To the Sky- Day 7
Title: To the Sky
Rated: G
Genre: Drama
Words: 847
Summary: Arthur has some choice words about his little brother
Written for Day 7 for the usxuk Summer Camp event. July 7th: Aviation. Keep 'em flying! Aviation is the theme here. You are welcome to use planes, but you do not have to. ANY airborne device is okay- windsails, hot air balloons, blimps, etc. Just as long as aviation is somehow featured; whether it's aviation clothing they're wearing, or they're in a craft, or whatever.
"I remember a time when you were so young you imagined you were a plane. You zipped around with your arms out making those ridiculous noises. Most of the time you did so out in the front yard. Mum and dad watched you from the porch, Matt by their side, refusing to join in. I just laughed because I knew my little brother would one day be in the sky. When you were ten, dad began taking us all to air shows. You loved every single one. I was dragged from the old, war-worn planes to the sleek, modern planes. At every single exhibit you would read me the information. I didn't care, but I never told you. Matt slipped away because he found planes to be as boring as I did. Still, I remained and helped you with the harder words as you continued with overzealous enthusiasm.
"When the planes flew overhead, you sat in a stunned silence. Mum commented that it was the quietest you'd ever been. And some time during the performance you grabbed my hand. You were shaking. I smiled, patting your hand, and said that one day you'd be in the sky.
"It wasn't until you were sixteen that you began pilot training. Mum was scared, as was Matt, but he never told you. I had moved to Uni by then, but still you would call me every day to tell me your progress. I think dad was proud, but he could only be heard complaining about the amount of money it cost. I still can recall the first day you lifted off.
"After you had landed, you rushed into my arms. I laughed, patting your head even though you were taller than me by now. You only blabbered on about what it was like to be in the air. At one point, you stopped to stare up at the clouds. I looked back at you. You seemed older than me; wiser than I'd ever know. At that moment, you didn't seem like my little brother.
"A year later, you said you wanted to join the air force.
"The next year, you got glasses. You cried so hard. The air force doesn't take those with poor eyesight.
"You went to Uni in America, breaking mum's heart. Dad griped about the price, but let you go. You had your heart set on the sky still. Matt followed along only to keep an eye on you. I didn't cry when you left. I couldn't. I'd miss you, but you were my little brother. I'd see you again.
"We wrote e-mails. Kept in touch from time to time through snail mail. I always preferred the letters to the e-mails. The letters had your handwriting. It felt more personal. Sometimes you sent photographs, knowing I loved America's countryside. I posted every single one up around my work space once I graduated and started working in the job force.
"Seeing me in a business job, you once told me you'd never be in the same position. You couldn't stand to be stationary, doing the same thing every day. I believed you. Because I knew you were better than that. I never told you. I should have.
"Last year, you came home to visit. We went to the air show again. This time you could tell me every single plane and their history without reading the placards. You even said words I didn't know. You'd grown so much. I wanted to tell you I was happy. I wanted to tell you I love you. I didn't. I just sat and watched the planes with you.
"Last week, you were killed. In a plane crash. It had been too rough of weather. I remember hearing the phone call from Matt. I didn't believe him. Even when dad called I didn't believe it. It wasn't until I heard dad cry that I did. I cried.
"Al, I cried. I never cry. You know I don't. But I did. Because all your life you wanted to be in the sky, to fly. It's like you were obsessed with the thing that would eventually kill you. I was angry at first. Angry at God and at you. Angry that you had loved something so great that it took you so far away from us. Mad that you're my little brother of only twenty-three, and you died.
"But then I realized something. You're there, in the sky. Forever. And that's never something I could be mad about because it's where you always belonged. I told you, didn't I? When you were young. That'd you'd be in the sky.
"And there you'll always be."
Hoshiko2's cents: This is what happens when Hoshiko is in a rather sad mood. I wasn't even going to update today as I didn't have any idea what to do. It came to me less than an hour ago. I hope you liked it, even if it was amazingly sad. I apologize for such sadness in the middle of all this happiness. Tomorrow's will be better, I hope.
