surprise and a hundred different emotions. He shook his head left and right. He waited for a second contemplating what to say and continued,

“Alvin, they treat you like a slave because you are black. Your mom and dad also might have had bad encounters with the town folk. That is why they teach you to keep your head down and behave proper. Is that what you want to be? Tiny minded, obedient, oxygen wasting moron that the town folk take advantage of?” [Allen]

“What is black?”, was all I could come up with in my anger. Frustration and pain soared through my throat. A cry of fear and panic all visible in my face. All the times people jeered at us flashed before my eyes and I fell down only to be shaken by my teacher asking, ‘Are you alright?’. I guess I am not. Let me just sleep.

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“Y’all need to feed him proper. He fainted in class today. Y’all are more trouble than use. He might be dismissed” [Teacher Betty]

“Please Ms.Betty, we feed him well. He must have not slept well yesterday. Please, I beg you to consider again. He won’t be useful without them studies” [Mom]

“Yes Ms.Betty. I do gardening for Mr.Mike, the principal. Give us one more chance. I will discipline the boy” [Dad]

“I will let him off this once. Take him home before he becomes a problem” [Teacher Betty]

Nodding meekly papa and mama brought me home. They explained to me, we were black and our town doesn’t sit well with black people. That is why we keep our heads down and do as they say. As long as we do as we were told, they let us be.

I felt like my entire being ripped out of existence. Why should we do as they say? Who are they to tell us what to do? I couldn’t understand anything anymore. Mama and papa were not wise. They were just scared. I hate everyone now. Everyone that did this to us.

My hatred trumped by my exhaustion, I sleep tired holding Mr.Anderson in my hand. That night, I didn’t have any pleasant dreams.

.............

Only someone was slapping me, huh?

..........

“Alvin. Alvin. Thank god I thought I lost you”, where am I, Mr.Anderson? What’s this thing in my hand? It’s not Mr.Anderson.

Someone is screaming something to my face. All I hear is the beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep sound ringing in my ears. Whats happening? Why is the ice cream shop on fire? Fuck. I want to sleep with Mr.Anderson and my vision slowly fades.

Shaking me by my shirt collar, “Alvin, you have to move. We have to get into the store. We can’t fight like this in open. Get us ass off. Camille has fainted. We need you with us. Get your ASS OFF!” [Allen]

That is Allen saying Camille fainted. What? My brain scrambled as fast it could. Yeah, we were getting ice cream while Allen came running from the library. Something about end of world and a broken wooden shield. Where is it? I have the handle but where is the shield?

“Useless fucking shield and armor. Alvin, I swear to god. If you don’t wipe that stupid look off your face, I will force your own piss down your throat” [Allen]

Allen hasn't talked to anyone like that in ages. Really must be the end of the world. “Alright. I am sorry I blanked out. Something flashy fell in front of us and I got knocked off. That stupid shield you gave me must have broken. It did nothing to stop that impact” [Alvin]

“It did its job. You and Camille are alive. Deputy officer Bran shot that thing 6 times and it still didn’t die. It went off chasing him. We are safe for now, but we have to get inside the store now. Help me carry Camille” [Allen]

Confusion, chaos and panic ruled the town. Everyone was trying to get somewhere inside. I saw something come out of the ice cream shop with blood all over its face and a shinny little sword in its hand.

Allen and I carried Camille as much as we could. I was already hurt somewhere and we didn’t have time to figure out where. Allen carried Camille like a princess and laid her down near an aisle of clothes. He made a rough pillow out of those clothes and rested her head gently. He sighed a heavy relief and instructed me to stay with her till she was conscious again. He quickly checked for my injuries and went to gather whatever medical supplies he could find. It was not life threatening, but anything could happen when huge monsters roam around beating the crap out of deputies.

Allen broke me out of my shell. This is my time to repay him and I can't be a burden. Besides, the shitty town is already in flames. That is a bonus.