H.E. Mantel

ENTER AN END’S BEGINNING?

Boy, It’s the Summer
yip-yipee! Hey, hi-hi Jen!
Hi, Billy, where are

you going? Over
to the pool, wanna go with
me an’ the guys? Sure,

I gotta ask my mom
first, she’ll be home soon with our
package. Hmm? My dad sent to

us. Oh, I know, like
last time? No. A different
place, Afghanistan.

Afghan-i-where? Yes.
Mom says It’s a beautiful
gift from this place that

only looks ugly…
Oh, I know, a sewveneer!
It’s called a Prayer Rug.

©Copyright June 22, 2009 by H.E. Mantel

Author’s Note: Commissioned for “A Hero’s Journey”, an Anthology about the children of war and the interminable consequences that war has on their lives, compiled and edited by Erik Ekstrom.