Blood Brothers 🩸

Brotherly Banter & Faith

INT. MERCER LIVING ROOM - DAY*

The Mercer brothers were sprawled across their Detroit living room, the air thick with the scent of leftover pizza and the sound of old-school hip-hop blasting from the radio. Bobby lounged on the couch, flipping through channels like he was searching for gold, while Tommy and Frances were locked in a fierce standoff over the last slice of pizza.

"Yo, I called dibs on that slice, Tommy!" Frances barked, eyes narrowing like he was preparing for battle.

"Dibs? Man, that's like saying 'abracadabra'—it don't mean squat!" Tommy shot back, snatching the slice like it was the last piece of the pie.

"Bruh, you better watch it before I put you in a headlock!" Frances threatened, lunging forward with a mischievous grin.

"Pfft, you couldn't wrestle a wet noodle, let alone me!" Bobby laughed, shaking his head as he watched the showdown.

Just then, Jack burst in, fresh from the corner store, a bag of chips cradled like it was made of gold. "What's all this ruckus? You'd think we were throwin' down in the 'D'!"

"Tommy's trying to pull a fast one on me!" Frances complained, pointing dramatically like he was about to make a citizen's arrest.

"Man, it's just pizza! You actin' like it's the last slice of life!" Jack chuckled, opening the bag and tossing a chip in the air, catching it in his mouth.

"Only if you're sharing, Jack! I'm down for some 'crunch time'!" Bobby quipped, eyeing the chips like they were diamonds.

"Sharing? Please! Last time I shared, I got a lecture from Mom about 'that's my stuff!'" Jack grinned, shaking the bag.

"Right? Personal space don't exist here! We might as well be sardines!" Tommy added, plopping down next to Bobby, who was now fully invested in the pizza drama.

"Yo, how about a cook-off? I can whip up some fire nachos," Frances suggested, rubbing his hands together like a mad scientist.

"Nachos? More like nach-no-way! Last time you cooked, the smoke alarm had a meltdown!" Bobby chuckled, picturing the chaos.

"Come on, that was a one-time thing! The microwave just got a little too enthusiastic!" Frances protested, puffing out his chest.

"And by enthusiastic, you mean 'set the kitchen on fire,' right?" Tommy laughed, slapping his knee.

"Hey, I had to save the pizza somehow!" Frances shot back, crossing his arms defiantly.

Jack couldn't help but jump in. "Man, if your cooking was a sport, it'd be a penalty box for life! How are you still alive?"

"Because I'm resourceful!" Frances said, waving a hand as if to dismiss the haters. "I'll make nachos that'll blow your mind."

"Only thing you'll blow is our appetite!" Bobby quipped, rolling his eyes.

"Yo, if you're cooking, I'm bringing the fire extinguisher!" Tommy joked, pretending to pull one from under the couch.

"Real funny, Tommy. You just jealous I can cook better than you!" Frances shot back.

"Better? Man, last time I checked, my ramen didn't come with a 'caution' label!" Tommy laughed, nudging him.

As they bickered, the laughter echoed through the house, the unmistakable vibe of brotherly love filling the room.

---

**INT. LOCAL CHURCH - SUNDAY MORNING**

Later that Sunday, the brothers found themselves in church, an old wooden building filled with the scent of polished pews and faint incense. The preacher stood at the pulpit, his voice booming as he preached about faith, hope, and redemption.

"Brothers and sisters, God is always with us! He will not abandon us, even in our darkest times!" the preacher declared, his hands raised high.

The congregation nodded, murmuring their agreement, eyes shining with belief. Bobby, on the other hand, sat in the back, arms crossed and a skeptical look on his face.

"Yo, you hear that?" Tommy whispered, elbowing Bobby. "He's preachin' the good word!"

"Yeah, but what's good for him ain't good for me," Bobby muttered. "You really think Jesus is rollin' with me when I got this Glock on my hip?"

"What you mean?" Frances asked, confused.

Bobby leaned in, his voice low. "I believe in God, but I'm tellin' you, it don't feel like He's got my back. Hothead got taken out because nobody was there to protect him. Where was God then?"

Jack frowned, looking at Bobby. "You can't think like that, bro. God works in mysterious ways!"

"Mysterious? More like absent. If He's supposed to save us, how come I'm still here, sittin' in church, packin' heat?" Bobby replied, his frustration bubbling to the surface.

"Man, you're trippin'!" Tommy said, shaking his head. "You gotta have faith!"

"Faith? I got faith that if I step outta line, I'm gonna need to protect myself. You think God's gonna swoop in and save me when I'm out here livin' in the streets?" Bobby challenged, his voice rising.

The preacher's voice crescendoed, "God is our shield! He will protect us from harm!"

Bobby scoffed, "Yeah? Tell that to Hothead's family. They ain't feelin' too protected right now."

"Look, Bobby," Jack said, trying to calm him down. "You gotta see it like this: God's got a plan. You just gotta trust it."

"Trust? I can't pay my bills with trust! I need real protection!" Bobby shot back, feeling the weight of his words.

Tommy chimed in, "But what about the love and support? That's what faith is about!"

"Love don't pay the rent, Tommy!" Bobby snapped, frustration spilling over. "It's hard to believe in something when you're just tryin' to survive!"

As the preacher continued, Bobby's mind raced. He wanted to believe but felt the world pressing down on him. The sermon wrapped up, and the congregation stood to sing a hymn, but Bobby remained seated, lost in thought.

"C'mon, man," Tommy urged, "let's just get through this. We can talk after."

"Yeah, let's just see how many 'amens' we can get," Bobby replied, rolling his eyes but knowing he needed to support his brothers.

As they stood to join the congregation, Bobby couldn't shake the feeling that while he believed in something greater, the streets were the only reality he truly understood.

---

As the Mercer brothers left the church, the laughter and banter resumed, the weight of the morning slowly lifting. They knew that together, they could tackle anything—even the complexities of faith and survival in a tough world.

FADE OUT.