The War In The Sky
I stood there starring at the sky as airplanes flew overhead. The sky was gray and a storm was approaching. I continued to stare as 3 more airplanes flew overhead, their altitude symbolized that they had just launched.
�I hope Dominick is okay,� I said to my Sam as he stood next to me playing his new videogame. �The war had been going on for weeks now, and it has been getting steadily closer to home. Soon the bombs may be landing in our homes.�
�That�s nonsense Max,� Sam said as he just beat the first level of his new videogame. �Dominick is an ace pilot, he can keep their whole army off.�
�Sam, your too optimistic. One pilot can�t hold off a whole army no madder how good he is.� I said this as I continued to stare at the sky and the airplanes that had launched off only moments ago. �Within a week the enemy�s planes will be bombing this city, we need to leave. We should have left with the others, all of our neighbors are gone. The only people left are us, about � the hospital staff and the apartment complex downtown.�
�Max, that�s still a big chunck of people,� my brother said with a laugh, I could tell he thought he outwitted me. �The town population was like 70 or something, so a lot of people are left.�
�Sam, you got the population off by so much.� I said happly, I loved correcting him. �The town population is about 950, give or take a dozen. I would say 200 people are still here, maybe a few less.�
�Whatever Max, I know what I know and I know its right.� Sam said this angrily. �I know I�m right and that you are wrong, deal with it for once!�
�Sam, you idiot. There is a city limits sign on the other side of the town that gives an estimated population and it says 897 but since it hasn�t been updated in the last 10 years in which time 17 houses have been built the population should be closer to 950.� I said this with an elevated level of stress and anger, my younger brother was irritating me.
�What sign!� Sam said angrily. �I never saw a sign!�
�Uhh�we passed it on the way home the other day and you said �wow, I didn�t know the town was that big��. As I said this I could see that it was all coming back to him, every insignificant memory. I don�t know why I could remember that but not to clean my room or walk my dog, I just figured I didn�t want to clean my room or walk my dog so I forgot.
�I guess your right then Max, as always.� It killed my brother to say it because it pained him to be wrong all the time, but I was happy. Its not that I love being right, its that I hate being wrong. I them dropped the subject, I didn�t want to think about it anymore.
I started to look around and saw our house, it was 2 story and had an old paint job. Then, again my eyes trailed off to the sky were the war had been going on. The white lines the airplanes left as they shot off vanished now and once again I was starring at a gray sky. I fell backwards onto the hill my brother and I were standing on and I lied down without having my eyes lock off the same point in the sky.
�I am going to miss this house,� I said to Sam who was already absorbed back into his game.
�What?� Sam said a moment later.
�Nothing,� I replied, �I just hope we don�t get bombed. So many memories here, you know? I remember when I rolled down this hill and broke my arm on a rock. It may not be the fondest memory, but it is still one none the less.�
My recollection was to no prevail however, for Sam was once again absorbed into his video game. My eyes wandered off back to the same point I stared at, but this time the clouds were slightly darker and there was no sign that an airplane ever flew over that spot. As my eyes remained locked in that area I heard my brother get up and leave the hill and walk into the house. As the back door of the house closed I got up and started to slowly walk home. As I jumped the short fence that boarded our property with the forest I was leaving I felt a rain drop. I quickly jumped the fence and ran back through the small amount of trees and up the hill and looked up, with my tongue stuck out. I counted the rain drops I caught on my tongue. �1...2...3...4,� I said loudly to remember what number I was on. �5...6...7...8.��
After I hit 20 I went back through the trees and looked at the fort Dominick and I built together last summer. I went into the fort and picked up the tarp on the bottom. �Wouldn�t want the fort to get ruined,� I said to myself. �The fort is still as roomy as ever.�
After I covered the fort I once again hopped the fence that brought me back to civilization. I slowly continued back to the house, starring at the rain that fascinated me so. As I stared at the rain I heard the thunder clap from a distance, followed by a flash lightning. After the thunder sounded my dog started barking from the safety of the house. After I saw him I ran home quickly and came inside.
�Max, where were you?� My mom said as I entered the house soaking wet. �You know you aren�t supposed to be outside in the rain! You were also supposed to take Eddie 2 for a walk, but you can�t do that now, can you?�
�Sorry mom,� I said trying to avoid eye contact. �I was just covering the fort with the tarp and relaxing. Once it started to rain I began to come inside. And we have a big backyard, Eddie 2 can run around out there.�
�I don�t care if he can run around outside! He�s yours and Dominick�s responsibility, and if you can�t take care of him it�s the boot for your dog.� My mom said this with some anger.
�Okay, I am sorry, I�ll walk him once it dries up. But mom, I think we should pack up and move to a safer area. The enemy planes are getting closer, they could be in here within days. If we don�t pack then something bad might happen.� I said with a serious tone.
�Don�t worry Max, if there is any form of threat on our town there will be an evacuation. Either way, that�s not he kind of stuff you need to worry about, only grown-ups need to worry about that.� My mom replied.
�2 Things. One, there already was an evacuation but you didn�t pay enough attention to notice. Second, I am not a little kid anymore! I am 15, and Sam�s 12. We should have the right to know what is going on with the military and politics and family.� I said this very seriously. �You and Dominick would talk about this all the time after we went to bed. You treated him much older than he is, for pete sakes. You talked to him like he was an adult when he was 12, but I am 15 and you still treat me like a kid!� I stopped to take a breath but before I finished my mom started talking again.
�Max, you are still a kid! Also, how could you remember what me and Dominick talked about when you were only 7? How can you remember that but you have trouble remembering to do your chores or walk the dog?� She paused and waited for me to interrupt, but I was silent. �I am a single mother raising 3 children, but you�re the only one who is here full time! Dominick and your dad get along fine! So does Sam and your dad. But you and your dad just don�t get along, why is that?� She finished her speech quickly and out of breath, thinking that I wouldn�t be able to respond.
�Mom, you know why I don�t go with dad! it�s the same reason you divorced him. He abused his power to torture you, just like he did me. Then I cussed him out so he disowned me thinking that I was just a delinquent. My other brothers can put up with that crap, but I sure as hell can�t!� I stopped talking and swiped a muffin and jolted upstairs before my mom could respond to what I said. As I ran up the stairs I heard her say I was grounded but I paid no attention to it.