the day they dropped the bomb

i was there the day they dropped the bomb, watching it whistle as it broke the air before it, all the way down to the concrete.

stark white purity lay across the field, unmarred by what was yet to come. breath becoming solid, fresh out of our mouths, clattering to the sidewalk; drum beats stirring our hearts to battle. heavy words taunt us into action, first one shot, then two, excitement spilling over into madness, as laughter fills the air with each fallen comrade.

it began as a small skirmish, between families defending borders, laying claim to the land between us. soon cousins and brothers, then acquaintances spilled out doors, down paths to join. the air became crowded, buzzing like hornets, our boots sucking deep in the snow as we dive for cover.

soon none of us remember how it even started, only marvel at the hundreds that have joined some unknown cause. setting right, some wrong that was never intended. my hands ache, my legs are stiff, but i press on.

what else is there to do, when they cancel all the classes because of snow, finding yourself trapped on campus? a snow ball fight for the ages, and then...

men in black armor, bearing shields follow a megaphone mouthed man issuing orders to cease and desist, which are lost amongst the clamor, until they drop the bomb. this scream captures all of our attention, we pause staring slack jawed at he red and white casing pirouetting through the air from thirteen stories, plummeting down...

down...
down...

crumpling like an accordion, the coke machine implodes, sending cans of pop whizzing like rocket propelled grenades, spraying sticky brown mist across face and bodies, dripping down to our fingers.

looking at our red ripe hands, wet and shivering, we wonder...it seemed like a good idea once, but now we just walk slowly away, back to dorm rooms...pondering the bomb. and all that it takes away.