Part 71: Seth's Secret
“Hold on a second,” Seth smiled, rewinding his tape player and having the speaker close to his ear.
Mia stared in confusion. Shanna was perplexed as well. The only one who was confused was Brendon, he simply waited paitently like he always did. The two young girls had just shared their deep secrets when their friends at their request. The time had come for it to be Seth’s turn. So far they had spent the past five minutes while he was rewinding his tape player to find a song, but why? “Okay, got it.” Seth said, standing up.
Seth walked around their little encampment and stood in front of them. He coughed to clear his throat. “Okay, you wanted to know my secret? What I have been embarrassed to tell you?” he blinked.
The group of friend all nodded in unison.
“Here it is and Brendon . .is not allowed to laugh.” Seth pressed play and set the tape recorder down.
Mia and Shanna looked at Brendon, who was just smiling at what his friend suggested. After they all focused their attention back to Seth, he was standing there with his eyes closed. Then the tape player started singing out Michael Jackson’s Bad and then moment it kicked it, Seth started dancing to it.
Mia gasped at what she saw. Shanna just grinned and Brendon was even more confused than he was a second ago. The Lakota girl started to giggle at Seth and his dance moves. What was so interesting about it, is that he wasn’t just “pretending” to be dancing, he really was doing it. It was mimicking Michael Jackson’s movements to a tee. Shanna then started laughing and found herself clapping with him. Seth then stopped, grabbed the tape player and turned it off. Shanna thought she offended him but he just grinned, flipping the tape and waiting for another song. Then he pressed play again and sat it back down. Seth closed his eyes as they waited for what he was going to do next.
The tape player started to whisper a soulful tone. Seth still had his eyes closed and then started to sing along to it:
Hold on,
I’ll be back for you, it won’t be long.
But for now there is something else, that’s calling me.
So take me down a lonesome road,
Point me east and let me go.
That suitcase weighs me down with memories.
Seth then screamed at the top of his lungs, “I JUST WANT TO BE THE ONE YOU RUN TO!
I just want to be the one you come to.
I just want to be there with someone
WHEN THE NIGHT COMES.
Seth the stopped the tape again, and coughed, catching his breath. His three friends stared at him for a few seconds. Not only could he dance very well, he had a set of lungs on him to sing as well. “Well?” Seth exhaled, “What do you think?”
“I . .uh . . .”Mia was speechless.
“That was awesome, Seth!” Shanna clapped her hands.
“Thank you, “he bowed to her, then looked to his friend Brendon.
Brendon just stared at him. Seth raised an eyebrow as his Asian friend’s face started to contort. It looked like it was squishing inward, as if he had just drank a very sour lemonade. “Brendon?” Seth paused.
Then the young man burst into a roaring laughter that he could no longer contain. He held onto his stomach and just rolled in the sand, laughing and crying. Mia and Shanna were amused at they had never seen their silent friend laugh this hard. Seth was, however, not amused. “I freaking knew it.” He collapsed into the sand.
“Aw, Seth, don’t be that way,” Shanna patted his shoulder, “You were really good. I mean it.”
“I believe you, Shanna, “Seth looked at his Asian friend pissed, “But I am kinda curious, why every single guy I tell this to, laughs in my face?”
“Seth, you can’t let Brendon’s reaction make you mad, he was just. . .” Mia was trying to calm him down.
“He’s giving me the same reaction from every single male friend I ever hand. Even my brother and my father reacted the same way. At least my father had the guts to call me GAY to my face, before I left. The only one who has every supported me on this was Tanya.” Seth grunted.
“My friend, my friend,” Brendon wiped his eyes, “Forgive me. I didn’t laugh because you were dancing or singing. I was laughing cause of the absurdity of you hiding this from me.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Seth questioned him.
“Why would you hide this from me? Did it never occur to you that I would be impressed?”
Seth the smiled, lowering his head. “If you did . . .then you would be the first.”
“My friend, you have a skill I could never have. But I respect it. I take it you wish to go pro one day?”
