War Zone

As I glanced up, suddenly I was face-to-face with the largest sunflower I had ever seen in my life. I let out a screech that started the neighborhood dogs barking. I must have jumped three feet in the air. That sunflower was frightening close up, inches from my face. I regained my composure and continued.

I felt a smile cross my face, now laughing out loud at myself for being so startled by a sunflower, but - this sunflower was immense. The way it drooped down over the fence and hung there so big. And scary! It kind of made my head swim, very much like when you first approach a naval shipyard; the sheer size of the ships is a bit overwhelming.

There it is again - the hissing, off in the distance – it was getting louder and louder. This time I did not stop walking. I flipped myself around and walked backwards to see what the sound was. I saw this tremendous, green camouflage military airplane flying very low. Oh! I giggled. Nothing to be frightened of, it’s just an airplane. The air force and army bases are nearby. I flipped myself back around and kept going. The hissing sound had turned into a roar. I stopped to take another look, this aircraft was right over me! It was so low – I felt the earth vibrating under my feet, the terror I felt as I noticed the plane stopped when I stopped. It was hovering! At a complete standstill! I refused to accept what I was seeing . . this couldn’t be real. I had to be seeing things. My heart began to pound hard and fast as the feeling of terror began to consumed my thoughts.

I couldn’t run fast enough regardless of my efforts. I felt like I was running in slow motion, my feet and legs felt heavy and bogged down. Beads of sweat poured from the top of my head, down my back and into my pant legs.

The faster I ran the faster the airplane went, although it never went past me. I’ve gotta find some sort of shelter, a place to hide. How does one hide from an airplane? I thought. I couldn’t believe it - airplanes do not hover in midair! Up ahead I saw several houses. “I can make it to those houses”. Oh, God, please don’t let it crash on me! I can make it!” I repeated. The airplane would surely pass over to wherever it’s supposed to go - it wasn’t really hovering—it couldn’t have been! Airplanes do not hover! It wasn’t following me, either—my imagination had gotten the better of me. Could I be hallucinating? Do airplanes hover, I repeated to myself. No, no - It couldn’t possibly be. Airplanes do not hover -- do they? Of course not!

My entire body was now sopping wet. I repeatedly wiped the sweat from my face and eyes, keeping clear vision of the homes ahead. Finally, I reached the front porch of the first house. I flung the door open, found the master bedroom and dove under the bed. The only sound I could hear at that moment was my breath and my heartbeat.

Shaking uncontrollably, I listened for the hiss until I could no longer hear it, it was gone. But was it? I was too afraid to come out from under the bed. I lay there quietly watching the light grow dim within the room. It seemed like I had just left the house a couple hours before. It was getting dark already. I’ve got to get home, I said to myself. My parents will worry. I’d get in trouble if I wasn’t home before dark, I had no way of investigating if it were safe to come out from under the bed, I had no way of knowing whether or not the airplane was still there, even though I did not hear any noise.

I inched my way out from under the bed. I crept along slowly as I made my way back to the front door. Stretching my arm out to close the door behind me, I felt something touch me. Paralyzed by fear, I couldn’t scream or move. I felt weak in the knees. Waves of shock jolted my already trembling body. I saw patches of darkness flash before my eyes, I couldn’t catch my breath, I was about to faint or die, just then I heard a familiar voice “Honey, wake up! If you don’t get up you’re going to be late for school.” I opened my eyes to find myself at home, in my room, in my own bed, no hissing, no hovering airplane. It was a bad dream.