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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Teens
- Theme: Drama / Human Interest
- Subject: Coming of Age / Initiation
- Published: 04/08/2017
The Fort
Born 1948, M, from Allentown,PA, United States.jpg)
The Fort
by
Peter Barbour
Word count 6587
It was a hot and humid mid-summer morning, no school, no worries, no plans. David and Max sat on the back door stoop in silence. Max, two years older than David, drew lines in the dirt.
“You think Carl’s home?” Max asked.
Carl lived next to David. He was David’s age and had been at sleep-away camp.
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him,” David answered.
“Do want to have a catch?“ Max asked.
“Sure,” David answered. They continued to sit.
The quiet of the neighborhood was suddenly shattered by the sound of hammering that appeared to be coming from Carl’s yard. David and Max stood and marched to Carl’s yard.
“Hey, Carl, when did you get home?” David called excitedly.
Carl didn’t notice. He continued to hammer. The racket was deafening, amplified by the board propped up against a cement step. Carl startled, when he saw them, misdirected the hammer, and struck his finger.
“Yee Ow!!” Carl howled. “Why did you sneak up on me?”
“We didn’t sneak up on you,” Max responded.
“Are you okay?” David asked with genuine concern.
Carl stopped shaking his hand, stuck the injured finger in his mouth, took it out, and inspected it. “I guess it’s okay,” he said, and stuck his finger back into his mouth.
“What are you going to do with this wood?” Max asked.
Carl took his finger out of his mouth. David walked over to the board Carl was assaulting and inspected it.
“Don’t know,” Carl finally answered.
“How much wood do you have?” Max asked.
“My father took down the fence on the other side of the house. The wood is propped against a tree in the back.” Carl responded.
Max leaned forward so he could see around the corner of the house into the backyard. There, neatly stacked against the tree, were several sections of the fence.
“That’s a fair amount of wood. What’s your dad going to do with it?” Max asked again.
“Don’t think he’s going to do anything with it.”
“Nothing?” Max mused, as he scrutinized the wood.
“Yes,” Max said reflectively. “I can see it.”
“See what?” David said.
Max squatted. Carl and David squatted next to him.
“See what?” David repeated impatiently.
“A house – a clubhouse,” Max said softly. Max picked up a stick and smoothed out a patch of dirt on the ground. He paused, and then dramatically drew a box in the dirt. Carl and David watched expectantly. They followed Max’s hand as it translated his mental image into a tangible reality as his smoky idea took form in the dirt.
“Looks like a box,” Carl said.
“It’s not just a box. It will be a hideout, a clubhouse, a…a fort. He waved his arm slowly through the air as he mentally made the pieces of wood rise before him and take the form he envisioned. He no longer saw just a pile of wood; he saw structure and function.
Max placed the drawing stick just below his lower lip. Then, he let his stick-holding hand fall gracefully toward the ground. He quickly drew a second box above the first and divided each box into two, creating two rooms in each.
“There.” He said, extremely satisfied. “Simple, perfect,” He glanced to either side and was surprised to see puzzlement.
“You guys don’t get it, do you?” Max asked.
“Not exactly.” David answered.
“What’s so great about that?” Carl asked.
“What’s so great? Is this –“ Max took the stick again and pointed to the wall of the lower box, “This is the entrance to the first room. You have to go through a second doorway here.” He pointed to the wall dividing the lower box into two. “There will be a trap door entrance to the third room above this one, and a doorway, here, into this room.” He pointed to the line separating the two boxes, then the partition drawn in the second box, and the fourth room.
David looked from the dirt drawing to the wood.
“I think you’ll need more wood, Max.”
“There is plenty here to get started. We can find the rest from around the neighborhood.” Max paused. “There’s the tree platform behind my house. There’s enough wood there for the floor to the rooms in the second story. I’m sure we can find enough wood.”
David and Carl nodded in agreement.
Max stood up and began to survey the yard.
“Carl,” Max said, “what’s up the hill at the very back of your yard?”
“Nothing special.”
