War Torn

War Torn — page 3 — Well Miss Investigative Reporter Kevin shrugged He wasn’t much of a talker like Kelsey But Kelsey couldn’t afford to sit and get leftovers from Bettina There was too much at stake We need something serious Kelsey said I can do a news piece on Vietnam Like interview a veteran about the war and talk about peace protests and stuff She sat back pleased It would be the real core of the paper the most important part started Bettina but Matt cut her off That’s great Kelsey We need something big to get an A Which gosh knows I need I know Kelsey wanted to say And that’s exactly what I am doing here Matt Locatelli I am here to save you She knew Matt didn’t excel at history and she did She’d been waiting for this chance all semester She’d already imagined how it would be next year when they were in the same honors track Study buddies Check Heads together over the textbook Yes 8

War Torn — page 4 — Well if you can handle it Kelsey okay said Bettina As if she were the editor But it’s going to have to be good to beat Deborah’s team It’s not a competition said Julie weakly Mr Cole grades on the bell curve and you know it Julie said Bettina There’s only so many of us on the top She doesn’t even know what a bell curve is thought Kelsey The highest part of the curve was the middle They needed to be at the beginning in the low part where the few excellent students were The groups made plans and elected Julie secretary to keep track of everything They made a date to meet after school the next day at Bettina’s house After class Kelsey packed up her binder and folders tucking the notes she’d already started into the history section That was cute Kelsey getting into our group like that But don’t think I don’t know why You should know that Matt’s hanging out with me after school today We’ll probably 9

War Torn — page 5 — be going to the Fall Festival too Kelsey tried to appear indifferent She shrugged and turned away How could Bettina know her feelings for Matt But it stung More than once Kelsey had dreamed about going to the Fall Festival with Matt She imagined sitting on a hay bale with him eating cotton candy or showing off her skill at popping balloons with darts Last year she’d gone with girlfriends This year she wanted to go with a boy And not just any boy Matt Locatelli curly haired adorable boy There was no way Bettina was getting in the way of what she wanted Her mind was going full steam ahead as she went to the bus line after school Her dad sometimes played cards with his Korean War buddies at the VFW Hall on Clay Street She had been there a couple of times and knew the neighborhood Maybe some Vietnam Vets hang out there too she thought She walked across the street 10

War Torn — page 6 — and took the city bus to the VFW Hall The Veterans of Foreign War Hall was a narrow storefront sandwiched between a laundromat and a print shop She raised her hand to knock when a man walked up behind her pulled the door open and went in She slipped in behind him It was narrow and dark and took a minute to adjust her eyes A bar with stools was on the right side with a couple of men playing a loud dice game dice double sixes She felt she’d just barged into a private party for all conversation stopped Excuse me For what living There’s no excuse for that said a man leaning on a cane He smoked a cigarette with a long ash that chose Acey-Deucey said one of the men Second time Perez Time to check the No man I’ve just got the touch I call Hello Kelsey said 11

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