Time Lapse!

4- Eagle 004

Rivergrove Military Academy - June 17th, 1957

This is the end.

Anytime now blood would come out of my body instead of sweat.... 89, 90... Despair and horror filled my heart and mind. My muscles ached and my soul was ready to leave this body victim of inhumane torture... 94, 95... There was nothing left to do, no one to cry for help; I was destined to cry myself to fitness... 99, oh Lord... I was going to die. I was going to die, and no one would even care, I'm sure Kendrick fed all the fallen men to their dog Pipsqueak, his dobberman... 103, 104... Pain is good, they said. If I really do die, I hope God gives me he chance to pull some pranks of Coronel Kenrick, oh yeah... 110... He'll wonder who on Earth put laxatives into his daily glass of milk and who was the mastermind that--

The whistle of glory.

Just by blowing that whistle, Coronel Kendrick had freed me and a hundred other boys from Military Workout. We were free, at least until 6 o'clock at night. I collapsed on the floor, my body desperately trying to recover from the horror I had just faced. Wiping some sweat off my forehead, I looked around, relieved to see I wasn't the only one on the verge of total organ failure. I closed my eyes and forced myself to sit up; my back and torso still hurt from yesterday's workout. My entire existence was telling me to stay there, but I didn't listen. If there's one good thing about being in Rivergrove, is the food, And lunch was coming right up.

"Don't worry, man. I've been here since sophomore year and it still hurt from every now n' then." Sean told me while offering his hand to me. I gladly took it and we started walking to the cafeteria.

"What did you even do to make your mother think it was necessary to put you here for three years?" I asked, genuinely curious.

Sean chuckled and scratched his neck. "Nothing serious. I is the 4th child of the family, Mamma really like making babies; I got 6 siblings. It was a tough decision for her, but Pappa's locked up and I always was the "good" kid. One of my older brothers also joined my Pappa, and another's real close to join 'em; so I think Mamma's trying to preserve the kindess in me."

"I see... What about your other 3 siblings?"

"They're girls. Mamma's gotta teach 'em how to be wonderful ladies." Sean said this with a hint of humour and rolled his eyes.

We entered the cafeteria and instantly the smell of meatloaf uppercutted my nostrils. Sweet baby Jesus. "But Sean... Wasn't there any other way? I mean, Military School is pretty radical." I mused.

"Lucas, there ain't much a colored folk can do these days. My family's got it pretty good in comparisson, you see? I guess I could've tried for a job, but almost nobody wanna give us one unless it's for the slave position." Sean answered with an understnding smile, which made me wonder how many times he'd thought about this.

"And school? There have been mixed schools since 1954." I stated, and Sean scoffed.

"You think a mixed school would offer a seat to a children whose Pappa is locked up for attacking a white folk? Military school is as good as it gets for me, Lucas. Here, take a tray." Sean said, handing me a tray and forming a line, waiting for the food to be served for us.

"You told me yout father didn't do anything wrong." I said, cocking my head to the side.

"He didn't do no wrong. The white folk was the one who grabbed his satchel first, then Pappa defended hisself. That's all he did, defend hisself. He had no idea it was forbidden for colored folks to defend themselves as well." Sean said quietly, shaking his head sightly. That was my queue to stop pushing the topic.