G.I. Hailee

~6~

Luke, Zuri, Ravi, and I sit on the rope wall, bored out of our minds.

I take out my notebook and journal, starting to sketch us all, really happy, full of positivity.

"I haven't been this bored since Ravi told us about his summer at math camp." Zuri says.

"We got to play Capture the Fraction!" Ravi says excitedly.

Luke and I roll our eyes as a soldier drives up in a B.A.T.

"Look, the B.A.T." Zuri says.

"Well, clearly fate has brought this to us." Luke says.

"No, no. It was that soldier." Ravi says, killing it. "Guys, Jessie specifically told us not to drive the B.A.T."

Buzzkill

"I don't remember that." Luke says.

"Well, she did write it on your arm." I say, rolling up his sleeve.

And there was Jessie's handwriting, saying, 'DON'T DRIVE THE B.A.T.'

"Oh yeah. But I'm sure she didn't mean it." Luke says as I drop his arm.

Ravi goes to his other arm, rolling up the other sleeve.

There was Jessie's handwriting again, saying, 'I REALLY MEAN IT!'

"Psh. Doesn't count. She knows I can't read." Luke says.

"Plus, you could've taken a bath." Zuri says.

We all burst into laughter.

"Yeah freaking right!" I say.

"Okay, but we're riding in this thing, I'm driving." I tell them.

They all nod, and they get in. Luke sits beside me in passenger, Ravi and Zuri in the back.

I put the keys in the ignition, and start to drive.

"Wow! This thingeven has a microwave oven!" Luke says.

I smile. "Yup. It has a toaster, snowcone machine, and I think it gives you popcorn too." I say.

Everyone looks at me with excitement.

"That's our tax dolloars hard at work." Ravi says.

"Zuri, you and Luke find popcorn. Ravi, keep a lookout. I'm going to make us some snowcones."

"I strongly suggest we refrain from touching anything." Ravi says.

Luke touches a button, and sprays a figure with purple sticky slime to a wall.

I look at Darla in shock.

"Did you not hear the word, refrain?!" Ravi shouts.

"I heard it, I just don't know what it means." Luke says.

Jessie walks up.

"Darla?! I told you kids to not go near that thing." Jessie says.

"No, you said not to drive it." Zuri says.

"Exhibit A." I say, holding up Luke's left arm.

Dad walks up with Colonel Shannon.

"Jessica! Hailia!" He shouts.

He never uses our names unless he really was mad.

"Oh, my stars and stripes, Dar-Dar, is that you?" Colonel Shannon babies her daughter.

"Yes, mommy, look what those disgusting things did to me!" Darla whines.

"Oh, dear, you look like one of those aleins from Area 51. Which completely does not exist. If anyone dares tk mention this conversation, there will be a probing in your future." She covers up.

"Dad, I know what you're thinking, but any time there's trouble, Darla is the one tnat starts it." Jessie says, trying in blind hope to not let me get into trouble.

"So did she start this?" Dad asks.

"Okay, this may be a bad example." Jessie says.

"I asked you both to try to get along with Darla, but instead you attack her with experimental weaponry?" Dad points to me.

I climb out of the vehicle.

"Why do you care so, so much if we get along with Darla? I mean, you used to be this loving, caring father for me and Jessie, but now, you're calling me weak, just because she's the one that tried to get me to commit suicide?! No father would do that to their kids, and therefore, you are not and never will be my father." I say.

"Hailee's right! After this trip, we'll never have to see her again!" Jessie says.

"Oh, yes you both will, because you two, Darla, and Caleb will all be siblings!" Dad yells.

"What?!" I shout in stereo with Jessie and Darla.

"That's right, girls. My armored heart has been captured by this uniformed yum-yum." Colonel Shannon says.

Then, all of a sudden, they kiss each other in front of everybody!

I gag, and then choke.

"