Ronald, Griffin and Gerald were in the final moments of their performance. They were maneuvering into their final positions, nodding to each other in conformation they sprang into action. Griffin did a triple twist rotating flip and then caught the trapeze, while Gerald did a quadruple back flip with a half twist and then caught Griffin’s trapeze.
Ronald, not to be outdone, did a triple twist front flip, bounced back and was caught by Griffin. He swung Ron up and then let go at the apex off the swing back, launching Ron into the air, where he did a full quadruple, twist flip, and then was caught by Gerald. Gerald swung them up to the platform. Ronald strapped on his cape and pulled himself onto the side of the Cannon, hanging on by his hands and feet.
Gerald joined Ronald on the outside of the Cannon with a matching cape. Finally Griffin scurried into the cannon.
In quick succession the cannon fired once, twice and finally a third time leaving all three mice holding three wheat stocks with their hands and feet. The crowd went nuts. Tiny flowers flew into the air, each brother grabbing one out of the air and waving back to the crowd.
Later that night, Ronald was sitting on top of the picnic table outside of the trailer he shared with his brothers. He basked in the starlight going over the night's performance in his head.
He took a swig of his drink and smiled at the stars. Griffin joined him on the picnic table, wrapping his tail around his body, letting it dangle by his feet.
“You were amazing tonight,” Griffin said quietly. “Dad would be proud”
“Thanks, Griff” Ron said, clapping his brother on the back.
Ronald handed Griff a drink. Gerald came out of the trailer and threw a log on the fire. Grabbing a drink he sat in the chair across from his brothers.
“Fantastic job tonight guys” Gerald said, sitting forward and reaching his bottle out to cheers them.
The bottles clinked together and everyone took a drink. They shared a momentary smile and stared at the heavens. The yearly meteor shower began to light up the night sky.
“Guys, I want to thank you guys for being here for me for the past few months. Life has seemed very bleak and challenging lately. You guys have been my rock. I’m so thankful for you both.” Ronald said looking both of them in the eyes.
Griff reached out between the three of them. Gerald’s hand joined and was finally topped off by Ronald’s. Silence for a moment or two as their eyes drifted upwards.
“Can I tell you something without any judgment?” Ronald asked, looking into the fire.
They both nodded their heads, silently, to Ron.
Ronald took a deep breath.
“I grew a pineapple,” he stated.
Confusion permeated the area. Gerald smiled awkwardly but in a reassuring way. Griff’s face simply said “Que?”.
Ron chuckled and said, “Let me explain. Growing a pineapple anywhere other than Hawaii is supposed to be considered impossible. Look where we are. An environment nowhere near tropical, thousands of miles away.”
The brothers continued to stare in polite confusion.
“It gave me hope.” Ron said, clarity falling on his brother's faces.
“I grew a pineapple in an environment hostile to its very life and it is still growing. If that can happen then I can get through this. Through this whole thing I haven’t had any hope. For the first time. I feel like things are going to work out just fine” Ron finished, tears rolling down his face with a huge smile.
His brothers were wiping their eyes as well.
“Here is to brothers and pineapples! May both persist forever!” Griff said, his voice cracking a bit.
Gerald gave a victory cheer and clinked his bottle with his brothers. Ronald pulled his brothers in and touched foreheads with them and then pulled away. They shared one more look and then their eyes turned to the stars once more.