BARS

This is called 'BARS'. A narrative related to prison. Play your position and 'DO THE RIGHT THING'. [[START]]

Today is the day. José is finally returning from prison after his ten year sentence. You were eight when it all happened. And, after 10 years, you are now eighteen. You pretty much grew up as an only child given how young you were. You remember being close with him though. It was your older brother of course. You embark on the way to prison with your parents simultaeneously reminiscing of the times José would order chinese food from his favorite restaurant every other week. He would always give you the last egg roll and the fortune cookie. You used to love it. [[TO THE PRISON]]

Unfortunately, the prison is about 3 hours away from home. Your parents are stoic and quiet, so you're on your own. Luckily, you thought ahead and brought a walkman. What will you do? [[LISTEN TO WALKMAN]] [[SIT WITH YOUR THOUGHTS IN SILENCE]]

Ah, you flip on your favorite 90's hip-hop casette tape. You think about how you recorded these tracks right off the radio selectively. Muttering the lyrics to yourself in the back seat to practice memorizing them as your parents stare one thousand yards ahead through the windshield. You close your eyes after a while to just take in the boom-bap of the percussion and the smooth rhymes... [[BABABOOEY!]]

Silence is deadly. You sweat profusely as you go too deep into your head and think about how some people turn out after a prison sentence. Could he be a raging, violent psychopath? What if he is completely broken and non-corporeal? He could have been abused in there, he could have been hurt, he could have been- [[BABABOOEY!]]

Bababooey. Uh oh. Your pops has the habit of 'EXCLAMING' "Bababooey" when something happens. Must be that Stern show... [[You've ARRIVED]]

There he is, by the gate. José. Your parents practically leap out of the car and greet him. Hugs and kisses all around, but they soon waiver and back off. You find yourself unable to get out of the car. As José and company walk back to the car, you roll down the window and feel like you need to say [[Hi.]] [[Are you José?]] [[Nothing.]]

As they get back into the car, José returns with a concise "Hey." Your parents crank the car back on and being to make their voyage home. His response unsettles you as it seemed cold. You want to try to rekindle this relationship, so you say.. [[So, are you okay? How are you doing?]] [[How was jail?]] [[Say nothing]]

As they get back into the car, José gives you a hurt look in the rear view mirror. Your parents crank the car back on and being to make their voyage home. You feel bad about cold-shouldering your sibling. You try to redeem yourself by asking... [[So, are you okay? How are you doing?]] [[Say nothing]]

As they get back into the car, Jose returns with a bewildered and hurt "Yeah... Of course I am". Your parents crank the car back on and being to make their voyage home. You really need to learn how to TALK to people. You did the wrong thing. End.

"...I'm fine, thank you. It's been a few years, huh bro?" Jose answered warmly. At this point, you know what he did time for. He murdered someone else. Whether or not it was in cold blood is up in the air. You wonder if this changed him as a person. What do you ask him? [[Do you remember what you and I used to do when you were around?]] [[Why did you do what you did?]]

"......................That isn't really a cool thing to ask me after a 10 year prison sentence, bro." So, your parents talk to Jose the whole ride. You didn't really try after that embarassing question. And before you knew it, you're back home. You dismount and join Jose and your parents inside. Your parents offer him the guest bedroom to rest in a real bed before dinner. He goes up and shuts the door. Your parents reprimand you for asking such a ridiculous question like that. You really did the wrong thing.

You couldn't bring yourself to ask. He does not seem like he can bring himself to talk to you either. It's gonna be a long car ride home. What do you do? [[LISTEN TO MUSIC]] [[SIT IN SILENCE]] [[So, are you okay? How are you doing?]]

And before you knew it, you're back home. You dismount and join José and your parents inside. Your parents offer him the guest bedroom to rest in a real bed before dinner. He goes up and shuts the door. They reprimand you for being so rude to your brother. You shouldn't have listen to music. It's gonna be an interesting life for you. You really need to learn how to talk to people. You did the wrong thing.

And as does José. To you, at least. Your parents tried to get you into talking to him with them, but you didn't really try. And before you knew it, you're back home. You dismount and join José and your parents inside. Your parents offer him the guest bedroom to rest in a real bed before dinner. He goes up and shuts the door. It's gonna be an interesting life for you. You really need to learn how to talk to people.

"Yes, bro, how could I forget? I know you could because you were just a midget, y'know. We used to play that N64, play baseball in the street with the neighbor kids till dusk and have chinese food all the time. That food was our favorite, I haven't even had a grain of rice in a grip..." That rings a couple bells. It fills you with a warm nostalgia that you have not really felt before. What do you do? [[Express your feelings]] [[Respond concisely]]

And that's honestly a fair question. You were a kid and your brother was just whisked away for ten years and you had no idea why. José acknowledges this. "I can't really argue with that question. I was your blood and I suddenly disappeared for a decade. I do not intend to go into detail bro, but I wanted to hurt that person. It just turned out to the be the worst case scenario and they ended up dying. Whenever I wasn't spending time with you, I was running around with my old crew doing what could be considered bad things. And that was the worst of it that I've done at my own hands." He continues talking generally about that old life. You recall him always being gone whenever he wasn't spending time with you. And before you knew it, you're back home. You dismount and join José and your parents inside. Your parents offer him the guest bedroom to rest in a real bed before dinner. He declines both dinner and bed. "Yeah, that sounds okay. Thanks mom and pop. But bro, are you and I gonna get some chinese food sometime?" José says. What do you say? [[YES]] [[MAYBE]]

You and José catch up on all the old times and the new times the whole ride home. Your parents just let the two of you have at it. And before you knew it, you're back home. You dismount and join José and your parents inside. Your parents offer him the guest bedroom to rest in a real bed before dinner. He declines both dinner and bed. "I appreciate the offer, but I think me and the kid are gonna order some chinese. It's been a long time." José says cheerfully. It's gonna be an interesting life for you. You did the right thing.

"You don't have to get me up to speed immediately, kid. I get this is kind of odd. I'm practically a stranger to you in a way, but we're gonna figure it out. I can just talk at you for the ride if you want." And he does. You chime in from time to time. The old times you had together seem vivid by his description. Your parents just let the two of you have at it. And before you knew it, you're back home. You dismount and join José and your parents inside. Your parents offer him the guest bedroom to rest in a real bed before dinner. He declines both dinner and bed. "I appreciate the offer, but I think me and the kid are gonna order some chinese. It's been a long time." José says cheerfully. You did the right thing.

"Word, my bro. See you at dinner." He goes to rest upstairs It's gonna be an interesting life for you. You did the right thing.

"That's fair. I didn't expect you specifically to be completely open with me. I'll respect your boundaries for now, but I'm gonna get you one day bro." He goes upstairs to rest with a determined look on his face. It's gonna be an interesting life for you. You did the right thing, despite being aloof.