“Yes, that has been my dream. To get out of that stupid bookstore and having a singing career.”
“Then that is what you should do. Such talent like that can not be wasted.” Brendon approved.
Seth smiled, then stood up. He walked back over to his Asian friend and sat down, shaking his hand. “Thanks, man.” He whispered.
“You are most welcome.” He replied with honesty.
“How long did it take you to learn how to dance, Seth?” Mia asked.
“About three weeks and half. The Singing part took me over two years but I eventually-“
“Wait, wait, wait,” Shanna interrupted him, “Did you just say . .three and a half weeks to learn to dance?”
“That’s right.” Seth replied.
“No way. Uh, uh. I ain’t buying that. There is no way someone who dances as good as you could learn that in 3 and a half weeks.” The red head pointed out.
“With any other normal person, you would be right, Shanna. But I am not normal. I have a brain condition that allows me to do this kind of things.”
“Brain condition?” Mia said confused.
“Yeah, check this out,” Seth twisted to have his back facing Brendon, “Dude, feel along the back of my neck and find the scar.”
The Asian reached up and felt for it. Once he found it, he traced it upward, noticing it ran all the way into the back of Seth’s head. “My god,” Brendon whispered, “ what could cause such a mark?”
“A stop sign, “ the young man turned around, “Flying at 90 miles an hour.”
“A stop sign?” Shanna asked in disbelief.
“Yeah, when I was eight, I was playing in my local town’s part. Nearby in the street a gas main exploded, making a stop sign erupt from the ground and fly toward me in the park. It struck me from behind. My momma said that I flew ten feet with it before coming to a stop. It had struck my neck and cracked open my skull, exposing my brain.”
“Holy,” Mia whispered, “Then what happened?”
“Luckily we were nearby at a hospital. The doctors managed to patch me up and I was in a coma for 8 months. When I awoke, I had never felt better in my whole life. I had a headache for the few days but after that, it started to happen.”
“What did?” asked Brendon.
“My gift. I first used it when I saw my momma cooking. Then I used it again, watching my Aunt paint a picture. I was able to copy their movements as if I had done it all my life. The doctors say that when I was struck and after they patched me up, my brain began to heal itself. But there was certain things about the damage it couldn’t fix so it compensated by increasing long term memory. Specifically, the area of the brain that deals with motor control of the body.”
“Photographic reflexes, “Mia gasped, “You’re talking about Photographic reflexes!”
“You got it, Mia. All I have to do is watch someone utilize a skill and I can immediately store it in my brain, and then recall it whenever I need it.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Shanna exhaled.
Brendon snapped his fingers, smiling. “THAT is why you have adapted to the sword techniques so quickly. You’ve simply just be watching my movements!”
“Like I said, you’re a good teacher.” Seth patted him on the back.
“Oh, my god,” Shanna whispered at the realization that Seth had this ability.
“That is amazing, Seth,” Mia clapped her hands, “If you ever get bored with dancing, then you could teach Sign language or something.”
Seth then replied to her in Sign Language. She giggled when she realized what he just did. “That only took me a month to learn,” he chuckled.
Everyone was laughing again and Seth was laughing with them. He thought Brendon would scold him for his dancing and singing wishes but instead he respected him for having a skill he didn’t have. Even though it came for him easily, he still respected him. The young man then patted Brendon on the knee. “Well, Dude, I believe it’s your turn.” He smiled, “That is if you still want to tell us.”
“I will,” the Asian smiled, “You have all bared your souls to me and I shall bare mine.”
Brendon reached to his left and picked up a bottle of water, chugging it. After he stopped, he caught his breath and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “There is no easy way to say it, so I’ll just say it,” he coughed, “I’ve been living in Australia for the past 7 years because I didn’t want to let my friends back home, know my shame.”
“What shame, dude?” Seth asked.
“My shame . .my crime . .was that I couldn’t save my brother from himself. I was forced . . .to kill him.”
Suddenly no one was talking. All they could hear was the wood cracking in the fire and the waves striking the beach in perfect synchronistic sounds.
