heading for archery. When we entered the
field, the first thing I noticed was a group of students huddled together. The
field was right between two school buildings; one containing the fifth and
sixth graders, and the other containing the seventh and eighth graders.
Apparently archery was for all middle school students, because it was mostly
seventh and eighth graders in this particular cluster. Dad had warned me about
older kids in large numbers.
The teacher only had to show us how to do it once.
Hail was very athletic and was able to fire the arrow like a pro from the very
first time. I had trouble pulling the string back. I was small for a fifth
grader and the bow was large, but I was determined to be at the top of the
class, right under Hail. If I couldn’t do it their way, I would do it mine.
With magic guiding my fingers, I aimed the arrow and released the string.
The teacher was impressed, but Hail had expected my
success. I couldn’t see myself being an archer, but Hail really liked it and I
was happy to have a class together. Even better was the fact that Drake was in
class with us. When we saw him sitting over on the benches by himself, I went
to sit with him. Hail nodded to me in acknowledgment.
“Hi, Drake, are you feeling better?” I took his hand
gently and let my magic heal just a little bit of the bad energy.
“Yeah. It’s been a good day.”
“Why aren’t you using the bow? Did nobody give you a
turn?”
“I’m still not better from chemo. I can’t pull the
string enough.”
“Then why did you take archery?”
“Because I used to love it and it’s better than P.E.
But now I can’t do it,” he said. He wasn’t crying, but sadness came off him in
waves, so I hugged him.
“It’ll get better now. Hail and I will help you get
better. And if anyone bothers you, Hail will kick their butt. He’s a great big
brother.” When class was over, Stacy picked us up and brought us back to her
apartment.
Mom was supposed to be home right after school… but
she wasn’t. Dad was supposed to be home by six… but he wasn’t. Drake’s dad
didn’t come home either, but he called home and said there had been a major
accident and it would be hours before anyone got off. I helped Stacy cook
dinner as Hail helped Drake with his homework.
We had spaghetti in front of the T.V. and saw on the
news that there had been a major car pileup involving two semi-trucks and many
cars. Stacy switched it over to cartoons and said we shouldn’t worry about it.
Hail and I did worry, though. Dad tried to save people using medicine, but
sometimes it wasn’t enough and he had to resort to magic. That usually damaged
any nearby electrical equipment. Not only that, but Dad felt the pain of those
he healed with magic, so he would be exhausted, hurting, and frustrated by the
time he made it home.
When nobody was home by bedtime, we had a sleepover.
Drake, Hail, and I built a little fort in the living room and told ghost stories
before bed. Hail and I told Drake the story of a demon hunting a little baby
and a brave hero who saved him with magic. We didn’t tell him it was a true
story.
* * *
Mordon woke us early in the morning and took us home,
where Dad was asleep and Mom looked exhausted. Our morning was typical and too
short. Having a structured day was no fun at all. I loved not knowing what
would happen next, who I would meet, or what enemies I would face. Instead, we
went to school, where I found myself being forced to run in shorts that were
way too big. Since Dad didn’t come home in time to get me some shorts, I was
wearing a pair Hail had outgrown, but they were big enough to fit two of me in.
By the end of class, I was sweaty and angry with the
coach. Apparently, he didn’t get the hint with my harmless little jinx, so my
mercy was at an all-time low. I always loved the story of Pinocchio. Until I
deemed him thoroughly punished, the P.E. teacher would find his
field, the first thing I noticed was a group of students huddled together. The
field was right between two school buildings; one containing the fifth and
sixth graders, and the other containing the seventh and eighth graders.
Apparently archery was for all middle school students, because it was mostly
seventh and eighth graders in this particular cluster. Dad had warned me about
older kids in large numbers.
The teacher only had to show us how to do it once.
Hail was very athletic and was able to fire the arrow like a pro from the very
first time. I had trouble pulling the string back. I was small for a fifth
grader and the bow was large, but I was determined to be at the top of the
class, right under Hail. If I couldn’t do it their way, I would do it mine.
With magic guiding my fingers, I aimed the arrow and released the string.
The teacher was impressed, but Hail had expected my
success. I couldn’t see myself being an archer, but Hail really liked it and I
was happy to have a class together. Even better was the fact that Drake was in
class with us. When we saw him sitting over on the benches by himself, I went
to sit with him. Hail nodded to me in acknowledgment.
“Hi, Drake, are you feeling better?” I took his hand
gently and let my magic heal just a little bit of the bad energy.
“Yeah. It’s been a good day.”
“Why aren’t you using the bow? Did nobody give you a
turn?”
“I’m still not better from chemo. I can’t pull the
string enough.”
“Then why did you take archery?”
“Because I used to love it and it’s better than P.E.
But now I can’t do it,” he said. He wasn’t crying, but sadness came off him in
waves, so I hugged him.
“It’ll get better now. Hail and I will help you get
better. And if anyone bothers you, Hail will kick their butt. He’s a great big
brother.” When class was over, Stacy picked us up and brought us back to her
apartment.
Mom was supposed to be home right after school… but
she wasn’t. Dad was supposed to be home by six… but he wasn’t. Drake’s dad
didn’t come home either, but he called home and said there had been a major
accident and it would be hours before anyone got off. I helped Stacy cook
dinner as Hail helped Drake with his homework.
We had spaghetti in front of the T.V. and saw on the
news that there had been a major car pileup involving two semi-trucks and many
cars. Stacy switched it over to cartoons and said we shouldn’t worry about it.
Hail and I did worry, though. Dad tried to save people using medicine, but
sometimes it wasn’t enough and he had to resort to magic. That usually damaged
any nearby electrical equipment. Not only that, but Dad felt the pain of those
he healed with magic, so he would be exhausted, hurting, and frustrated by the
time he made it home.
When nobody was home by bedtime, we had a sleepover.
Drake, Hail, and I built a little fort in the living room and told ghost stories
before bed. Hail and I told Drake the story of a demon hunting a little baby
and a brave hero who saved him with magic. We didn’t tell him it was a true
story.
* * *
Mordon woke us early in the morning and took us home,
where Dad was asleep and Mom looked exhausted. Our morning was typical and too
short. Having a structured day was no fun at all. I loved not knowing what
would happen next, who I would meet, or what enemies I would face. Instead, we
went to school, where I found myself being forced to run in shorts that were
way too big. Since Dad didn’t come home in time to get me some shorts, I was
wearing a pair Hail had outgrown, but they were big enough to fit two of me in.
By the end of class, I was sweaty and angry with the
coach. Apparently, he didn’t get the hint with my harmless little jinx, so my
mercy was at an all-time low. I always loved the story of Pinocchio. Until I
deemed him thoroughly punished, the P.E. teacher would find his
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