The Brass Audacity : Of Alex & Cathy

Before There Was More

For Alex, life at a young age was extremely unstable. He lived in a broken home with neglecting parents. It wasn't intentional, but his mother and father were too busy, selfishly fighting with each other and drowning themselves in their own misery that they forgot about the most important things in life: The children. Humans are often so very selfish, flawed. Alex spent many long and uncomfortable nights laying awake, searching to the stars for answers as his parents bickered back and forth behind closed doors. He was barely old enough to walk home alone from school, but he knew there had to be more to life than this. The other kids at school would brag about how awesome their parents treated them. The idea of adulthood manifested fast, and though he didn't know the first thing about having a family of his own, he vowed that if he ever had children, they would never be treated like his parents had treated him.

Lost, unguided and far behind the curve, he made it his personal responsibility to raise his little sister, even when things got frustrating. It kept him occupied from the pain he felt everyday, knowing that he cared more about her well-being than his parents had. Selfish, selfish human beings. Selfishness was one of the worst possible traits to have come from their makers. This was a great deal for any child to handle. Alex was strong and always held his head high in public. He kept any momentary signs of weakness far from anyone, including his sister, in fact, he hardly showed signs of trouble at home at all, he was amazing at hiding it. The tears didn't last long for him and as they dried up, his skin hardened. He did all that he could to make the most out of the life that was given, but beneath the surface, Alex was numb.

One day, years down the road, the unimaginable happened. A tragic loss sent his world spiraling in a new direction. Alex was shoved, pushed and pulled into a new life with so many possibilities that it forced him to become the man he always knew he'd be. A few might even say he was a bit of an inspiration for those who are just starting to break out of their shell. This, my friends, is a story that will really captivate your mind...

There is a natural process we follow as we grow older and each morning as we wake up, we try to better ourselves just a little bit more by seeking to learn something new; well, most of us anyway. We do so, so that by the time we are old enough to retire and live out our remaining glory filled elder years, we have seen and done enough to where we can honestly say that life had been satisfying without regret. Is this always the case? Not at all. In a perfect scenario, sure, but sometimes we fail so badly that life tends to bend us over and bludgeon us in the rear until it hurts to sit...and sometimes it even hurts when we pee.

Life. That funny, strange, and unexpected gift given to us by our parents, that they always assume we wanted for ourselves but could never possibly ask for, is rough. Our survival instincts are supposed to kick in naturally and we become responsible for honing in on the things that will keep us thriving. Man-made developments have taken away our true need to search for food and for a solid mate. When it comes to real accomplishments, we look at things like our first shit in a porcelain pot, puberty and morning wood in the middle of class, and driving to the store in the middle of the night while only being able to afford a cup of noodles. These are the real things we all need to know how to combat! Anything that will give us the best shot at staying alive and climbing higher spending more on the food chain (McDouglas', Burger Queen, Taco Heaven, or even Ole Smokey's). No matter how big or small, enjoyable or painful, they all contribute to our vast bucket of wisdom. Alex, in particular, never volunteered for any of these life lessons, but he sure as hell experienced all of them and a whole lot more. While some came later, or have yet to grace him yet, some came up a lot sooner than expected.

He was most certainly numb when it came to his emotions, lacking in empathy and only reacting in certain extreme situations. His sarcasm encrusted tongue soared at even the most trying of times. Alex's parents split at a young age, making it difficult for him to relate to a functional home life. He spent most of his troubled youth outside of the house. His father was a heavy drinker but would never admit that he had a problem. Most alcoholics never do. It was a way to cope. The problem wasn't noticeable to Alex when he was just a wee lad, but the older he got and the more mature he became, he was able to see the real problem growing within his family.