CALVARY CITY.

Calvary city. Chapter 1 the mail tree.

The family dog, Arpin howled as loud as he could at the war sirens sounding three cities over from ours, Jaspin city. My father, Jim Black, shouted for him to hush. But the dog just ignored his master." Rinlee," my mother, Michelle Black, said my name. I looked up, " Yes ma'am?" I answered. "Please, Mea and you go tie up that mutt in the barn" I nodded my head and got up from the table where our dinner sat. "Mea, Mother wants us to go tie a pin up so get on your sweater." I said pulling on my own sweater. Mea walked in stroking her copper hair with her wooden brush." Ok, but May Adam come? "she asked as the one-year old came bounding in screeching. " Mee! Mee! " I sighed and looked at my mother for help but her pleading eyes said enough." Fine, but you're going to have to watch him while I tie that mutt up" I said after picking the little boy up and turning to my sister." Good enough for me" she said running out the front door .I walked the ten steps out to the yard and stopped, listening to the bombs and gun fires sounding in the third city next to ours. Called Calvary city. Wars, I thought. Why are there always wars? Especially in Calvary City? But then all the stories came back to me. About twenty years ago there was a war between Japan and Calvary city. Of course I wasn't born then but my great grandfather always told us about it. The reason for the wars was something stupid. I think it was about the rights for Calvary city to own half of Jaspin. And of course we said no so now there is this whole fight between us and them. I thought of all those people out there fighting. Then a memory came to me, about a year ago half of our army was killed and the state made a law that one child from every household in Jaspin and Calvary city, was taken to train for the wars. The child had to be at least five feet tall and seventeen years old. The memory made me sad because our cousin, Marian willow. Got chosen to be in the war about two years ago. She still acts like she is in the war, always holding her head high as if looking out just in case someone attacks. And she jumps every time someone drops something." Rin, You ok?'' Mea asked me. "Huh? Oh yes thank you. I'm fine. But Adam is getting heavy and takes him while I take Airpin in the barn." I said handing the boy to her. She took him and babbled in baby talk to him. I scowled at the sound of her whiney high pitched voice. Arpin bounced around excitedly panting and wagging his shaggy tale so hard his hind quarters shook as well. I grabbed the medium sized terrier and entered the barn where my father was. He heard my footsteps and stopped working on the rocking chair he was carving. "Rinlee?" he said walking toward the barn entrance. "Yes father?". "Nothing, just seeing who it was' '. With that he began working on his chair again. I tied Airpin up and came outside where the weather was cold and damp. I glanced all around the yard taking in the winter afternoon. I noticed that the mail carrier had come and tied the pieces of paper we used for mail to the mail tree. I walked over and untied them. While shuffling them around I noticed they were all for my parents except for one .The letter was cream colored and in black ink said. To: Miss Rinlee black. I recognized the hand writing. It was my best friend, Matt o'herin.i quickly ripped open the letter and dug out the brown parchment.It read. Dear Rinlee, you are invited to join Mr. Matt O'Herin on a hunter training camp, December 11nth this year. Thank you. Sincerely, Matt O'herin "the eleventh!" I exclaimed." That's tomorrow, I won't be able to go" I started toward the barn and bumped in to something." Oomph!" I heard a little voice cry. I looked down and sawAdam looking up at me curiously.

" testerday?" he asked me apparently he had heard my exclamation.

I had just told my mom and dad about the hunter training camp. They were discussing it. And I hoped they said yes. "Rinlee" my father called from the dining room. I entered. "Yes father?" I asked shyly." We have discussed the matter and......" he paused making me more anxious. "Yes?" I asked impatiently." And....you may go, but you have to promise you won't forget your chores when you get back understood?" he asked eyeing me questionably. "Yes sir, understood" I was so excited I had to bite my tongue and clench my fist to keep from jumping up and down and screaming. I ran to my room and grabbed a quill, ink and some parchment and wrote.Dear matt, I can come! I will meet you in the forest in the morning tomorrow. What shall I bring to the camp? Where is it held? Please write back, sincerely Rinlee.I wrote his name on the front of the brown envelope and raced out side just in time for the mail carrier. "whaddya got fer me taday miss?" the scraggly old mail carrier asked me as I came to a Holt at the wagon he drove." To Mr. O'herin please" I said smiling. "Ah! A reply to 'is invitation I see" he said with a wink." How do you know about the invitation?" I asked. "Uhh... I dunno" he said quickly putting the letter in the pouch on his shoulder and yelling" yah yah! On with yer now!" to his two black steeds who led his wagon. "You read my mail!" I yelled. But he was too far to hear my angry screams. I walked up to the house and told father and mother about the mail carrier. Mr. Lewis." Well, can't do anything 'bout it now." my father said running a rough hand through his chocolate brown hair.