Finding yourself (Chapter 1)

Michelangelo stormed into his room. He was sick of the way his brothers treated him. Michelangelo sat on his floor and pressed his knees to his plastron. He remained in that position all night. No lights, no sound, except for the occasional sob that escaped Michelangelo’s throat. He heard each of his brother’s try to force him out by slamming against his door and yelling for him to come out; Raphael even threatened to go in and take him out by brute force. He had had it with their attitudes and sarcastic comments. He had never truly had their respect. That was all he craved, all he ever wanted. Instead, he was treated as a child. Technically, he was the youngest of the turtle brothers, but he wasn’t that much younger. His brother’s voices echoed in his head…

“Why don’t you just grow up?”

“Mikey, please, I can’t be bothered by your infantile games right now.”

“We are ninjas, Mikey. And part of being a ninja is being silent.”

Everything he did seemed to upset someone. Could he do anything right? He was starting think not. Even Master Splinter lately had seemed disappointed in Michelangelo.
He pressed his knees up against his plastron even tighter than before and cried some more. Raphael returned to his door, “Mikey, come out of there, you’ve been acting like a baby all night.”

“Go away Raph, I wanna be alone.” He sobbed as a single tear dropped down his face.

“Aw, is the little baby crying. I think it’s time for the little turtles nap time.” Raphael said in a very sarcastic voice.

Mikey shoved his head deeper into his knees and cried some more. He heard his eldest brother, Leonardo, say: “Cut it out Raph, give Mikey some time to chill. He will come out when he’s ready.”

Raphael scoffed, “Whatever, I don’t even care.” He walked away from Michelangelo’s room and back to the couch to be with Leonardo and Donatello.

Days had started to pass by like seconds, and Michelangelo had not left his room. He hadn’t eaten in weeks, except for the stored junk food he had hidden in his room, but he hadn’t really dipped into that stash either. He wasn’t patrolling with them or skateboarding or anything.  Leonardo had begun to wonder if maybe they had been too hard on Mikey, after all he was just a kid.

After three weeks of solitude, Michelangelo decided that his brothers were right, he had been acting too much like a child and he needed to grow up. He stood up from his floor and grabbed the trash bin in the corner. He started throwing away everything that could be seen as childish. He threw away all his comic books, all of his action figures, his skateboard, his games, and anything else he saw. The only things left in his room were his bed and his weapons. He slowly opened the door and crept into the kitchen where the larger trash can was. He tried to move without being spotted, but all of his brothers were sitting on the couch watching TV as he passed by.

“Hey, Mikey, I was starting to think you were dead.” Raph greeted him.

Michelangelo rolled his eyes, “if only” he muttered under his breath.

“Mikey, we’re watching Space Heroes, wanna watch with us?” Leonardo invites him, even moving over making room for him to sit.

Michelangelo just shrugged, “Nah, Space Heroes is for babies. And besides, I have stuff to do.” he retreated back to his room with the large trash can.  

That seemed odd to Leonardo. He knew that it wasn’t Mikey’s favorite show, but he never turned down a chance to hang with his brothers. Leo stood up and went over to Mikey’s room. He contemplated before knocking on the door, “Mikey, you in there?”

“What do you want Leo?” He growled.

“Ca-Can I come in?” He asked

“Whatever.” Mikey said indifferently.

Leonardo slowly opened the door and went inside, by instinct he threw the lights on and the room lit up for the first time on weeks. “Do you wanna talk about something; I mean…you’re acting kinda weird.” Leonardo said slowly.

“It’s nothing, I’m just growing up.” Michelangelo didn’t stop to look at him; he just continued to throw things in the trashcan.  

“Listen, Mikey, I – I mean we, are all very sorry for the way we’ve treated you in the past.”

“Save it Leo, I don’t care. You all wanted me to grow up, so I’m growing up. No more video games, no more skateboarding, no more comic books.” Mikey turned around for the first time since Leonardo came in the room.

“Just like that, you’re giving up everything cold turkey?” Leo asked a little concerned.

