Forgiveness in War

CHAPTER 1

It was a late Saturday afternoon and the sun was just peeking over the fence. Young male voices could be heard in the backyard, as the laughter of youth filled the air, elderly people sitting on their porches would smile.

“Uh… Bravo, Charlie, Alpha. What is our position?”

“Krsh!”

“You should be right near the target”, said a mimicked adult voice. Near the back fence two boys are caught up in a classic game that boys play, “war.”

“Hey, Johnson are we there yet.” Said Joshua Cromwell.

“Well, sir, we’re close. Base says we’re near the target, but I don’t see it,” replied Kyle Jones.

“Well, I’m sure we’ll see it soon and when we do we’ll take ‘em down.”

Inside the house Amy Jones sees her youngest daughter, Jennifer, coloring at the table in the tiny dining room connected to their kitchen.

“What are you doing Jenny?” Mrs. Jones asked the thirty-six year old woman. With a slender figure, brunette hair and an infectious smile.

“Coloring.” said the little eight year old, brown haired girl with a childish grin.

“Why don’t you go out and play with your brother.”

“I don’t know where he is?” Jennifer replied.

“Well, go and look for him, its almost time for dinner.” said Amy. “Ok, mommy” replies the little girl.

“Anything yet?” asked Kyle an average eight-year-old boy with light brown hair.

“Nope, nothing. But if I do I’ll let you know Private” replied Joshua who was playing the ranking officer over Kyle. The sun just hidden behind the Jones’ back fence as Kyle’s little sister walked through the back screen door of the house.

“Kyle!” Jennifer yelled from the patio as she looks for her older brother.

“Well, Well. Look what we have here?” whispered Joshua.

“What is it the target?” Kyle asked.

“SHHH!” Joshua hissed through his teeth.

“Hey, what are those things flying at us?” Kyle asked Joshua.

“Oh crap! Those are the higher ground artillery I told you about!” Joshua cried.

“Oh no, duck!” Kyle replied as he grabbed Joshua and they both dove to the ground as they imagined gunfire spewing over their heads. “Thanks soldier, I owe you one” Joshua said.

“No problem” Kyle replied with a smile, “I’ll hold you to that when we get back.” Both crawled along the ground behind the bushes just in front of the pine trees in the backyard. Jennifer looked quickly over towards her mother’s garden wondering what all the shouting was about.

“There’s the target soldier”, Joshua said with a wry smile.

“Are you sure?” asked Kyle.

“Are you questioning my judgment soldier?” grunted Joshua.

“No sir!” replied Kyle.

“Well then load your gun and prepare to take out the enemy,” commanded Joshua.

“Yes sir!” answered Kyle. As the both started pumping their water guns to shoot, Jennifer, unaware of what is going on, proceeded toward her mother‘s garden.

“Get ready,” whispered Joshua, as both Kyle and him got to their knees behind the mulberry bush next to the white picket fence that leads to the garden. Kyle’s little sister continues toward the boys. “Ok we go on three.” Joshua said firmly. Kyle nodded in agreement. The little brunette stopped to look around elsewhere for her brother.

“One.” She continued toward the garden.

“Two…” she started to reach for the fence hitch.

“Three!!” shouted Joshua as both boys jump up and began shooting water at Jennifer. The little girl screamed and fell over into a pile of mud and got her spring dress covered. She climbed up quickly as the boys continued to pummel her with water. The she ran to the patio screaming and crying as she continued through the screen door. “Yeah, we did it!” Joshua shouted jumping up and down.

“Yeah we did”, Kyle said reluctantly as he jumped up from behind the bush. Jennifer came screaming through the kitchen as Mrs. Jones watched and heard her daughter as she ran up stairs to her room where she sat in her closet in the dark. Mrs. Jones heard silence from her daughter’s room knowing that she was hiding somewhere up their. As she peaked through the kitchen window towards the backyard where the boys were playing she sees them both laughing and chasing each other around with their squirt guns. Mrs. Jones sighs as she thinks to herself “And things were going so well.” Mrs. Jones dried her hands off with the kitchen apron she was wearing as she proceeded to the backyard. “Kyle Lewis Jones you and Joshua come here this instance!” Mrs. Jones said loudly with a firm voice.

“Uh-Oh!” Joshua said in a quiet voice.

“Yeah right, we’re in big trouble”, Kyle told his friend. Both boys turned towards Mrs. Jones with heads hung down as she tried not to laugh at the rather cute but funny sight. She watched them stand in front of her and look up to accept their punishment.

“Do you know why Jennifer is crying boys?” Mrs. Jones asked.

“No”, replied Joshua.

“Do you know why your sister’s crying Kyle?” Mrs. Jones asked.

“Well…” Kyle said as he fingered his shirt, “yeah… Joshua and me squirted her with our squirt guns”.

“Well, I think that you and Joshua both owe her an apology,” replied Mrs. Jones, “I’m going to go find her. Both of you wait here.”

“Aw, Man! Why did you tell her that we did it?” Joshua asked after Mrs. Jones shuts the back door.

“Because I’ll get in even more trouble if I lie” replied Kyle. Mrs. Jones walked up the stairs to Jennifer’s room and opened the door to loud sobs as they began to turn into sniffles.

“Jennifer?” Mrs. Jones called, “Honey, where are you?”

“I’m here” Jennifer replied through rapid breathing and a closet door.

“Oh my baby, it’s ok.” Mrs. Jones said comfortingly, “Kyle and Joshua want to apologize to you, but let’s towel you off”.

“Ok”, Jennifer replied in a saddened voice. Joshua sat down on the patio and Kyle moved the stool from the planter box and sat on it as Mrs. Jones came out with Jennifer holding on to her hand.

“Ok boys what do you have to say?” Mrs. Jones asked as she gave them both a stern look.

“I’m sorry Jennifer for squirting you with my squirt gun”, Kyle said as he hopped down from the stool.

“Uh…Yeah me too” Joshua mumbled quickly. Kyle walked over and gave his damp sister a hug. Jennifer smiled and hugged her brother back, as Joshua looked on with a sick look on his face.

“RING”, came the sound of the telephone from the kitchen.

“I’ll be right back” Mrs. Jones said “Please stay out of trouble while I’m on the phone.”

“Ok Momma we will”, Kyle replied. Mrs. Jones ran in the house and picked up the phone,

“Hello…? Hi Karen! How are you? Ok, Mm-hm. Yes, I will send him home right now. Uh-huh, you too. Bye!” Mrs. Jones checked dinner just before heading outside, “Josh that was your mother. She said it’s time for you to go home for dinner.”

“Ok Mrs. Jones”, Joshua replied.

“Kyle and Jennifer come in and wash your hands for dinner” Mrs. Jones ordered her children.

“Mom can I walk Josh to the gate?” Kyle asked.

“Yes” his Mother, responded as she helped her daughter all wrapped up through the door.

“Hey, Kyle thanks for playing with me today I had a lot of fun” Joshua said.

“You’re welcome, I had fun too” Kyle replied with a smile.

“Kyle?” Joshua asked after a long silence at the gate.

“Yeah Josh” Kyle replied.

“We’re best friends right?” Josh asked.

“Of course” Kyle said

“Forever right?” Josh asked with some doubt.

“Absolutely” Kyle replied with confidence and kind look.

“Good see you at school tomorrow.” Josh yelled as he ran across the front yard.

“Yeah see you tomorrow” Kyle shouted back to his best friend as he shut the gate and walked into the kitchen as his dad pulled into the driveway.