Mia stared in confusion. Shanna was perplexed as well. The only one who was confused was Brendon, he simply waited paitently like he always did. The two young girls had just shared their deep secrets when their friends at their request. The time had come for it to be Seth’s turn. So far they had spent the past five minutes while he was rewinding his tape player to find a song, but why? “Okay, got it.” Seth said, standing up.
Seth walked around their little encampment and stood in front of them. He coughed to clear his throat. “Okay, you wanted to know my secret? What I have been embarrassed to tell you?” he blinked.
The group of friend all nodded in unison.
“Here it is and Brendon . .is not allowed to laugh.” Seth pressed play and set the tape recorder down.
Mia and Shanna looked at Brendon, who was just smiling at what his friend suggested. After they all focused their attention back to Seth, he was standing there with his eyes closed. Then the tape player started singing out Michael Jackson’s Bad and then moment it kicked it, Seth started dancing to it.
Mia gasped at what she saw. Shanna just grinned and Brendon was even more confused than he was a second ago. The Lakota girl started to giggle at Seth and his dance moves. What was so interesting about it, is that he wasn’t just “pretending” to be dancing, he really was doing it. It was mimicking Michael Jackson’s movements to a tee. Shanna then started laughing and found herself clapping with him. Seth then stopped, grabbed the tape player and turned it off. Shanna thought she offended him but he just grinned, flipping the tape and waiting for another song. Then he pressed play again and sat it back down. Seth closed his eyes as they waited for what he was going to do next.
The tape player started to whisper a soulful tone. Seth still had his eyes closed and then started to sing along to it:
Hold on,
I’ll be back for you, it won’t be long.
But for now there is something else, that’s calling me.
So take me down a lonesome road,
Point me east and let me go.
That suitcase weighs me down with memories.
Seth then screamed at the top of his lungs, “I JUST WANT TO BE THE ONE YOU RUN TO!
I just want to be the one you come to.
I just want to be there with someone
WHEN THE NIGHT COMES.
Seth the stopped the tape again, and coughed, catching his breath. His three friends stared at him for a few seconds. Not only could he dance very well, he had a set of lungs on him to sing as well. “Well?” Seth exhaled, “What do you think?”
“I . .uh . . .”Mia was speechless.
“That was awesome, Seth!” Shanna clapped her hands.
“Thank you, “he bowed to her, then looked to his friend Brendon.
Brendon just stared at him. Seth raised an eyebrow as his Asian friend’s face started to contort. It looked like it was squishing inward, as if he had just drank a very sour lemonade. “Brendon?” Seth paused.
Then the young man burst into a roaring laughter that he could no longer contain. He held onto his stomach and just rolled in the sand, laughing and crying. Mia and Shanna were amused at they had never seen their silent friend laugh this hard. Seth was, however, not amused. “I freaking knew it.” He collapsed into the sand.
“Aw, Seth, don’t be that way,” Shanna patted his shoulder, “You were really good. I mean it.”
“I believe you, Shanna, “Seth looked at his Asian friend pissed, “But I am kinda curious, why every single guy I tell this to, laughs in my face?”
“Seth, you can’t let Brendon’s reaction make you mad, he was just. . .” Mia was trying to calm him down.
“He’s giving me the same reaction from every single male friend I ever hand. Even my brother and my father reacted the same way. At least my father had the guts to call me GAY to my face, before I left. The only one who has every supported me on this was Tanya.” Seth grunted.
“My friend, my friend,” Brendon wiped his eyes, “Forgive me. I didn’t laugh because you were dancing or singing. I was laughing cause of the absurdity of you hiding this from me.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Seth questioned him.
“Why would you hide this from me? Did it never occur to you that I would be impressed?”
Seth the smiled, lowering his head. “If you did . . .then you would be the first.”
“My friend, you have a skill I could never have. But I respect it. I take it you wish to go pro one day?”
“Yes, that has been my dream. To get out of that stupid bookstore and having a singing career.”