Rated: G
Genre: Drama
Words: 847
Summary: Arthur has some choice words about his little brother
Written for Day 7 for the usxuk Summer Camp event. July 7th: Aviation. Keep 'em flying! Aviation is the theme here. You are welcome to use planes, but you do not have to. ANY airborne device is okay- windsails, hot air balloons, blimps, etc. Just as long as aviation is somehow featured; whether it's aviation clothing they're wearing, or they're in a craft, or whatever.
"I remember a time when you were so young you imagined you were a plane. You zipped around with your arms out making those ridiculous noises. Most of the time you did so out in the front yard. Mum and dad watched you from the porch, Matt by their side, refusing to join in. I just laughed because I knew my little brother would one day be in the sky. When you were ten, dad began taking us all to air shows. You loved every single one. I was dragged from the old, war-worn planes to the sleek, modern planes. At every single exhibit you would read me the information. I didn't care, but I never told you. Matt slipped away because he found planes to be as boring as I did. Still, I remained and helped you with the harder words as you continued with overzealous enthusiasm.
"When the planes flew overhead, you sat in a stunned silence. Mum commented that it was the quietest you'd ever been. And some time during the performance you grabbed my hand. You were shaking. I smiled, patting your hand, and said that one day you'd be in the sky.
"It wasn't until you were sixteen that you began pilot training. Mum was scared, as was Matt, but he never told you. I had moved to Uni by then, but still you would call me every day to tell me your progress. I think dad was proud, but he could only be heard complaining about the amount of money it cost. I still can recall the first day you lifted off.
"After you had landed, you rushed into my arms. I laughed, patting your head even though you were taller than me by now. You only blabbered on about what it was like to be in the air. At one point, you stopped to stare up at the clouds. I looked back at you. You seemed older than me; wiser than I'd ever know. At that moment, you didn't seem like my little brother.
"A year later, you said you wanted to join the air force.
"The next year, you got glasses. You cried so hard. The air force doesn't take those with poor eyesight.
"You went to Uni in America, breaking mum's heart. Dad griped about the price, but let you go. You had your heart set on the sky still. Matt followed along only to keep an eye on you. I didn't cry when you left. I couldn't. I'd miss you, but you were my little brother. I'd see you again.
"We wrote e-mails. Kept in touch from time to time through snail mail. I always preferred the letters to the e-mails. The letters had your handwriting. It felt more personal. Sometimes you sent photographs, knowing I loved America's countryside. I posted every single one up around my work space once I graduated and started working in the job force.
"Seeing me in a business job, you once told me you'd never be in the same position. You couldn't stand to be stationary, doing the same thing every day. I believed you. Because I knew you were better than that. I never told you. I should have.
"Last year, you came home to visit. We went to the air show again. This time you could tell me every single plane and their history without reading the placards. You even said words I didn't know. You'd grown so much. I wanted to tell you I was happy. I wanted to tell you I love you. I didn't. I just sat and watched the planes with you.
"Last week, you were killed. In a plane crash. It had been too rough of weather. I remember hearing the phone call from Matt. I didn't believe him. Even when dad called I didn't believe it. It wasn't until I heard dad cry that I did. I cried.
"Al, I cried. I never cry. You know I don't. But I did. Because all your life you wanted to be in the sky, to fly. It's like you were obsessed with the thing that would eventually kill you. I was angry at first. Angry at God and at you. Angry that you had loved something so great that it took you so far away from us. Mad that you're my little brother of only twenty-three, and you died.
"But then I realized something. You're there, in the sky. Forever. And that's never something I could be mad about because it's where you always belonged. I told you, didn't I? When you were young. That'd you'd be in the sky.
"And there you'll always be."
Hoshiko2's cents: This is what happens when Hoshiko is in a rather sad mood. I wasn't even going to update today as I didn't have any idea what to do. It came to me less than an hour ago. I hope you liked it, even if it was amazingly sad. I apologize for such sadness in the middle of all this happiness. Tomorrow's will be better, I hope.