The hot summer sun bore down on my fair-light skin. I could hear my two best friends' footsteps through the dead grass below. It hasn't rained in almost a month and the vegetation has been dying around the farm.
"Carrie! Where are you?!"
"Come on! We've been lookin' for the past hour!"
"Yeah, we get it! You're the best, we won't tease ya anymore!"
I spot two young boys directly below me, leaning against the tree's trunk. Now's my chance. I hop off the limb I was sitting on and land next to them.
"AHH!" They both yelled. I look up and met two pairs of eyes; one pair was a chocolate brown while the other was a deep forest green.
"Ha! By the way y'all screamed you would think I'd been playin' with girls my own age!" I teased. Rafe and Danny both rolled their eyes at my snarky comment.
"You know that neither of us can climb trees so that hiding spot isn't exactly allowed." Rafe crossed his arms as I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, Rafe." I remarked. I stood in a pair of worn down overalls that belonged to my older brother. He died after an accident in the city when he went to study. I have my blonde hair pulled back into a messy braid, and I covered in dirt from head to toe. My mother would highly disapprove.
"Hey, do y'all hear that?" Danny asked in his southern drawl that sounded a bit deeper than mine. My bright blue eyes grew wide as I recognized the sound. My daddy's plane. I glanced at Rafe and Danny before I took off into a sprint. I must admit, I was never the fastest out of the three of us, but I would take my chances if it allowed me to be pilot for a day instead of Rafe or Danny. When I arrived at my daddy's old crop duster, my daddy was nowhere in sight. Perfect. I could hear Danny and Rafe running towards me. I quickly hopped in the front seat of the old bi-plane. I could hear disgruntled comments coming from both Rafe and Danny.
"Hey, scoot to the back," Rafe stated. I simply shook my head and crossed my arms as all 8-year-olds do.
"Carrie, move. I'm older so I get to be pilot." H exclaimed.
"No! I was here first, plus it's my plane!" I retorted.
"It's actually your Daddy's plane." Danny chimed in from the co-pilot seat. I gave him a murderous look. He immediately sunk back down into his seat. I knew if I stayed in the pilot's seat we wouldn't be able to play for the rest of the day, so I reluctantly stood up and sat with Danny in the co-pilot seat. Rafe took his place in the front.
"Strap in everyone! Those Germans are gaining on us!" He yelled. Danny and I began making flying noises and pressed random buttons. All-of-a-sudden the plane's engine started. Someone, probably Rafe, must've accidentally hit the wrong button. I shrieked as the plane began to move forward.
"Danny! Rafe! Do something!" I yelled. Suddenly the plane's wheels began to rise off the ground and my stomach dropped. But as quickly as the plane rose, it fell back onto the ground. The plane slowly skidded to a stop. I quickly jumped out of the plane with Danny and Rafe. Rafe and Danny were both cheering about flying a plane. I, however, felt a large lump form in my throat. We could've gotten ourselves killed, or if my dad finds out I won't be able to play with Danny or Rafe anymore.
"Hey!" I yell to get their attention. They both turn towards me with excitement plastered all over their faces.
"Do you guys not understand that if our parents find out we'll get in so much trouble," I state. I saw the smiles slowly fade from their faces. Their eyes also began to grow wide. I turned around to see Danny's daddy storming towards us through the field.
"What did I tell you boy, 'bout playin' near em' planes?!" He yells. I saw Danny take a few steps back as his daddy approached closer and closer. I could tell that Mr. Walker had been drinkin' and had a very short temper, so I stepped in between him and the boys.
"Mr. Walker, we was just playin' and the plane accidentally started." I tried to explain.
"Get out of my way, little girl." He grunts through gritted teeth. I stared back at him with defiance, but inside I was terrified. I have never liked Mr. Walker, neither did my daddy. He was always hittin' Danny and gettin' drunk.
"No." I retorted in an unwavering voice. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see both Danny and Rafe staring at me with wide eyes. Mr. Walker grabbed me by my braid and threw me to the ground.
"Carrie!" I heard both Danny and Rafe yell. I tried to pick my head up, but I was too dizzy. I heard a loud slap and I knew Danny's daddy had hit him. I don't know what I was thinkin', but I stood up and ran towards Danny's daddy and attempted to push him off Danny. I realized that was a mistake when Mr. Walker turned around and backhanded me across the face. Suddenly, I heard a sickening thump and looked up to see Rafe with a long wooden plank in his hands. He must've hit Mr. Walker with it.
"Get off of them you dirty German!" Rafe yelled. Mr. Walker paused and looked up from the ground at Rafe. His face was contorted with pain.
"I fought against them Germans back in the war. I have seen things that you kids can't even imagine." He cried. He then stood up and marched off back across the field. Danny ran over to me.
"Are you okay?" He quickly asked. After I nodded my head, he called and ran off after his daddy. I stood up and looked at Rafe, who had finally dropped the piece of wood.
"I think we should each head on home," I mumbled before I started walking on the dirt road, towards my house.
8 years later
I sit on my old front porch swing readin' one of my favorite books. The sun is startin' to set behind the trees, creatin' and afternoon golden glow. I hear two pairs of heavy footsteps walkin' up to my porch steps. I glance up from my book to meet two familiar faces.
"Hey, what are y'all doin' here?" I ask smiling. Danny and Rafe both wore nervous grins. Danny scratched the back of his neck before sayin',
"Do you wanna tell her?"
"Tell me what?" I ask, startin' to get worried. Rafe looked at Danny and then back at me.
"You know how me and Danny have always been wantin' to be pilots?" Rafe questions timidly. I roll my eyes.
"Of course. That's all y'all have ever talked about for the past 16 years I've known y'all. Hell, when we were little we were always playin' pilots." I giggled. However, my smile quickly began to fade from my face as the boys gave me a pained look.
"Hold on, are-are y'all leaving?" I asked. They both looked down and that gave me my answer.
"Look, Carol, we wanted to tell you sooner, but we didn't know how," Rafe argued. I stood up, with my book, and stared at the both of them.
"I don't want to hear it," I stated rather coldly. "I knew it would only be a matter of time before you both made this decision. When do you leave?" Rafe was the only one that met my eyes.
"Tonight around six," Rafe responded guiltily. I shrugged my shoulders and took a deep breath.
"Well, I hope the both of ya are actually smart enough to pass your exams." I joked. "Don't forget to write and don't do anything stupid, y'all hear?" I warned as I hugged both of them. Danny's posture was a bit stiff. He must've been surprised by my reaction.
"So-so you ain't mad?" Danny asked unsurely. I just giggled.
"Of course not. I knew this day was comin'." I said. Danny looked relieved.
"Can y'all just do me one last favor?" I asked. They both nodded as I continued. "Try not to kill each other during training. Y'all tend to do some of the dumbest shit when I ain't around."
