Simon Skinner's Collection of Random Short Stories

Kamikaze

Thanksgiving. Wow, what a celebration it is. A holiday dedicated to the things we're all thankful for. First introduced by the Pilgrims and Wampanoag in 1621. Together, they ate for what they were thankful for. For them, it was their first successful harvest.... for us, it's good health, a roof over our heads, and a... uh... a safe country...

My grandfather constantly reminded my family and I every Veterans Day, "The men who thrive are the men who dive."

Now, he never explained to us of what that meant, it probably was some quote off some old movie, but I can't help but think of what someone once did for their country. Something that was the bravest thing anyone could do.

My best friend, Luke Gray Stringer, gave his life willingly on a Kamikaze mission. A mission that guarantees death... a brave suicide.

November 24, 2044, Luke and I were suiting up for our next attack. The nervousness we both were experiencing was unbearable, but we knew that if we wanted our country to stay safe, we needed every man in. Japan. After accidentally sending an atomic bomb to them when trying to aim for North Korea... yeah, I know. Sounds like whoever sent the bomb was blind, right? No. Whilst pressing the button to release the atomic bomb, the computer malfunctioned and sent a bomb to a random place we sent one before. Japan had no straws left on us bombing their country. We tried apologizing for our ignorance, but it was no use. May 28, 2038, Japan declared war on the United States of America.

You may be saying, "No-one stands a chance against the powerful leading country of the USA!" Well, we thought that too. But when Japan came in with surprising strategy and numbers, America was forced to give it all they got in the biggest war since World War II.

This next entree for my military journal is the date for our next battle. The sixth major battle from this devastating war...

The War that Ends it all.

November 24, 2044, after almost six years of constant fighting, America or Japan was about to take it home.

We took the risky move of using our whole military on this one battle. It was the only option left. If we lost this war, who knows what Japan would do to the land of the free and home of the brave.

As Luke loaded his grenades into his belt, I placed my hand on his shoulder. He turned around and looked at me with a smirk.

"What's up?" He asked.

"You know this could be the last day of our lives, right?" I asked.

"Of course. Why do you say?"

"Well, bro, we've been through a lot together. From the moment your dad lost his job and you had to move into a hotel in 6th grade, to the time my sister died last year. Luke, I want you to know that I am eternally grateful for all the stuff you helped me through. Without you, I'd probably be back at home working as a Walmart cashier."

He snorted.

"Paul, thank me when we get home."

"Luke, we can die."

"Yeah, but we can also live. You always want to look on the bright side. You've always been bad at that."

We both laughed.

That was probably the first time we shared a laugh in over a year... it felt comforting. That's when I decided that as long as I have Luke by my side, we can accomplish anything. Nothing can stop us.

"And besides," Luke added, "if even the smallest chance we die, just know, Paul.... just know you died for a purpose. You would of have died in the most graceful way possible. Now, come on. The battle is just about to begin."