“Then we’ll make it special. That’s where were going to build it.” Max extended his right hand to the others, made a fist with the pinky finger extended. David and Carl extended their right hands in the same manner, and the three interlocked their small digits and shook one hard downward shake to seal the deal to build the fort.
The three walked to the back of Karl’s yard up a gentle hill to a low wooden fence that marked the property line. When the three reached the fence, they turned towards Carl’s house; now, at eye level, were the tops of the trees that mostly obscured the roof.
“This is where we’ll build it, in your yard, Carl, because it will be built mostly with your wood, and it was in your yard that we had our idea,” Max declared as Carl beamed with pride.
They began to move the wood up the hill. All the while, Max planned out loud.
“First, we’ll move the wood. Then we’ll get hammers and nails from home. How many more nails do you guys have? We can save nails from the fence as we take it apart. I think we’re going to have to buy more though.”
David and Carl listened to Max’s constant banter in silence. The work in the hot sun quickly made them wet with sweat. They moved, sorted, and re-stacked the wood. They would have to separate pieces still joined. As they returned from the hill to fetch the last boards, Carl’s younger brother, Paul, and David’s younger sister, Debbie, were waiting.
“Carl,” Paul asked, “What did you do with Dad’s wood?”
“It wasn’t Dad’s wood. It was just wood, “Carl answered, annoyed by Paul’s question.
“We’re going to build a fort, “ David said.
“You can’t go in it,” Carl added.
“Maybe I don’t want to go in it,” Paul quickly retorted.
“Wait a minute,” Max intervened, “anybody that helps build it, can go in it.”
Paul and Debbie smiled. David and Carl reluctantly agreed. As they moved the last of the wood, Max suggested a break for lunch. He asked David to recruit Toby, a peer of David and Carl who lived up the block. Max would get his own younger brothers, Ross, and Nathan, to help.
Once home, Max gathered his brothers. As they consumed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Max talked about the fort. They were, at first, reluctant to give up their tree platform for it; but when Max described the trap door to the second floor and each of the four rooms, they eagerly locked little fingers with him and shook on it.
The tree platform sat in a tree halfway up a steep incline behind their house. Although the platform was easily twenty feet above the yard, one could climb onto the tree from behind it, due to the incline of the hill. Max put an old surplus army tent on the platform that was entered from below through a hole in the platform. The wood for the platform was formerly a deck, roughened by weather, but remained solid without rot.
“Why don’t you guys climb onto the platform and sit in the tent one last time before we take it down.” Max insisted.
The two boys did as Max suggested and then took down the tent. Max instructed Nate and Ross to hold sticks under the platform to balance it while Max undid the lashings that held it to the tree. The platform remained steady as Nate, Ross, and Max carefully guided it to the ground. The three picked up the platform and carried it to Carl’s yard.
When they arrived in Carl’s yard, Paul, David, and Debbie were waiting. Toby had joined the group. Max surveyed the work crew and then gave out assignments.
“David, you and Paul finish taking Carl’s fence apart. Remember to save the nails. Debbie, Carl, Toby, and I will look for more wood. Nate and Ross take this.“ Max handed Nate and Ross $4.00, “go to Tom’s Hardware Store and get more nails.”
“I’ve got some plywood in my garage, “ Toby volunteered.
“Then you and Carl can start there. Debbie, Paul, and I will check the creek and see what we can find.”
Each group went its way. Nate and Ross headed down Powder Mill Lane to Manoa Road, turned left and headed towards the strip of stores that included Tom’s Hardware Store. From Powder Mill and Manoa to the store, the sidewalk climbed a long hill that in the summer heat seemed much longer and steeper. The two boys arrived at Tom’s Hardware Store, entered, and walked up to the counter. Tom, the owner of the store, looked down on the boys from behind the counter. Tom was a large man with thick arms, the right, adorned by a faded tattoo of an eagle clutching ribbons and a bent sword.
“What can I do for you gentlemen today,” Tom asked.
“Max sent us for nails. We’re building a fort,” Ross said proudly.
“Then, I guess you’ll need fort nails,” Tom teased.
“I guess that would do,” Ross answered with the same bravado.
