Macklemore: Into The Mackleverse

The Record Store

It was a normal day for 15-year-old, Henry Harpen. He was getting ready for school, and barely had his shirt on, when his father came barreling down the tiny hallway. 

"Henry! You're gonna be late! Hurry your ass up!" His father called down the hall. Henry groaned. His dad never cursed, so the fact that he WAS cursing was probably a bad thing. He quickly pulled his mismatch socks on and slipped on his dirty, grey Vans, then picked up his headphones and his bag and ran out.

Macklemore had always been one of his favorite artists. Ever since he was little, he had wanted to become a top-class singer, just like Ol' Macky. You could keep your Lady Gaga and your Travis Scott. All Henry wanted was Macklemore.

His father, however, hated the hip hop artist. He hated hip hop, in general. Matthew Harpen, a tall man, with frown lines instead of smile wrinkles, was a firm believer that hip hop rots your brain. He didn't like that his son was listening to such blasphemous music, and he would rather cut off his own fingers and eat them, than so much as hear one NOTE of that bull.

When they reached the school after an awkward, long, quiet car ride, Henry ran to his friends. His dad called out to him as he left.

"I love you, Henry!" Matthew said with a smile.
"Dad..." Henry murmured.
"I said... I LOVE you, Henry." Matthew's face hardened a little.
Henry sighs heavily and groans. "...I love you, too, dad."
He was never gonna live that one down.

~

The day was hellish. Just like the simulations. He'd been teased through the whole day because of his dad's stupid stunt, this morning. He slinked out of the school and to his big brother's apartment.

He loved his brother, Harrison, more than anything ever, though, he hated when he made things awkward. Especially girl talk.

Oh god, girl talk.

His brother turned to him, with a big, dopey grin on his face. "Hey, kid. Long-time-no-see! What's up?"

Henry collapsed on the couch with a groan. "...Everything. Everything is up."
This alarmed Harrison a little. He walked over to Henry and sat down beside him. "Mnn... I was just about to go get some music from the record store. Does that sound good?" 
Henry sat up. "HELLYEAH-" he said quickly. 
Harrison laughs. "Alright. Get your jacket. Let's go." 

~

Henry weaves through the tall bodies of neckbeards and twinks to the hip hop section. He picked up an older-looking Macklemore record and slid his finger across the top of the card-stock holder, accidentally giving himself a paper cut. He flinched, but didn't think anything of it. 

That would be the worst mistake of his life.