H.E. Mantel

SUNDAY

“Hi, Jennifer, you
look nice.” “Thanks.” “Where ya goin’?”
“Nowhere.” “Oh…then, umm,

why’re ya…? “Church.” “But,
you said…” “I know, I like, I…
putting-on these clothes,

like I used to when…”
“Uh, hey It’s Sunday & there’s
no School tomorrow,

also…so wanna
come over, I got Madden
09, & Xbox

360 O’lite,
an’…?” “Billy, do you ever
Pray?” “Sure, sometimes, when

I want stuff to, umm,
happen, ya know?” “Thanks, Billy,
maybe we can play

later, I have to
go, now.” “Umm, O.K., Jen, then…”
“We can play, later.”

©Copyright October 12, 2008 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.