Issue 6: My Agony

Chapter 17: Defending Yordleland

Winston drives as I sit in the backseat with Jacob and my sister out the window. Poor Ashley always gets the middle it's not fair to her but they want her to because she's small. The hills of summer straw, blue fescue, pines, sycamores, willows, and eucalyptus quickly fade away behind us.

Maddie looks out too sighing, "We lost so many trees, to wildfires, bugs, funguses, and people cutting them down. There has to be a way of restoring the trees, there just has to be."

Winston smiles, "Luckily for you I made robots that would help with that. I didn't bring them with me though, sorry." His voice lowered and softened on the last sentence.

Maddie then says, "I mean we get lots of pretty snow but then it melts and we get mudslides. We're used to those but everything changed too much and everyone says it's been worse than ever."

Carlos stands up posing like Drake's Hotline Bling meme, "The forces of evil destroying literally everything!"

Then he poses like the bottom part of it, smiling and pointing at us, "Saving the world."

We all laugh together.

Oh, he's not done? "Parents stupid rules?"

"Hanging out with friends."

Oh my gosh Carlos always knows how to lighten the mood.

Jacob then says, "Yeah it's like grownups always talk about how smart and pretty and wonderful we are yet they always question us."

Shauna takes a sip of water. "But they just want what's best for us."

I tell her, "Oh please some adults will say no one asked for your opinion as if that means anything. If you waited to be asked then you can't ever say anything."

Ashley looks at Maddie, "Wow you slay queen! Love how you contoured your eyebrows."

"Why thank you. I love how you coordinate."

Winston sighs warmly and tells me and Ashley," I remember when your uncle Gabe would bring everyone the best snacks. Oh the trouble him and his BFF Jack got into. There was this time Ana shot a rocket out of the sky and Gabe was so startled like oh my gosh I literally thought he was gonna die of a heart attack. And he was an elite soldier like anyone capable of beating him can be counted on one hand he was that talented. You've seen me in action haven't you?"

Me and Ashley nod, "Well yeah we were there for a lot of it."

Winston warmly giggles, I can see his wide warm smile from back here looking up. "Oh of course."

"Well anyway poor guy was breathing heavy like you wouldn't believe. After that he evacuated a daycare and the kids just adored him! One little boy was like I wanna be just like you someday Gabe. It was the sweetest thing ever. The wedding between Shanice and Gabe was one of Overwatch's finest moments. They agreed on a 10's theme for their music, playing classics from the 10's like Waterpark's Stupid for You, Taylor Swift's Shake it off, Ariana Grande's Break Free, BTS's IDOL, Sabrina Carpenter's Paris, JoJo Siwa's D.R.E.A.M..."

I'm usually sick of hearing about my uncle's wedding from like forever ago, and we've watched it so many times, but I'm still sad dad died.

Jacob sighs, slumping his shoulders. "I hope I'll make it back in time for my bar mitzvah. My parents will kill me if I miss it."

Abby tells him, "I hope your dad can make it, like when is there never a wildfire risk? And can't anyone take his place if he plans your bar mitzvah?"

Ashley and Maddie play with the Divinity Shadow doll. Maddie adjusts her dress while Ashley combs the doll's bright red hair. "Thanks for giving us new powers I can't wait to try them out!" She bounces up and down in her seat squinting and smiling, her white teeth almost blind us in this intense summer sunlight.