Readers do not always appreciate stories. The mind, perhaps people, remain wired for negativity and brevity. Science suggests, for example, that focus on two tasks at once proves increasingly difficult. Selective attention describes readers well as innocence does a toddler. The friends of writers, not readers alone, but forum friends, IRL's, casuals, friendlies all ask. 'But it's based on a true story, right?' You're not paying attention.
True stories are as real as missed flights. They happen like anything else, sometimes with circumstances and facts funnier than fiction. Word comes along, the way clouds roll in sparsely on a sunny day. A story about a lad, misunderstood but indolent in the industry of correcting the misunderstanding.
In his youth, like the vast myriad of children his age, Dee, as he liked to be called, lived for mischief. In particular, children might not behave worse than him, but his pranks persisted in a juvenile manner. He snorted and snickered at disruptions to class. Students at countless schools like Dee exist, but eventually they grow up. Dee would reach young adulthood. By physiological definitions, he matured. He did so amused as a cartoon character the most, at innuendo.
Dee, full of inappropriate humor, filled his mother feelings of irritation. She couldn't help but raise her voice once or twice at him. He needed a job! Her son was no loser!
Dee did not lose very much at all. Adolescence didn't equate to inadequacy. People look for fulfillment, through accomplishment and actualization. Psychologists research this.
While not included amongst the professionals, Dee did play online video games with some skill. He had ambitions, at some point, to straight up and maybe enter competitions. His mother could not find herself onboard the campaign.
Dee didn't know he would meet someone, online playing games albeit, who offered him a chance. It's all risky but chances didn't mean much unless taken. For the time being, Dee couldn't keep a job since his ID expired.
His jokes, the unemployment, and his seeming lack of ambition caused tears to well up in his mother's eyes. Disagreements frequented everyone's ears. Dee continued venting. He could ask every day but she never had time.
"I could hook you up, but I know you got it. You're a determined dude."
"Yeah, I keep asking her everyday."
As much as that online profile wanted to respond honestly, he held his tongue. He had work to do, too. He knew Dee wouldn't appreciate the wisdom to try a different course of action than pester his mother. Everyone wanted change, but when offered it through daily habits, we refuse. We really want dramatic escapism, instead. But he remembered a challenge he read earlier: encourage a young person. So he changed his tone. He consumed some content Dee shared and added, "Keep going. Try something else. You never know."
Dee wondered if his friend online complimented him for making an effort or truly listening to the portion of his song he was producing. When his reply was both, Dee didn't respond. He didn't believe him.
Dee would try a different route to replacing his ID, despite the disbelief. Dee began swiping his older brother's- Bee's ID to apply for work. They look alike. Why couldn't Dee just borrow it for a while?
Dee could not explain himself. He knew this wasn't 'trying something else'. He avoided facing his mother. Maybe, inwardly, he believed it was his brother's fault to begin with, so snatching it made perfect sense.
Bee, the older brother, did not rationalize much at all. The inconvenience of missing his ID while trying to buy marijuana called down a maelstrom of emotion.
Dee could not know Bee stood behind now. His headset made him oblivious to his surroundings, a real concern if danger truly presented itself. There it was. The bifold wallet lay splayed on the floor behind the squeaky office chair. After counting out thirty dollars, twenty for the replacement and ten for the annoyance, Bee seized the headset with an appropriate energy.
"Let's go, Dork. Mom's right. You need a job, yeah, but really you need some help. C'mon. Let's go get the ID."
All images are my own.
