So there they sat. Their beady little eyes staring me down. Even though their mouths were sewn shut, I knew they had something to say. They were my army. They always had something to say.
My question still hung in the air.
All they did was look unblinkingly at me and keep their silence.
Oh, they were good.
Share all the secrets you’d like with them and they wouldn’t tell a soul. The ultimate army. Never complained and always ready for the job.
So I asked the question again. “Are you with me?”
I lifted one of my soldiers to my ear and it gave a silent Yes.
So I smiled encouragingly at the cotton filled troops and tucked the one I held into my belt. Grabbing another troop under the disguise of a fluffy bear, I stuffed him down the front of my shirt so that his head only poked out.
We had gone over this many times. No touching!
I grabbed my backpack, dumping all the books and work the older commanders had given me on the floor, and five more soldiers dressed as pig, cats, and rabbits were pushed neatly into that.
They were silent during this too. What good soldiers they were.
I
slung the backpack over my shoulder and crawled out of my hideout and down the tunnel that led outside.
On my way out, one of my older soldiers popped her head out of one of the escape routes. “Annabelle, you need to take out the trash.” The lady commander said.
“Shhh! You know not to use my real name. I go by Teddy.” I warned her.
All I got in response was her shaking her head and shutting the trap door. Later I would have to show them who was boss.
But what she meant by take out the trash was get rid of the enemy.
God was mother – the lady’s codename – slow! I was already in the process of getting rid of the enemy.
I scurried down the rest of the tunnel until I made it to another trap door that had big letters labeling it ‘Amber’s Crib’. I shook my head. This troop was stupid enough to let the enemy know where she slept.
I slipped in the room unnoticed; my troops took the hint and kept quiet while I rummaged through the stuff. I believed this ‘Amber’ was an enemy spy. I had to get rid of her soon.
I stopped in front of the long mirror on the wall. Only bad soldiers stared in mirrors like these. In the reflection, I saw little eyes staring at me from under the bed. I spun around, already armed with my knife that was convincingly hiding itself as a ruler.
I dove for the bed and reached under there to drag the enemy out. My hand came out empty and I had to look under there again. This time I saw a pair of glasses that had reflected light.
Sly enemies were fun to chase. This one was smart.
I left the room confident that I had checked the area well.
“Annabelle, I said take out the trash!” Mother shouted.
“I’m working on it! They aren’t easy to find!” I yelled back.
“What do you mean? It’s by the trashcan like always.” She replied, disbelief in her voice.
That was a place I hadn’t checked yet. So I crawled down into the area that my fellow commanders called Kitchen and I peeked around a chair and gazed at a white, plastic bag. Was the enemy in there?
I jumped out and beat the bag. No. The enemy was not in there.
Amber, the suspected enemy spy, walked by and slapped the back of my head. “Take out the thrash, Twerp. Not beat it to death.”
I glared at the spy. Beat it to death is exactly what I had planned to do. I think she read my mind.
I grabbed the bundle and slung it over my other shoulder, opposite my soldiers.
Man these commanders and soldiers were messy. Why didn’t they take out their own trash? Didn’t they know I had an enemy to look for?
I walked out of the hide out, slamming the down so they knew just how much trouble they were in for making me stop tracking the enemy.
I walked down to the big trashcans. The enemy could be in one of those so I made sure to be on my guard. It was already dark so the enemy would be hard to spot.
My troops gave silent grumblings and arguments.
They were right. Taking out the trash was someone like Amber’s job.
I hurried to the trashcan as potential enemy eyes stared from behind every tree. A chill rose up my spine at the thought of being captured by the enemy.
No. That wasn’t an option. I would complete this mission with flying colors.
I opened one of the trashcans and glanced in, ready it someone jumped out at me.
There was no one.
I sighed and put the lid back on. I looked over at the other three trashcans. What if an enemy was in each one? I couldn’t handle three enemies!
I ran for the hide out, praying to God. Please don’t let them get me! The troop slid down my shirt, hiding. What a wimp. He should save me!
An army hooked around my waist and lifted me off the ground.
I screamed. “The enemy!” If I didn’t survive then at least Mother would be able to get away.
“Enemy?” A familiar voice asked.
I stopped my thrashing and finally looked at who had caught me.
It was the ultimate leader who was named Daddy.
“Daddy!” I squealed. “I thought you were the enemy. I’m so glad it’s you. I thought I was going to die!” I hugged the leader and smiled. The leader liked me better than the troops so I was allowed to hug him.
“What is this?” Daddy said, poking the soldier that was hiding in my shirt.
“Rolly, sir. He is hiding.”
“Really? Is he afraid of the enemy too?” Daddy asked.
I nodded. “They are all big chickens. Not like me, though. I’m tough.” To show, I pounded my chest like a monkey I had seen on T.V.
Daddy laughed and I was proud. I had made Daddy laugh! Amber made him smile but I made him laugh. Who was the better warrior? I was.
“Well, I scared off the enemy before I grabbed you so why don’t you go wash up for dinner?”
It wasn’t a question. It was an order.
I nodded, disappointed. Daddy always completed my missions. Someday I would finish his. Just wait.
He sat me back on the ground and I rushed off to do as he said. After all, he was the ultimate leader. You had to be stupid not to do as he said.
“Did you take out the trash?” Mother asked.
“No..” I said, still disappointed, “Daddy did.”
