“Play the pump up song!” I half shout as I jump into the aquamarine colored four door.

“It’s game day! Put the windows down.” Ever since the discovery of the song my best friend and I have religiously participated in this ritual. If the day ahead presents a challenge; A sports game, a difficult test, or just a rainy; miserable day, we play ‘The Pump Up Song,” on the way to school.

“Turn it up, turn it up, volume’s only on twenty out of thirty.” There is no such thing as too loud on these mornings. Now let me explain ‘the pump up song.’ It is a rendition of “Build Me Up, Buttercup,” by the Foundations, but that’s not what makes it funny or enjoyable. The song is redone by an artist named ‘Rhymefest’ who is a central city rapper from Chicago, Illinois. So see if you can imagine two whiter than white teenagers in an aquamarine compact car; windows down, volume up, screaming their heads off to ‘Build Me Up, Buttercup;’ a black rap artist leading the ensemble. Now try not to laugh; doubt it.

Before any game, big test, or a gloomy monday, we never fail to disturb Peterborough’s peaceful morning. I wouldn’t say we have no shame about it. But it is just the two of us letting go of stress and going crazy. Sometimes my little brother has the…privilege, of witnessing this any morning he wakes up to late to take the bus. But after a few of these experiences it seems he has been much more motivated to get up earlier.