by Erika Peterson (Stoic~Camera~Cornerstone)
“I cannot wait for summer to start, and then we can REALLY have fun.” Marcia said with the eyes of a child on Christmas morning. Elaine looked at her friend two seats down next to her in the classroom. She knew what Marcia was really excited for: sleeping in late, and having slumber parties and sneaking out of the house. Maybe they could finally gain some independence when she goes for her driver’s test next week. How many adventures could they get themselves into? she thought.
Elaine was interrupted form her daydream as the last bell of the school year rang. Screaming and yelling ensued from the students of Sky view high, and the class of 1968 were officially seniors. “Oh my god Elaine, we are officially seniors….can you believe?” Marcia said as she unloaded the contents of her locker into a plastic bag. “Well technically, we are not seniors until September but yes I’m stoked nonetheless.” Elaine exclaimed as she gave a playful tap on Marcia’s shoulder. “Why you have to be such a sourpuss sometimes huh?” Marcia said as she gave Elaine a mock angry look. Elaine just stuck her tongue out to her friend as she walked down the hall and into her brother’s classroom. She stopped just inside the doorway and starred inside. She watched as her brother John was cleaning away and singing to Spooky as if no one in the world existed.
“Ahem….you do realize the last bell of the year rang right?” Elaine said. John swung around so hard that he nearly knocked over a camera sitting on a table in the process. “Oh….I hadn’t realized anybody was still here.” John said as the blood was rushing to his cheeks. “Well, at least the song was jammin….your singing not so much.” Elaine said as she walked into the classroom. “Thanks sis for your everlasting encouragement that means so much.” “Oh shut up you… let’s get out of here you nerd, what the heck are you doing cleaning anyway?” Elaine exclaimed pushing John out the door. “I was just being nice since it’s my senior year and all.” John said with a certain smirk on his face. And no sooner had Elaine pushed her brother out the door, she saw the reasoning behind John’s good deeds, a certain raven haired beauty appeared from the back office. Elaine rolled her eyes as she and John walked down the hall towards Marcia’s locker.
“ Come on girl, you got to be done already cleaning that thing….there’s some fun to be had tonight!.” “I was done as soon as you guys walked up.” Marcia said slowly getting up and giving John a once over. Elaine always knew her best friend had a crush on John. “Oh brother” exclaimed Elaine as all three walked out the door to John’s car.
As the three of them drove the avenue, they began getting excited at all the parties, sleepovers, and the three months of freedom ahead. “I’m definitely thinking we should all make an appearance to Boggs’s big end of school year party.” Marcia said as she played with her long hair and smacked her gum. “That’s so lame” John said. “I think all the chicks are going to be high school girls anyway.” “ Excuuuuuse me, we wouldn’t want you to go to a party with us lonely high school girls anyway.” Elaine said. “Besides, going to a party with my brother I think is even more lame.” “If you say so;” John said. Elaine loved her brother with the kind of love that only close family members experienced. He had always been her best friend and even though he could be a pest sometimes, she wouldn’t trade him for the world. “I bet mom will have a big graduation party after the ceremony this Saturday.” Elaine said with wide saucer like eyes. “ ooo am I invited too? “ Marcia chirped from the backseat. “Of course you are” John said giving Marcia a wink. Elaine glanced in the rearview mirror and saw that Marcia had turned beat red. Elaine just shook her head as they approached Marcia’s house. As Marcia was getting out of the car, Elaine noticed that she hardly looked up from the ground. “See you tonight at the drive in?” Elaine asked to Marcia’s back. “Yeah uh sure” Marcia yelled back. “call me”
As John and Elaine drove up to their house, they noticed several cars parked outside. As they got out of the car and into the house, they saw their grandparents and parents sitting down in the living room. Their grandparents having that stoic look upon their faces. Elaine saw that her mother had been crying. “Ok, what’s wrong here” John asked. Elaine sat down at the table knowing something was very wrong. Upon hearing John’s words, his mother burst into tears and buried her head into her hands, his grandmother squeezed his grandfather’s hand tighter. John’s dad walked over to him and handed him an envelope. Elaine led out a loud gasp as she recognized the coloring of the envelope belonging to the war department.
“You’ve been drafted, you report at 8am on Saturday.” John’s dad said softly. And in that moment, Elaine knew that her world would reach a cornerstone to which all she wanted to do all summer was wish for her brothers safe return.
