Left Behind by Evan Bramwell

Left Behind
Evan Bramwel

On Tony’s fourth birthday, I took him to the movies. Now as soon as we stepped inside, he wanted popcorn, a soda, a hot dog, juju bees, a chocolate bar, nachos, bonbons… and whatever else those big eyes could see.

“Anything else Tony?”
“Gummybears. I need gummybears!”

And believe me they could see a lot.

The picture we saw was the Muppet Movie. You know, the one with Kermit and Miss Piggy? And we had \mean Tony, Tony had, a ball, and for weeks after that he d ask me to sing The rainbow connection to him

“Mikey?”
“ No.”
“ Please?”
“ No Tony! I’ve been singing that song all week! “
“ Please please please!”
“ No Tony! “
“PLEEEEEEAAAAAAASSSSSSSS.”
Okay! okay, but this is the last time you understand?
“Someday you’ ll find it, the rainbow connections, for lovers and dreamers like me. Satisfied?”

He wasn’t. That was almost ten years ago, but it seems like yesterday, you know? Tony turned fourteen this year. Got a full scholarship to Hochkins Preparatory school and then he shot. He just got shot and I can’ t do a thing about it. My baby brother is dying and I can’t do a thing about it.

Dad died the year Tony was born, so as oldest son I was the man of the house–at least when my mother let me be. So I helped bring Tony up. He was a crazy little kid. Always getting me in trouble with mom, but he was smart. When he was three he stared to read. And he decided to start with my Playboys. One day he oh-so-innocently asked my mother.

“ Ma, whats a w-hore?
“ A what?”
“A w-hore.”
“ Where did you get this from?”
“ Mikey.”
“Michael Jeramiah Solamon Smith, in the kitchen now. “

He was the starting quarterback for the Tomahawks– MVP last year. He was walking down the block on his way home from football practice when these drug dealers started shooting at each other. Tony never had a chance to get out of the way. The police said,“Well we’ re sorry, he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Wrong place, wrong time? He was shot six times! You know, they caught one of the guys who shot Tony. He’s only thirteen. Thirteen and carrying an Uzi pistol? So he goes home with his mama who swears he’s a good boy and he’s never gonna do it again. And Tony? Tony is in the hospital…… dying.

Tony was always getting me in trouble or messing up my things. I would get so mad at him.
“ Tony! I told you to stay out of my room didn’t I?! Don’t touch my baseball. Don’t steal my cookies. Don’t touch my computer. And don’t touch my magazines!”

And then he would look up at me with those big eyes, which were just made to hold tears.
“ I’m sorry, Mikey.”
“ O.K. Just don’t do it again, understand? You want some cookies or something?

I couldn’t stay mad at him.

“I can’t go Ma.”
“ But he’s asking for you.”
“I’ m not going!”
“He needs you Michael.”
“He needed me when those punks were shooting at him. That’s when he needed me. And I wasn’t there.”
“He needs you now.”
“For what Ma? Another spectator at his death bed?”
“No, so that he’ ll know he will be missed. So that he knows you love him.”
“ I’m not going.”
“Listen, I am tired of you feeling sorry for yourself. Your brother needs you and it’s about time you started acting like it.”

I taught Tony to play football, baseball, basketball, and chess. I taught him how to knot a tie and I even taught him how to cheat at poker. I dressed him up for his first date and taught him to be strong, to be a man, and face the pain… no matter how bad it hurts.

As I stood outside the hospital, I tried to think of any reason why I shouldn’t go inside. Hell! I wanted to remember Tony stealing my cookies, messing up m room throwing footballs–anywhere but here.

When I opened the door I saw Mom and the doctor. The bed looked empty, I thought he had already died. My God, he looked so small in that bed. I couldn’t believe it was him. Then he looked up at me.

“ I guess I really messed up this time huh Mike?”
“Nah, it wasn’t your fault man.”
“Remember that time I ripped up your Spiderman costume?”
“How can I forget?”
“I’m sorry man.”

He was just four years old again, and I just wanted to protect him from the world, but it was too late.

“Mikey? Do you remember the Rainbow Connection?”
“Yeah.”
“Sing it to me.”
“Some day you’ll find it the Rainbow connection for lovers and dreamers like me.”

The Art of the Can

When you think of art, what comes to mind? Picasso? Monet? Red Bull?

What? No? Oh. Well apparently it does to some people, and it has for over ten years. Every year, an art exhibition featuring designs completely constructed from Red Bull cans is held in a selected city. This year’s location? Link to follow.

The Return of the Screensavers

No, not those Screensavers (tear), but the actual screen-saving screensavers. You know, the classic wobbling 3d text? And who could forget those adorable colorful pipes? Well, lets be honest.

Those sucked.

Fortunately, Slavetotheinternet is to the rescue with an article covering 13 awesome screensavers, and I must agree, they are awesome. Hit the jump for more info and linkage.

What I Find

Hello readers, welcome to my humble little slice of the internet. Its the gift that keeps on giving!

Basically, I’ll post things that I find interesting, useful, or just plain entertaining here, as well as occasionally updating on my daily life. I’ll also post my picture of the day, taken by me. So, stay tuned and check often.

Hit me up on some other sites and be sure to follow me on twitter.

twitter.com/jgeogh01

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And anywhere else you see the names “ronenfox” or “jgeogh01″ (unless its on some jewish/hebrew site. that guy stole ronenfox a while ago.)

Till next time