“Yes.” Mikey sighed, “Now leave me alone I have a lot of cleaning to do.”

Leonardo left Michelangelo’s room and returned to the couch with his brothers. Donatello turned the TV off, “So, what’s going on with Mikey.”

“He’s growing up. He’s in there throwing away everything that he loves…And it’s all your fault Raph” for a change, Leonardo started the argument.

“Me…What did I do?” Raphael sounded confused.

“You’re always teasing him and calling him a baby and telling him to grow up.”

“I’m not the only one that tells him that! So do you and Donnie.” Raphael stood up and pointed his finger at Leo.

Leo was about to retaliate, but he sighed and dropped his head into his hands. “I hate to say this, but you’re right. We all caused this. And now we all have to go fix it.” Leonardo stood up and signaled for Raphael and Donatello to follow him. They walked back over to Michelangelo’s room and knocked on the door again.

“I told you to go away Leo,” Mikey shouted from inside his room.

“It’s not Leo, shell for brains,” Raph felt a sharp elbow in his side, “I mean, Mikey. It’s me, Raph…” He finished rubbing the side of his shell.

“What do you want Raph, I’m not in the mood.”

“I was just hoping we could talk, you know. Turtle to turtle.”

“Alright, you can come in” Mikey opened the door.

Raph pushed the door the rest of the way open and went inside, Leo and Donnie followed silently behind, “So what’s up with the garbage cans, Mikey?” Raph asked

“Don’t act like Leo didn’t tell you, Raph. I know he did.” Mikey said, turning around, catching sight of Leo and Donnie, “Turtle to turtle, huh?”

“Well, we think you just need some support right now. You are going through a tough time and we are here to help you through it.” Leo stated ignoring Mikey’s question.

“Nothing you do will change my mind.”

“Why don’t we order a pizza, sit down and talk it all out.” Raph suggested, “Sound good Mikey?”

“There’s nothing to talk about guys.”

Donatello leaned in closer to Leonardo, “Wow he turned down pizza, there is definitely something wrong.” He whispered.

Leo was about to speak but shut his mouth. A few moments later he said, “It’s almost dusk Mikey, you gonna come out and patrol with us? We have missed you these past few weeks.” Leo smiled at his younger brother

“Yeah right you missed me, I’m sure everything went much more smoothly without me.”

Leo sighed, “Fine, we are going out; you are more than welcome to join us if you change your mind.”

Leo motioned as Donatello and Raphael followed behind him and Mikey heard as they left the lair. Mikey was alone again. He sat down on the ground and seriously thought about if he really wanted to grow up or not.

After a while, Mikey left his room and roamed freely around the lair for the first time in weeks. He sat down on the couch and thought about what Leonardo said about joining them and was about to before Master Splinter stopped him.

“Michelangelo, it is nice to see you out of your room. What has been troubling you, my son?” he asked as he sat next to Mikey on the couch.

Michelangelo looked up for a moment, “Oh, hi sensei. It’s nothing.”

“A lie only leads to more lies, Michelangelo. Understand that by starting a lie, you are bound to continue a chain of lies.”

“Sensei, can I do anything right?” Mikey slouched over and rested his elbows on his knees.

“Yes, Michelangelo, you can. You improve every day with your ninjutsu skills,” Splinter reassured his son.

“My brothers always call me a baby and a child. They are always criticizing me about being different than them,” Mikey complained.

“You are all different from each other. Leonardo does what he is told, Donatello works through intelligence, and Raphael is fueled by vengeance and rage. You, my son, go where the wind takes you. You are your own spirit. You have something that they do not, Michelangelo. Your brothers do not understand you because they are not like you. However, with time and perseverance, they will understand how your differences make you who you are.” He placed a loving paw on Michelangelo’s shell.

Mikey looked up at him and smiled, “I guess you’re right sensei. Thanks.” He hugged his teacher and father.

“Very well, now go and join your brothers.” Splinter smiled.

Mikey stood up off the couch, “Hai sensei.” He bowed in respect and left the lair to find his brothers.