“I cannot wait for summer to start, and then we can REALLY have fun.” Marcia said with the eyes of a child on Christmas morning. Elaine looked at her friend two seats down next to her in the classroom. She knew what Marcia was really excited for: sleeping in late, and having slumber parties and sneaking out of the house. Maybe they could finally gain some independence when she goes for her driver’s test next week. How many adventures could they get themselves into? she thought.
Elaine was interrupted form her daydream as the last bell of the school year rang. Screaming and yelling ensued from the students of Sky view high, and the class of 1968 were officially seniors. “Oh my god Elaine, we are officially seniors….can you believe?” Marcia said as she unloaded the contents of her locker into a plastic bag. “Well technically, we are not seniors until September but yes I’m stoked nonetheless.” Elaine exclaimed as she gave a playful tap on Marcia’s shoulder. “Why you have to be such a sourpuss sometimes huh?” Marcia said as she gave Elaine a mock angry look. Elaine just stuck her tongue out to her friend as she walked down the hall and into her brother’s classroom. She stopped just inside the doorway and starred inside. She watched as her brother John was cleaning away and singing to Spooky as if no one in the world existed.
“Ahem….you do realize the last bell of the year rang right?” Elaine said. John swung around so hard that he nearly knocked over a camera sitting on a table in the process. “Oh….I hadn’t realized anybody was still here.” John said as the blood was rushing to his cheeks. “Well, at least the song was jammin….your singing not so much.” Elaine said as she walked into the classroom. “Thanks sis for your everlasting encouragement that means so much.” “Oh shut up you… let’s get out of here you nerd, what the heck are you doing cleaning anyway?” Elaine exclaimed pushing John out the door. “I was just being nice since it’s my senior year and all.” John said with a certain smirk on his face. And no sooner had Elaine pushed her brother out the door, she saw the reasoning behind John’s good deeds, a certain raven haired beauty appeared from the back office. Elaine rolled her eyes as she and John walked down the hall towards Marcia’s locker.
“ Come on girl, you got to be done already cleaning that thing….there’s some fun to be had tonight!.” “I was done as soon as you guys walked up.” Marcia said slowly getting up and giving John a once over. Elaine always knew her best friend had a crush on John. “Oh brother” exclaimed Elaine as all three walked out the door to John’s car.
As the three of them drove the avenue, they began getting excited at all the parties, sleepovers, and the three months of freedom ahead. “I’m definitely thinking we should all make an appearance to Boggs’s big end of school year party.” Marcia said as she played with her long hair and smacked her gum. “That’s so lame” John said. “I think all the chicks are going to be high school girls anyway.” “ Excuuuuuse me, we wouldn’t want you to go to a party with us lonely high school girls anyway.” Elaine said. “Besides, going to a party with my brother I think is even more lame.” “If you say so;” John said. Elaine loved her brother with the kind of love that only close family members experienced. He had always been her best friend and even though he could be a pest sometimes, she wouldn’t trade him for the world. “I bet mom will have a big graduation party after the ceremony this Saturday.” Elaine said with wide saucer like eyes. “ ooo am I invited too? “ Marcia chirped from the backseat. “Of course you are” John said giving Marcia a wink. Elaine glanced in the rearview mirror and saw that Marcia had turned beat red. Elaine just shook her head as they approached Marcia’s house. As Marcia was getting out of the car, Elaine noticed that she hardly looked up from the ground. “See you tonight at the drive in?” Elaine asked to Marcia’s back. “Yeah uh sure” Marcia yelled back. “call me”
As John and Elaine drove up to their house, they noticed several cars parked outside. As they got out of the car and into the house, they saw their grandparents and parents sitting down in the living room. Their grandparents having that stoic look upon their faces. Elaine saw that her mother had been crying. “Ok, what’s wrong here” John asked. Elaine sat down at the table knowing something was very wrong. Upon hearing John’s words, his mother burst into tears and buried her head into her hands, his grandmother squeezed his grandfather’s hand tighter. John’s dad walked over to him and handed him an envelope. Elaine led out a loud gasp as she recognized the coloring of the envelope belonging to the war department.
“You’ve been drafted, you report at 8am on Saturday.” John’s dad said softly. And in that moment, Elaine knew that her world would reach a cornerstone to which all she wanted to do all summer was wish for her brothers safe return.