BLESS YOU
A few of us saw the dust cloud and covered our noses. The others didn’t have a chance. We were packed in behind the bookcase and the General opening the front door caused the dust storm to rush in. When I saw Bobby’s body contort, I knew what was coming. I grabbed his face from behind and covered his nose and mouth with my hand. I used my other arm to pin him to my chest. I was trying to tell him, physically, that there had never been a worse time to sneeze. Bobby understood because he threw both of his hands over mine, which was covering his nose and mouth. He clamped down and together we silenced his sneeze, but the force of it caused the bookcase to rattle. We were about to be found out.
I retracted my hand from Bobby’s nose and wiped whatever mucus might’ve been deposited there on my coat. I stood up just as the General rounded the corner and right as Bobby unleashed a second sneeze. It was stronger than the first and it startled us all. The General took in the 30 children cowering behind me. I was speechless, trying to figure out my next move, but the General spoke first and made the decision for me.
“We’ve got a whole battalion of future soldiers in here,” he called out to his underlings gathering in the front room.
“You won’t take these children,” I countered, making the hand signal I had practiced with the little ‘uns a thousand times before.
The children stood up in waves like a bleacher full of football fans celebrating their winning goal. Each line unleashed the poison darts they had hidden in their smocks. I watched with satisfaction as at least a dozen hit their marks, meaning, the General’s face and chest. I gave the children the “hold” signal just as the General hit the floor.
His underlings rounded the corner when they heard the General land with a “thump”. I gave the children the signal and a storm of darts hit the men’s shocked faces. They went down too, all of ‘em, until there was only one left.
The last soldier was smarter. He lowered the shield on his helmet before he approached. Through his mask, I could see that it was Lee, Class of 3042. He stopped and lifted his arms to indicate “no more”. I gave the children the “hold” signal once again. When the darts were silent, Lee removed his mask. The children gasped. They knew right away they were seeing one of their own by the small shock of gray hair that fell over Lee’s forehead. It was the same as the spots they had growing near their foreheads.
Lee took a step forward and so did I. We both stopped there and took one another in. In a look, the time faded between us and Lee moved to embrace me. I stepped forward to meet him, arms open wide. At the last second, I lodged the poison dart into his heart. Lee closed his eyes and we both fell to the ground in a heap. The children rejoiced. It was only I who understood the depths of what I had done.