Death of an Icon

“How is he doctor?”
“I am going to be honest, Ms. Seville, we don’t expect him to make it much longer.”
“He looks so small, and so….”
“Peaceful?”
“I was thinking elderly.”
“Well, your uncle has led a long, full life. More than most people.”
“I know. I’m just going to miss him. Is he in pain?”
“No pain that we can see. His mind is very active, though, it almost seems as if he is dreaming. Look you can see movement under his eyelids.”
“I wonder what he is dreaming….”


...David watched his three boys in the sandbox. They were in the mist of a heated argument as to the best way to build the monstrous castle they were working on. Simon thought they needed a plan, while Alvin continually piled sand to make the walls higher. Poor Theodore was caught in the middle. He stood; bucket in hand, watching his bothers argue.
In a flash Alvin was face to face with Simon. He grabbed the front of Simon’s blue robe. It took David less than 2 seconds to jump up and separate the boys. Theodore had dropped his bucket, and tear slowly slid down his cheek.
“Come now,” David said. Slowly, pulling the two boys towards the park bench. “We can’t have any of that. Fighting is no way to solve problems.”
Both boys stood before their father, heads down.
“Family is one of the most important things you have. You are lucky to have two brothers each. That is two people to look out for you,” David said, releasing the boys. Theodore had moved, so that all three boys stood facing David.
“But we’re chipmunks, our instincts tell us to fight for resources,” Simon said. He was having a hard time looking at his father. It seemed that almost everything else in the park was more interesting than meeting his father’s stern gaze.
“That may be true,” answered David, “but you have bright futures. Learn to control your baser instincts and world is yours. Look around, how many other talking chipmunks do you see?”
And they looked around. It was at that moment that they realized that they could do anything…

… the music came loud from the garage. David always encouraged his son’s love of music. The truth was that they had talent. The other truth was that they loved to practice, everyday for hours.
Enough was enough. His boys had been in the garage for the last four hours. I’m going to go crazy if I hear “The Witch Doctor” one more time, David thought.
David walked towards the garage. As he opened the garage door, the shrill voice of Alvin came to his ears.
"Oo-ee, oo-ah-ah, ting-tang, walla-walla, bing-bang", screamed Alvin.
“ALL RIGHT BOYS,” David yelled. The music came to sudden halt. Theodore dropped a drumstick to the floor.
“You sound great, I just need some quiet so that I can finish my work,” David explained. “You can practice again tomorrow.
“We have band name,” cried Theodore.
David raised an eyebrow. The naming of the band had become a long process. They boys came up with a new name nearly every day and it never stayed the same very long.
“Ok, what is it?” David asked skeptically.
"We want to be called ‘The Rubber Band,’” answered Alvin with a giant grin.
“The Rubber Band,” David said, “you all agree on this?”
The boys nodded.
“Can I ask why?” said David.
“Because we’re flexible in our musical output and influences” answered Simon.
“Because we stretch musical creativity,” answered Theodore.
“Because it is clever and funny,” answered Alvin. “You see, we are a band, but we are not made of rubber,”
“I get that part Alvin,” said David. “It is clever I just thought you would go for a more conventional name. Something like Alvin and the Chipmunks”
“Alvin and the Chipmunks, " mused Alvin.” It does have a nice ring to it.”
“No,” yelled Simon. “We agreed on the Rubber Band….

…the doorbell sounded. David put down his book and moved to the door. He opened the front door and found himself confronted by police officer. A sense of dread assailed David.
“Are you David Seville?” Asked the officer.
“Yes, I am. What is this about?’
“Sir, I need you to come with me to the hospital. There has been an accident.”
“Is it my boys?’ asked David. Inside his heart dropped.
’”Yes sir, please come with me.”
“Are they hurt?” David had turned white; his hands clenched the doorframe.
“They have been taken to the hospital.”
“Please, tell me what happened.” David asked in desperation.
“They were performing in the park. A benefit concert for cancer research…”
“Yes, that sounds like my boys.’
“There was also a display about birds of prey by one of the local Audubon chapter. A falcon swooped in and grabbed Theodore right off the stage.”
David sat down, leaning against door. A thought of Theodore dangling from the beak of falcon flashed before David.
“Simon and Alvin ran save him. They ran right into open field where the birders were showing hawks. They didn’t stand a chance.”
“Are they dead?” The question was barely a whisper.
“I’m not sure,. The hospital is doing what they can. There wasn’t much left.”
A tear slid down David’s face…

“Ms. Seville?”
“Yes, Doctor.”
“I’m afraid he’s gone. He slipped away sometime in the last two hours. He went peacefully.”
“I’m going to miss him.”
“He was great man, your uncle. What he did with those boys was wonderful. The charity work, the hours of happiness he gave to all those children, and the music. He left a great legacy.”
“”Thank you, Doctor. He was never the same after the accident. It must have hard for him to outlive his sons. He was always so proud of the them.”
“He will be remembered. The Chipmunks Foundation contributes to the hospital….

Word Count: 987