Follow along with the audio file! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6whzBVs-qY&list=PLqDdUMMPmcNlyxfzZgSGDJvIbcZPmVUmS&index=4
Matthew had lived with his dad since his parents had split up a few years ago, even though they are still not technically divorced yet. With the final court date looming, and his dad's bills and anger rising......his house was not a fun place to be most days.
He was still surprised that his dad let him have the capsule, at all. His dad wasn't too fond of his gaming habits, but Matthew was in the top of his class, so he was more lenient. His dad said one day, a few weeks back, "Since you will graduate in a few weeks, you will be your own man. I don't mind what you do here, as long as you keep clean what is yours, and help me around the house. Of these two things, he did both, and beyond. He made sure the dishes were clean, the floors were swept and mopped, and the bathroom, more-or-less, clean. He even made sure to take out the trash, and do the laundry. Matthew didn't really want to make his dad more frustrated than he already was. He understood that maintaining a house on a retiree's income was tough.
Matthew's dad had served in the military for 23 years, working as an Electronics Technician. He was in the service before Matthew was even born. He was really good at his job. However, he did retire from his job, and without the large sum they received from his active service paycheck, he was forced to get a normal job. For some reason, his mom did not want to get a job. Fast-forwarding to now, Matthew's dad had let his physical shape fail him, but not entirely. He wasn't a tall guy, but he had arms the size of pistons, and a large barrel chest. His close cut hair and goatee was a fashion that he maintained since his days in the Guard. But, his gut was starting to be a health problem, and Matthew was sad that their current situation was tearing his psyche apart. He became more and more unreasonable everyday, due to his compound stress.
And the laziness of Matthew's older brother, Alex, probably didn't help his state, either. Frequently, Matthew would escape into his games, so he wouldn't have to hear his dad scream at his brother for every reason under the sun.
Now, his dad had misplaced anger towards him. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN FOR THE LAST 10 HOURS!!"
"I said I was going to try out Royal Road. I specifically remember telling you, because you said it was okay, as long as I had the chores done for the day. If you check, the dishes, clothes, and floors are done. My part of the house maintenance is finished." Matthew said calmly. He was used to his dad yelling at him, but he knew how to calm him, and anyone else in his family, down.
"Alex told me that he said he was doing your jobs today, so that means you haven't done anything, and you are rewarding yourself without a fair amount of work." His dad fumed. This ticked Matthew off. Alex would always find some way to take the easy way out of doing things, and often found useful shortcuts, for himself. Now, he is taking the brunt of his "shortcut". Since Alex had already graduated the year before. He had been more used to doing a lot less at his college (which he came back home from for the summer, since he was practically kicked out because he was staying there too long), so he didn't want to burden himself with the menial labor most days. So, this meant that Matthew was, in all intents and purposes, the "butler" of the house.
Luckily, the scenario has played out before for Matthew. And his dad believed his word, in most situations. "Dad, I never said that Alex could take my jobs. They were mine for a reason. To solve any confusion, I will do the other chores right now, to fix the problem. Is that okay?" Matthew concluded. His dad seemed to think for a moment before leaving the room with a thumbs up, and a smile.
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A second later, he heard his dad's voice roar in the next room. "YOU THINK THAT YOUR LAZINESS WILL GO UNREWARDED?!?!?!" Matthew went to the garbage can, and took out the full liner with a grin.
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The next morning, Matthew was eating a set of chocolate toaster pastries, when Alex, with a massive bedhead and baggy eyes, sat down across him. "You think that was funny?" Alex said with a scowl after a moment.
Matthew couldn't help but smirk a little. "Yeah, it was, a little. It was your fault you didn't do your chores, and slept instead. You really need to find something to do during the day, otherwise you will gain weight, with the way you are eating." He pointed to the massive plate of eggs and bacon he had half-consumed since he sat down. Alex growled.
Alex, on the other hand from Matthew's dad, didn't have any military experience (nor should he, he only just got back from his first year at college). He was really big, though. His natural size, which included no athletic exercise, made him almost another head taller than Matthew. His body was in proportion to his size. He was a monster of a teenager. He was surprised he quit football in high school, to be honest. But, with that big size, came an even bigger temper. Anytime someone mentioned his larger-than-average head, or his size, he got impressively angry. Luckily, it never lasted long. His anger only came in small bursts, compared to their dad.
"So, how was that game, Matt?" Alex said, after eating most of the food on his plate. He couldn't stay mad at Matthew for long. Matthew was the only one that Alex truly cared about.
"It was fine. I think I started off in the wrong place, or something." Matthew said.
"Really? Just delete your guy then, if you don't like it." Alex has seen an equal share of games as Matthew has, but has not seemed interested in Royal Road until now. "My friend Aaron said that he just soloed a dungeon with only his fists. I bet you aren't nearly as cool as him."
"I might be cooler than him, you never know. And I want to keep my guy, he is special."
"Whatever, I would be playing RR with you, if it weren't for the fact that i spent my money on school, and some gaming cards. I am close to getting one, though." Matthew really was surprised that Alex showed such interest, considering Alex didn't like playing games with him very much anymore. Alex saw this, and intervened. "Yeah, I bet my character would be even better than yours, give me a week to get the money, and then I can show you up." Matthew also was reminded that Alex was EXTREMELY competitive, often.
Matthew sighed. "Well, the good news is, since I did your chores as well yesterday, Dad is allowing me to play right now, while you can't play, due to irresponsibility, or something. I overheard part of the 'lecture'." He got up from the table, and walked away, leaving Alex with his usual scowl of defeat. This isn't over, Matthew, Alex thought. He WOULD show him that he was better than him, in real life, and in Royal Road.
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