A Kingdom of Our Own

Chapter Seven - The Leaving Party

There was no need to announce the commencing of the party. No official start time had been arranged as such, but nevertheless a good dozen people got the party underway. They took to the street with great cheer, bringing with them a considerable amount of noise, so much so that it could all be heard from a good few blocks away. It wasn’t for another half an hour, just past seven, until the main bulk of people arrived and all the music and talk broke out. Dusk had begun to set and the horizon was tinted with a deep orange glow. In other words, twilight was in effect.

It was quite a clichéd sight in all honesty; a regular occurrence in Oregon’s weather patterns when summer reached its height. The spectacle in the eyes of the people at least though was a novelty, it only being on this night that they truly came to appreciate its beauty. Maybe it was due to people’s lack of interest in the outdoors in the present day, seeing far more promise in technology and all the potential it held in building a modern world of consumerism. Or maybe until now, without family and friends by their side to share the sight with, the stunning view had seemed less significant to them. Certainly, with the war raging over the past few years it had been rather hard to do so. People had begun to drift apart, all being so busy fulfilling their roles in the war effort, some living abroad for months or even years at a time.

Coming to examine the issue now, it seems likely that it was the fact that everyone was united for once, surrounded by so many of whom they cared for that made the occasion such a special and unique one and not the dazzling sight above.

At dead on 7:30, one of the residents (who had been watching the Independence Day celebrations live in Washington on his television set), called for the national anthem to be sung. All the noise and talk immediately dulled. Even the youngsters realised the utmost respect had to be paid at this point, for all of those lives being lost across the globe in the name of America. Everyone stood up in an orderly fashion for the anthem, some even shedding a tear for their loved ones at war as they began to sing, pressing their palms firmly against their hearts.

Oh say can you see, by the dawn’s early light!

What so proudly we hailed, at the twilight’s last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,

O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there;

Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,

O’er the land of the free,

And the home of the brave?

There was a round of hearty applause, followed by some chants of “USA!” by some of the younger, more patriotic individuals. A few remained quiet after the singing, gathering around TV sets to watch the President’s speech. But for most the party resumed and in a spectacular fashion at that.

Dalton and Elijah lay in for a while and so entered the party scene a little late, nearing eight o’clock. By this point the streets were bustling with life and the barbecues were all well underway. Smoke streamed off the charcoal, tainting the air out in the street with a satisfying, deep-set burning smell. As soon as Dalton stepped out of the house he was hit by the full force of it, inhaling a large gulp of the smoke. He coughed a little as he shut the front door behind him and his eyes turned all misty as he tried to adjust to the change in conditions. After rubbing off the water that had begun to well up in his eyes, he let out a deep sigh and pressed on outwards.