The Dirt Clod Wars: M-Day

My parents told me never to talk about what had happened in the last town we lived in. The Battle of Starlight Ridge was one I would never forget. 

Moving day had finally arrived for the Morris family. Hawk Morris had been dreading this day since the beginning of summer. All of his friends, family, and even school, everything he known and grown up with, would soon be gone forever. Forever. His parents had said that the move had nothing to do with Hawk, but Hawk knew better; the whole town of Evansdale knew better. 

The Battle of Starlight Ridge continued to be one of the most talked about events in Evansdale. Ladies at the local beauty salon whispered in horror over the damage that had taken place; men at the local barber shop shook their heads in disbelief that something so exciting had happened in their town and yet they had not been apart of it. The battle had taken place a few months before school let out for the summer. Joey Higgins, resident Evansdale Elementary bully and Hawk’s next door neighbor, had pushed Hawk for the last time.

“Hawk, we need your help downstairs,” yelled Hawk’s father.

“Coming!”

Hawk took a quick look around his room, noting that everything had been packed except for a photo that sat where his nightstand used to be. Wiping away the dust, Hawk smiled as he looked at his combat unit in their full fatigues. never in his life did Hawk imagine that he would have to move away from his friends. He couldn’t imagine life without them.

“Hawk!”

“Coming!”

Commander Morris, Hawk’s father, was an Air Force pilot that always demanded punctuality. Hawk knew that if he had to be called a second time, he would be scrubbing oil off the driveway until sun up. No joke. Hawk placed the photo of his friends, his comrades in arms, into the last open packing box and headed down stairs into the entryway.

“What do you need, Dad?”

“There you are,” Commander Morris huffed as he carried a loaded box out the front door. “Why don’t you grab one of the boxes stacked in the living room and give me a hand loading up.”

“Yes, sir.”

The living room was a forest of boxes filled to the brim. Last week it had looked like a normal living room, couch on one side and television on the other. Hawk had had his friends over last week for a farewell party. Well, he had had the friends over that would still speak with him.

“Hawk?”

Hawk’s mother, a dental hygienist by day, poked her head over one of the boxes and stared down at him, “You helping your Dad?”

“Yes, mom.” Hawk stared at the ceiling for a moment. “Do we really have to do this?”

“Do what honey?”

“Move.”

Rustling around a stack of boxes, Hawk’s mom navigated around the room to him. She hugged him tight.

“Sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do. Your father has received orders that he is to be re-stationed near the coast. Our moving is a step up for your Dad and has nothing to do what happened. Do you understand?”

“Yes ma’am…and no. I just don’t want to leave Tommy, Scott, Cory and Andrea. They’re my friends.”

“Hawk, I thought you were going to help me?”

Commander Morris had come back in from the yard and had been standing there for a few moments.

“Everything okay?”

Hawk’s Mom gave him another hug, “Everything is fine.”

Hawk quietly grabbed a box and headed out the front door. 

“What did you tell him,” the Commander whispered.

“I told him what he needed to hear.”

“You sound so cold hearted my dear,” the Commander chuckled, “He is our son after all.”

Felicia Morris smiled at her husband, “I should probably get back to work.”

Walking up the moving trucks ramp, Hawk noticed that Cory was out riding his bicycle. 

“Hey Cory, you allowed to talk with me?”

Cory silently shook his head no, popped a wheelie, and took off down the street to his house. Fears of moving and loneliness swept over Hawk, he sat down on the truck’s ramp and buried his head in his hands. 

“You okay, chief?”

The Commander placed his hand on Hawk’s shoulder. “I noticed that Cory didn’t say hi to you. Guess his parents are still a bit unhappy over what happened.”

Hawk shook his head.

“No reason to cry son, you did win the battle after all.”

“I know but everything is changing now because of it.”

“Hawk, your Mom and I have told you over and over that our moving has nothing to do with you. I received orders that I have to follow.”

“You could have said no.”

The Commander sat down next to Hawk.

“I’m just a fighter pilot son, I do as I’m told. We, our family, has to move. Orders are orders whether you like them or not. I’m sorry.”  

“It’s okay, dad.”

“I am sure there will be lots of kids your age where we are moving.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

He doesn’t know that, Hawk thought. He just doesn’t know.