Rags To Riches

                                              'I'm tired of being the victim of shame,
                                      they're throwing me in a class with a bad name'
                                                                               - Michael Jackson.
                              'You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow,
                                           this opportunity comes once in a lifetime'
                                                                                           - Eminem.

Living in the ghettos of America, Simon was poor, hungry, unsuccessful and angry. He longed to spread his wings and move on to greater things. But his wings were damaged, incapable of flight. He was stuck in the ghettos, surrounded by crime, violence and poverty. Seemingly unable to escape the fate that had entrapped him so absolutely. Growing up surrounded by the bitter and the rejected can make a good man turn bad.

But Simon was determined not to become another crime statistic. He wanted to make something of himself, to escape society’s expectations of him. He longed to be a rapper. To make it out of the ghettos and into the music industry. This was his greatest and most sought-after ambition. And he hoped that one day it would be his ticket out of poverty. Music had always been a form of religion to Simon. He worshipped the singers that he longed to be. Living in such trying conditions, music was his futile escape from reality, his hope, his beacon of light in a life trapped by darkness.

He was adamant that he would make it. That he would get out. He would scrawl lyrics onto bits of old paper, practise rapping in front of his cracked bathroom mirror and listen to his favourite rappers on his second-hand discman. Whilst the people around him resorted to crime and violence to revolt against society, Simon practised. He vowed that he would defeat society with his success. Every night before he went to sleep, he would repeat the same words over and over in his head, instilling them into his brain deeper and deeper and forcing himself to believe his own words:

‘I will make something of myself. I will move on to better things. I will achieve.'

                                              ***

The music begins to fade out, and Simon nervously slots his microphone back into the microphone stand, before adjusting his baggy t-shirt awkwardly. For the first time since the gig started, Simon manages to raise his gaze to look out at the crowd before him. A swarm of people stare up at him with expressions of admiration, respect, adoration and idolisation. Numerous mobile phones and cameras are being held up above the heads of the audience, eagerly capturing the show that Simon has spent months preparing for and a lifetime waiting for. And it all comes down to this night. This night that will change Simon’s life forever. For the better. For good.

The first song is over. As the music dies, there is a moment of weighted silence as the crowd takes in the sight before them. Suddenly, the silence is abruptly disrupted as the crowd begins to roar deafeningly. Some people are clapping. Some are whistling. Some are cheering. All are appreciating. The feedback from the audience sends a wave of raw emotion through Simon. He is rendered speechless. He did not expect such a great turnout to his first gig, and he certainly did not expect the overwhelmingly positive response from the crowd. An overpowering sense of elation takes over him.

This is one of those rare and significant moments in Simon’s life where he feels like he has succeeded. Where he feels like he is on the right path. Like he has finally achieved something. Thinking back to where he was just two years ago it is hard for him to comprehend just how much has changed. How much he has changed. How much his circumstances have changed. He has gone from performing in front of his mirror, to performing in front of real people. Simon cannot help but stare out at the audience before him. He is almost more of a spectator than the audience. A spectator to his newly gained respect. Appreciation. Fans. Happiness.

Two years ago, Simon was at the bottom of society’s food chain. He was living in a ghetto. He was nothing. He was a pigeon. He was nothing but a pest to society. And now, he is a phoenix. Now he has risen out of the ashes of his past and has turned into something new and wonderful. Something awe-inspiring. He has become someone who matters. Who has made himself matter. Not just to other people, but more importantly, to himself.

He prepares to perform his second song. He signals to his band. The drummer begins to drum, the guitarist begins to strum, and as Simon wet his lips and opens his mouth to begin his rap, one thought firmly enters his head. A thought that makes him feel happier than he has ever felt in his entire life:

‘I have finally made it.'