Track 2
Tariq sank into his mother's vibrant living room's plush embrace, his heart racing with the buzz of family energy swirling around him. His childhood was not the best, but certainly not the worst. He was the oldest of three siblings and had a caring mom. Although his family had its differences, he was fortunate to be exposed to various music genres and inspired by cartoons that encouraged him to pursue more. Cartoons like *Josie and the Pussycats* are recognized for their impact on bubblegum pop rock music, while *Top Cat* is noted for its humor, mainly since his family once lived in the same city. His mother flitted about, excitement radiating from her sparkling eyes as she prepared for another busy workday.
Meanwhile, his baby sister, a determined 20-year-old, was gearing up to tackle her whirlwind schedule. Across the room, his younger brother, a brilliant 26-year-old college professor, was immersed in an avalanche of notes and textbooks, fueled by a passion to inspire the next generation. It was a thrilling snapshot of ambition, love, and the relentless pursuit of dreams—all under one roof!
"Hey, you usually don't swing by here without a reason. Did you jump on some new diet?" His mom's playful tone brought a smile to his face. Tariq shook his head, "Not really, but I've been swapping out meat for more fish." It was more like a culinary adventure gone awry since fish was pricey, and his taste buds felt as if they were on a wild ride—thanks to his newly acquired cat's tongue! The turmoil and camaraderie surrounded him like a warm blanket, making this family gathering feel extraordinary. "There's something I need to tell you three," he said, noticing their faces' confused and concerned looks. Tariq struggled to suppress cat puns, which felt almost as tricky as making a cocktail.
Tariq first wiped off the makeup that had created whiskers on his face, removed his cap to reveal his ears, and finally removed the fake nose. Standing up, he proudly showed them his twin-tipped cat tail. Their eyes lit up in surprise, and his sister was the first to speak, trying to lighten the mood despite her concern. "Wow, did you get those from Amazon or Temu?" Tariq shook his head while pushing his hair aside, revealing that his human ears were gone. When he stood up, it became clear that the tail was attached to his body. His brother, Alexander, a professor, couldn't understand the situation, believing it wasn't scientifically possible. His sister, Cleo, wished it were all a dream or that she had some good weed to calm her nerves as she trembled. However, their mother, Beatrice, suddenly held her heart and then collapsed before any of them could react. "CALL AN AMBULANCE!" Amid the chaos, Alexander called out with determination, while Cleo, fueled by love, desperately worked to rouse their mother. In a moment of fear and urgency, Tariq dashed away, leaving behind his hat and nose as the rain began to pour, a reminder that courage and compassion shine through even in the storm. Tariq's heart raced as he frantically called every hospital in the area, each ring sending a jolt of anxiety through him. Rain battered down, turning the world into a blur, but his electric powers sent his phone spiraling into chaos, leaving him cut off and desperate. With the sound of blaring sirens and screeching tires echoing in his ears, he darted into the depths of the forest, seeking refuge in the gnarled roots of an ancient oak tree.
The storm raged outside but was a cacophony of fear and uncertainty. Cars zoomed past, their sirens wailing — each sound slicing through him like a knife. Tariq pressed his hands over his ears, his tail coiling tightly around him as if trying to shield him from the world outside. Guilt gnawed at him for leaving his family behind like this. Still, the wary looks they had given him lingered in his mind, mirroring those of the studio owner: Tariq felt cautious and awkward, burdened by the weight of trepidation. He sensed his family's fears about the person he had become, which weighed heavily on his heart. Deep down, he knew he needed to confront the storms within himself before he could hope for a reunion. As he sank to the ground, he let the gentle sounds of the forest around him provide solace. The rain softly patterned on the leaves, and the birds sang in peaceful harmony. In that moment of inspiration, he decided to use the last of his phone's battery to record a song, channeling his emotions into the music as he began to sing.
**Sorry, Momma**
(Verse 1)
I woke up this mornin', rain was fallin' down,
Thought about your lovin' that kept me off the ground.
Every mistake I made, it's like a heavy load,
I'm just a lost wanderer, on this lonesome road.
(Chorus)
Oh, I'm sorry, Momma, for the tears I've made you cry,
The dreams I let slip through, like smoke in the sky.
With every lonely heartbeat, I'm searchin' for the light,
But I keep strayin' dim, in the shadows of the night.
(Verse 2)
You showed me the way when the world felt so cruel,
But I broke all my promises, acted like a fool.
Your heart's been my anchor through the storms of my soul,
Now I'm lost on this journey, just tryin' to feel whole.
(Chorus)
Oh, I'm sorry, Momma, for the pain I've caused your heart,
The times I turned my back, when we were miles apart.
With every lonely heartbeat, I'm searchin' for the light,
But I keep strayin' dim, in the shadows of the night.
(Bridge)
Oh, I hear your sweet voice, when the moon starts to rise,
Whisperin' forgiveness, through these tear-laden skies.
But I know I can't change, the paths I chose to roam,
Still I'm reachin' for your warmth, I'm just a child far from home.
(Chorus)
So I'm sorry, Momma, can you find it in your heart?
To love this weary sinner, though we've drifted far apart.
With every lonely heartbeat, I'm searchin' for the light,
But I keep strayin' dim, in the shadows of the night.
(Outro)
With each note in this melody, I'm beggin' you to see,
That the boy you raised in love, still longs to be free.
Oh, Momma, I'm sorry, for the things I didn't say,
I'll keep singin' my blues, till I find my way.