“Then that is what you should do. Such talent like that can not be wasted.” Brendon approved.
Seth smiled, then stood up. He walked back over to his Asian friend and sat down, shaking his hand. “Thanks, man.” He whispered.
“You are most welcome.” He replied with honesty.
“How long did it take you to learn how to dance, Seth?” Mia asked.
“About three weeks and half. The Singing part took me over two years but I eventually-“
“Wait, wait, wait,” Shanna interrupted him, “Did you just say . .three and a half weeks to learn to dance?”
“That’s right.” Seth replied.
“No way. Uh, uh. I ain’t buying that. There is no way someone who dances as good as you could learn that in 3 and a half weeks.” The red head pointed out.
“With any other normal person, you would be right, Shanna. But I am not normal. I have a brain condition that allows me to do this kind of things.”
“Brain condition?” Mia said confused.
“Yeah, check this out,” Seth twisted to have his back facing Brendon, “Dude, feel along the back of my neck and find the scar.”
The Asian reached up and felt for it. Once he found it, he traced it upward, noticing it ran all the way into the back of Seth’s head. “My god,” Brendon whispered, “ what could cause such a mark?”
“A stop sign, “ the young man turned around, “Flying at 90 miles an hour.”
“A stop sign?” Shanna asked in disbelief.
“Yeah, when I was eight, I was playing in my local town’s part. Nearby in the street a gas main exploded, making a stop sign erupt from the ground and fly toward me in the park. It struck me from behind. My momma said that I flew ten feet with it before coming to a stop. It had struck my neck and cracked open my skull, exposing my brain.”
“Holy,” Mia whispered, “Then what happened?”
“Luckily we were nearby at a hospital. The doctors managed to patch me up and I was in a coma for 8 months. When I awoke, I had never felt better in my whole life. I had a headache for the few days but after that, it started to happen.”
“What did?” asked Brendon.
“My gift. I first used it when I saw my momma cooking. Then I used it again, watching my Aunt paint a picture. I was able to copy their movements as if I had done it all my life. The doctors say that when I was struck and after they patched me up, my brain began to heal itself. But there was certain things about the damage it couldn’t fix so it compensated by increasing long term memory. Specifically, the area of the brain that deals with motor control of the body.”
“Photographic reflexes, “Mia gasped, “You’re talking about Photographic reflexes!”
“You got it, Mia. All I have to do is watch someone utilize a skill and I can immediately store it in my brain, and then recall it whenever I need it.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Shanna exhaled.
Brendon snapped his fingers, smiling. “THAT is why you have adapted to the sword techniques so quickly. You’ve simply just be watching my movements!”
“Like I said, you’re a good teacher.” Seth patted him on the back.
“Oh, my god,” Shanna whispered at the realization that Seth had this ability.
“That is amazing, Seth,” Mia clapped her hands, “If you ever get bored with dancing, then you could teach Sign language or something.”
Seth then replied to her in Sign Language. She giggled when she realized what he just did. “That only took me a month to learn,” he chuckled.
Everyone was laughing again and Seth was laughing with them. He thought Brendon would scold him for his dancing and singing wishes but instead he respected him for having a skill he didn’t have. Even though it came for him easily, he still respected him. The young man then patted Brendon on the knee. “Well, Dude, I believe it’s your turn.” He smiled, “That is if you still want to tell us.”
“I will,” the Asian smiled, “You have all bared your souls to me and I shall bare mine.”
Brendon reached to his left and picked up a bottle of water, chugging it. After he stopped, he caught his breath and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “There is no easy way to say it, so I’ll just say it,” he coughed, “I’ve been living in Australia for the past 7 years because I didn’t want to let my friends back home, know my shame.”
“What shame, dude?” Seth asked.
“My shame . .my crime . .was that I couldn’t save my brother from himself. I was forced . . .to kill him.”
Suddenly no one was talking. All they could hear was the wood cracking in the fire and the waves striking the beach in perfect synchronistic sounds.
posted by Jason | 9:30 AM
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