Glory Be

Chapter Twenty-Two

10 years ago

"I'm gonna be a cowboy, you know?" Jake swung his feet off the fence post.

"Why do you want to do that?" Syd asked. He picked grass by the fence post. Some pieces were long and green, while some were short and brown.

"It's a good job," Jake said, "I can herd cows, sunrise to sunset, and be really strong too."

"The horses are cool." Syd murmured.

"I want a stallion of my own one day, my dad's got one right now, and he's cool," Jake hopped of the fence post, "What are you looking at?"

"A bug," Syd held up his finding, and Jake leaned in, "It's a May Beetle I think."

"Woah," The two huddled around the bug and watched it skitter up and down the fence posts, "So, what do you want to do when you're older?" Jake tilted his head.

"I don't know," Syd shrugged, and sat back on the grass, "Probably take over my dad's printshop."

"Oh really? I guess that makes sense," Jake put a finger to his chin, "I guess I just thought you'd go out and catch bugs all day or something."

"Is that a job?" Syd's eyes widened.

"I don't think so, but hey! Why don't you become a cowboy with me?" Jake asked.

"Umm, I don't want to do that though," Syd said.

"But we could hang out and play all day that way," Jake persisted.

"That's true... I'll think about it," Syd shrugged.

"Jake, Syd!" A voice called out. The two boys turned, and their eyes fell upon one of their friends quickly approaching.

"Hey Archie!" Jake waved.

"Hey, what are you guys up to?" He squinted at Syd who was still squatting in the grass.

"Just hanging out, what are you doing?"

"Well George just sent me to tell you guys we're planning on heading to the lake tonight," He grinned.

"Tonight?" Jake's eyebrows raised.

"Yeah, and we're going try and invite some girls too," Archie smirked, "So don't snitch."

"Really?" Jake's jaw dropped.

Syd rolled his eyes and stood up from the grass. Not bothering to wipe off the stray grass from his pants.

"Yeah, I don't know if they're actually gonna show up, but it's worth the try," Archie shrugged, "We're gonna meet up at the rope tree after dark, okay? So don't be late."

"Yeah gotcha," Jake smiled and looked over to Syd, "Are you gonna come?"

"Why not," Syd shrugged, "I want to swim."

"Oh, come on, that's all? What about if we get Juliet to come, you're not going, ya know... Try anything?" Archie teased in a high-pitched voice, "You two are pretty close, right?"

"Ew," Syd stuffed his hands in his pockets, "We're just friends."

"Oh, admit Syd," Archie grabbed Syd by the shoulders and dug a nuggie into the top of his head, "You have a crush, I know you have a crush."

"Get- Get off!" Syd squirmed out of Archie's grasp. He was a tall boy for their age, and naturally just a bit stronger than almost everyone.

Archie let go and laughed. Jake snorted, and Syd shot him an annoyed look.

"We'll get ya to admit tonight I bet," Archie smirked.

. . .

Present Day