By the time this poignant blues song ended, the rain had calmed, and Tariq felt a surge of emotion as tears streamed down his face. He managed to save the song just before his phone battery died. Suddenly, a loud sound echoed—a gunshot, perhaps from a double-barrel shotgun—startling him. His instincts kicked in, and he moved with stealth and precision, sensing the danger. As he drew closer, he heard children crying for their mother, urging him to quicken his pace in hopes of assisting. Surprisingly, he didn't find a human mother and her children, but he found a mother bobcat and her three distressed cubs. In an extraordinary twist, he discovered that he could understand their cries. This noteworthy connection made him wonder if it could be a gift from aliens, reminding him of the profound bonds in the world. Regardless of that the mother was hurt and was lying down bleeding heavily while her child was scared, which reminded Tariq of a time when he was 19. His mother had a seizure due to stress and fell down the stairs, which led to him calling 911, but knowing that it was gonna take too much time, he started praying on his knees for god to save his mother, which was answered with gold rain. His mother quickly became OK and even got better, so he wanted to do something nice for these two, even if they tried to hurt him.
"Hey, do you need some help?" Tariq asked with caution while the bobcat cub was scared. The mother was trying to be protective but could barely get herself up. "Who are you?! What do you want with us? Could it be that you're the hunter who shot me and now after my kin?!" The mother bobcat said with a growl while her children Koi (Oldest Cub), Wildchild (Youngest Cub), & Cult (Middle Cub) cried but tried to be brave for their mother. Koi got in front of his siblings and mother. "Don't hurt my mama, human, or I'll bite you."The young cubs displayed more strength and bravery than Tariq, who couldn't even face his family. Suddenly, a tear rolled down his cheek, carried away by the wind and flying toward his mother, who was slowly but surely beginning to heal. The little cub was growling at Tariq, but suddenly, his mother got up with the bullet that shot her, falling like a stone. It was a miracle as both Tariq and the cubs were momentarily shocked. The cubs cuddled against their mother, who began to lick them with comfort and appreciation for their bravery. "I'm glad you are alive; I'll get going now." Tariq wiped away his tears and was ready to leave, but suddenly, "Wait, human!" This made Tariq turn his head to look behind and see the cubs still not trusting him. They weren't as hostile as before, but their mother had her reasons.
"I heard a melody whispering within the trees and rain; it was you, wasn't it?"
"It was, but I was just singing to get my mind off my troubles." He bowed as the mother understood, but the children possibly did not.
"It was beautiful; we are forever in your debt." The bobcat mother had so many things she wanted to ask—perhaps why I couldn't understand her and her children or why I would shed a tear for an animal despite my human appearance. But when the blast went off, Tariq quickly launched a rock at the source of the noise, and it ricocheted off the trees until he heard something drop. He turned to see that the mother and her children had already run away, prompting him to confront the culprit. It turned out to be a hunter, unconscious with a big bruise on the side of his face from the rock, just seeking his next prize for sport. Tariq shook his head, pulled the man to a tree with surprising ease, and began picking flowers and leaves, wrapping long grass around the hunter's forehead for healing—a lesson learned from his grandfather, who always taught him the ways of survival. He could have chosen violence or broken the man's hand to deter future harm, but deep down, Tariq understood that all beings—hunters and bobcats alike—share a bond in the hunt.
For Tariq, compassion was the ultimate answer, a beacon of hope for a more harmonious existence. Tariq scoured through the men's supplies and found not only his ID, which said his name was Frederick Thomason, but also a flare gun and a fish sandwich. Since Tariq had eaten before everything went down at his mom's place, he couldn't resist the urge to try the sandwich, which turned out better than he thought. "Purr-fectly delicious~." So, while eating the tuna sandwich, Tariq shot the flare into the sky so that police or anyone would be able to see it and know the direction where the man was coming from. Well, that was going on. He left the fourth but took one last look to see the mother and her children looking at him from a distance.
When he blinked, they were gone as if they had never appeared. He shook his head then with a smile to himself. "The Lord works in mysterious ways, groovy," walked off hitchhiking. When someone was willing to take him to his apartment, Tariq felt the weight of uncertainty pressing down on him in Winston-Salem. He knew he couldn't linger in North Carolina any longer, but his bank account was dismal. Asking for a bonus at his part-time job would be absurd.
A raucous honking shattered the stillness as darkness cloaked the town that night. Heart pounding, he sprang from his bed and bolted to the window to see what was out there. When he saw it, he quickly ran downstairs, where a gleaming vintage Volkswagen Transporter sat idling on the street, its keys tantalizingly swinging from the ignition. The streets were eerily deserted, and an electric thrill surged through him as he stood before this unexpected treasure.
Without hesitation, he envisioned transforming the van into his playground, complete with vibrant clothes and edgy accessories, not to mention a choker that screamed danger. Tariq's cat-like eyes gleamed with excitement. He dashed up and down the stairs, shoving essentials into the van—snacks, clothes, and even some funky furniture—as he crafted a cozy haven in the back, ready for any adventure.
Just as he zipped up the last bag, a message flickered to life on his phone, sending a rush of adrenaline through his veins: the money had finally hit his account. "Thank the good of kitty litter for direct deposit!" he chuckled, the thrill of freedom enveloping him. It was time to embrace the wild unknown! With one last glance over his shoulder, without a license and hope for fame, Tariq revved the engine. He sped off into the night, unaware that a mysterious creature was watching, waving goodbye like a surreal guardian of his journey.
But there was more to it than just his exhilarating escape to create stardom. In the shadows, the FBI & CIA had taken notice. They were on high alert, investigating the origins of this bizarre force that seemed to have emerged from thin air. Little did Tariq know that this night began a paw-some adventure that would set the world ablaze with intrigue!