Forgiveness in War

Kyle climbed out of his old mustang wearing the Minnesota Twinkies hat Joshua had given him on his birthday in the diner where he work, he looked down towards the stadium to see where his friend was at that moment. He remembered seeing Steven Kingsley driving up and talking to Joshua as his friend got into his own car. He had not heard what the two were talking about but he remembered it had made Joshua very upset when he came to the celebration of his birthday a week ago. The war in Europe had worsen and reports were coming that this terrorist group was much more larger than the intelligence had first claimed Kyle remembered reading in the local newspaper that morning. He glanced across the parking lot again and saw Joshua coming up towards him as groups of football fans congratulated him. “Josh was always a hero in the hearts of the people in town.” Kyle thought to himself with a sigh he added, “I’m so fortunate to have him as friend, I only hope that I can impact his life and help him change and give his heart to Christ.”

“Hey, dude!” He shouted to his friend who looked extremely exhausted from long fought battle, “I heard over the radio that you guy’s won the state championships.”

“Yeah.” Joshua answered with a big smile, “We did!”

“That’s great man” Kyle continued, “Lets celebrate with something cold to drink.”

“Sounds great,” Joshua replied in a desperate happiness, “Even though I have drank more than enough water I’m still very thirsty and something cold sound wonderful.” As they both climbed into Kyle’s car they both heard Steven shouting at them.

“Hey! Josh!” He shouted towards the two guy’s pulling out of their parking spot.

“Come on! Lets go I really don’t want to stay and listen to him gloat about how he won us the game.” Joshua said in a tone loud enough for Kyle to hear.

“Did he?” Kyle asked even though he knew the answer.

“Of course not! But he sure thinks he did!” Joshua replied sounding peeved at having to think about it.

“Alright we’ll go.” Kyle said as he peeled out of the parking lot weaving in and out of cars and people waiting to exit the school. Kyle checked both directions and pulled out and sped down towards the local drugstore to the cold drinks he had promised his friend. “Hey, sorry I missed your game man.” He said as they got out of his car.

“No big deal.” His friend responded and waved his hand in a forgiving manner. “I know you had to work, you are the hardest worker I know man.”

“Well, two days from now we’ll be going to school at a college and I want to be able to pay for it.” Kyle answered his friends comment even though they both knew why he was working. As they both started towards the drug store a loud thumping noise ran through their bodies and they both turned to see Steven Kingsley pulling up in his large and very loud SUV.

“Oh, Crap!” Joshua said to Kyle with a lot of resentment.

“Hey guys what are you doing.” Steven Kingsley asked the two guys.

“We were getting drinks for each other, ALONE!” Joshua said in rude manner.

“Yeah well…” Steven said as he ignored Joshua’s comment, “I’m not sticking around here very long. I mean this crummy old town if you know what I mean. Because if this war keeps up I’m might just join up.” As he backed up he shouted, “See ya later losers!”

“Why I…” Josh shouted as Kyle reached out and stopped his friend from doing something irrational.

“Not worth it.” Kyle said

“Yeah I Know.” Josh replied, “But it doesn’t change the fact that I want too.”

“I know…” Kyle answered his friend as he patted him on the back as they both walked into the drug store.

Jennifer looked out across the empty auditorium and looked down at a book “Peter Pan” and beneath those bold words were written in a smaller and finer print, “Wendy”. She smiled she was very proud that she had earned the role as the leading lady in the school play. A violent shake of the shoulders from her best friend and the most popular girl in school Shauna Wells,

“Hey, are you zoning out there Wendy lady she teased.” Shauna said with a flash of her perfect teeth and a toss of her long blonde hair.

“May be just a little.” Jennifer answered her friend with bashful smile and a red face.

“Well, back to reality and rehearsals.” Her friend said as she grabbed Jennifer by the hand a pulled her over to the little circle of actors and actresses. As their drama teacher Regina Hole a woman with chocolate skin and sweats made her look frumpier than she actually was, began to settle the group,

“Now class this is an imaginative play that requires you to each get into each of your parts and to use your imaginations as well” Mrs. Hole said, “Each of you was picked on your ability to get into the character that was assigned you at try outs.” She continued, all the people in the play sat down as stagehands and students from art class at the school worked on the scenes and set pieces for the play. “Now I want Wendy, John, Michael and Peter Pan to stand and read their scene together.” Mrs. Hole commanded. Jennifer stood to her feet as the other three characters stood as they were to told too.

“Sniffle” came the cries of Peter Pan played by Robby Casteo

“Why are you crying?” Jennifer asked with a motherly concern.

“I wasn’t crying.” Robert replied with exasperation. “What is your name?”

“Wendy Moira Angela Darling. What’s yours?” Jennifer said as she continued reading her lines. As Kyle and Joshua entered through the door at the back of the auditorium and found seats near the door they had just come through.

“Yo, Why do we have to be here?” Joshua asked Kyle in a whisper.

“I told my parents that I would take my little sister home after her rehearsal tonight.” Kyle answered his friend with a whisper as the group on stage continued their reading of the scene.

“I just don’t see why your parents can’t pick her up. Its not like they can’t do it themselves.” Joshua whispered to his friend as he pulled out his cell phone to play with it.

“Yeah, well I thought that I would do something nice for them since they’ve both been pretty busy.” Kyle replied as he looked back towards the front of the auditorium to see his little sister walking towards the two of them.

“Hey Kyle, what are you doing here?” Jennifer asked her brother.

“Oh I’m here to take you home,” Kyle answered, “Mom and dad are meeting us at home.”

“Oh, Okay.” She replied, “Oh… Hi Josh.”

“Hey” Josh answered as he rolled his eyes at Kyle’s little sister.

Kyle sighs “Alright lets get going, you two.” He said as he walked between the two of them. Jennifer stared at Josh then turned to follow her brother, Joshua laughed to himself as he followed behind the other two.

“Nothing…” Jennifer replied quickly. Josh ran to catch up with Kyle and Jennifer.

“Hey stop talking about me while I’m not around.” He said with a sly grin as he walked past Jennifer. She glared back at him as he passed and stuck her tongue out at him. Kyle laughs as he holds the door open for his sister and his best friend. But in the mind of Josh things were not all fun and games he was in a state of turmoil, as he thought about a decision that could very well change the course of his life and those around him in an unbelievable way.

“Hey, are you okay?” Kyle asked his distracted friend.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” He replied with great inner denial, knowing that he would have to tell his friend the truth.