Remember Those by Aden Baxley:
Bang,” “Bang,” “Bang, BANG BANG.” Kate awoke with a sudden startle. She had Just escaped the small aircraft the night before; she fell asleep while she was waiting for others to escape. “BANG,” another bullet was fired. She rose to her knees when it hit her; she was not wearing the T-shirt and jeans as the night before. Instead, she was dressed in vintage black heels and a 40’s black swing dress with a red plaid decoration on it. She was mostly upset about the heels because she was 5 inches too tall to wear heels. She peered over the bushes, yet the plane was still the same and people were still trapped in it in need of food, shelter, and freedom from the bubble they were trapped in.
Something was different though, other than her attire; the airport they were at was titled Chandler Municipal Airport AR. She was no longer in the City of Brotherly Love; she was in Arizona! She tried not to panic, but she couldn’t stay to wait any longer. To be out and exposed for so long was dangerous. She needed protection, food, and a new mirror for the next force field edge she encountered. She turned away from the airport, filled with fear and guilt. But there was an African American man directly behind her wearing a black suit and red tie. Next to him was a small brown French bulldog.
“And just where do you think you are going?” asked the deep voice. It was followed by a small bark.
It was Mr. Jacks for sure. She could tell her neighbors voice from anywhere. The elderly man was spiffier than she has ever seen him. He waddled closer and thanked her for the message of how to get out, but there were no more mirrors on the plane for anyone else to get out.
“BANG!” another shot went off followed by others. Kate, Mr. Jacks, And Chiwawa the French bulldog hid in the tall grass to avoid being spotted.
“Get down Mr. Jacks or they will see us.” Kate whispered
“I’m not as young as a used to be you know. I only had had a knee problem for 40 years. If I get down, there aint no getting up.” Mr. Jacks responded hastily.
“Count, (H)adence, Count!” yelled a strong voice, followed by a group chanting “Hut, toop, threep, fourp. Hut, toop, threep, fourp.” The man shouted “Flight, halt” followed by a “Bout’ (H)ace.”
Kate peered her head over the grasses to view the action. The group of soldiers were all wearing pale green hard hats and alike uniforms. The group moved sharply and smartly to the rear. Kate saw one man wearing a peeked hat in front of the group. It was an officer with many ribbons and awards attached to his uniform.
The Sergeant who was shouting earlier fell in beside the group and commanded “Pre-sent, (H)arms.”
The Captain in front of the group took the command of the flight, “Under my command, (H)order, (H)arms.”
The officer then began to speak, “Remember those who fought for our country and died. Remember those who won our freedom. We will not let a blue boarder let Japan and the Soviets bring down this country. For we, are America. For we, fight. For we, win. We do this to remember those and give life to the future…”
Kate saw tears falling from Mr. Jacks eyes. Kate believed Mr. Jacks was a hard-old man who never cried.
“Amen!” he shouted, interrupting the Captain’s speech.
The flight of soldiers turned toward Kate and began to fire their rifles in alert, assuming that they were spies for the enemies.
Continued...