Tom stepped from behind the counter and showed the boys barrels filled with nails.
“So, what do you want?” Tom gestured with his left hand toward the barrels. Nate couldn’t take his eyes off Tom’s right arm as he tried to make out the details in the tattoo.
“The fort nails, like you said. Max gave us four dollars.” Ross took the crumpled bills from his pocket and showed them to Tom.
Tom smiled. He placed two pounds of 8 - and 10 - penny commons in two bags and handed one bag to each boy. He took the money from Ross and rang up the charge on the register. The bill came to $3.10. Ross took the change, thanked Tom, and departed with his little brother.
Next to the hardware store was Phillips’ Drugstore. Nate looked puzzled for a moment when Ross turned in the direction of the drugstore.
“Wrong Way,” Nate said as he grabbed Ross’s shirt and attempted to redirect him.
Ross turned quickly to face Nate. He wore a menacing scowl. He then focused his gaze where Nate still held his shirt.
“Did I give you permission to touch me?” Ross asked.
Nate immediately released his grip. “No, but you’re going the wrong way.”
“It’s hot. We have a long walk home. Let’s get something to drink first,” Ross suggested.
“No money,” Nate countered.
Ross pulled a dollar from his pocket and reminded Nate of Max’s change as he led Nate into the drugstore. They placed their bags of nails on the soda fountain bar, climbed up onto the stools.
“Mr. Phillips, Sir, Nate and I would like to share a cherry water. “ Ross said in his most adult voice.
They finished their drink and were about to rise when Ross felt a hand on his shoulder. He spun on his stool to see who it was. Nate, disturbed by Ross’s sudden movement, wheeled around as well. Behind them stood Johnny P. and the Kelly Twins, Tony and Mike. Nate jumped from his stool and tried to leave, but Mike Kelly blocked his way. In his haste to leave, Nate had left his bag of nails on the counter.
“Leave him alone,” Ross demanded.
Johnny kept his hand on Ross’s shoulder and would not let him rise. Tony grabbed the bag of nails left by Nate.
“You forgot your bag,” Tony said.
Tony held the bag just within Nate’s reach. Nate reached out to take it, and just as he grabbed for it, Tony let it drop. The bag burst when it struck the floor and nails scattered everywhere.
“Oh my. Look what happened,” Tony said with feigned concern.
Nate dove under Mike and tried to contain the spreading mass of nails. Ross stared directly into Johnny’s eyes. Johnny and the Kelly twins were two years older than Ross but a year younger than Max. Even though he didn’t have a chance standing up to these three physically, Ross was not about to back down.
“Okay, okay,” Johnny said. “You guys are awfully jumpy. What’s with the nails?”
“We’re building a fort,” Nate blurted. Ross poked him in the back to keep him quiet. Nate continued to gather the nails, stuffing them into his pockets and wrapping the rest in what was left of the paper bag. Nails gathered, Nathan and Ross left the drugstore and headed back to Carl’s yard.
Johnny watched them walk away. “Can you believe Ross tried to stand up to me?” Johnny said. “So, they’re building a fort. We’ll have to pay a visit.” Johnny looked at the Twins and the three laughed.
By the time Nate and Ross arrived in Carl’s yard, the others had amassed an impressive collection of lumber. David and Paul had finished dismantling the fence. Max waved his arms, pointed, and motioned like the conductor of an orchestra, as he communicated his plan in words and gestures. Max stopped directing when he saw his brothers approach.
“Where have you two been? ” Max asked.
“Well, we stopped for a soda at the drug…” Ross answered, but was interrupted by Nate.
“Johnny P. and the Kelly Twins were there. Tony Kelly spilled my nails all over the floor.”
“Did they do anything else to you?” Max asked.
“No,” Ross answered. “But, Nate told them what we are building. So, I expect them to be here soon enough.”
“Let them come,” Max said. When he and his brothers had first moved into the neighborhood, the Johnny P. and the Kelly Twins’ welcome wagon tried to run him over. In the fight that ensued Max had no trouble making each say “uncle” in turn. After that they avoided Max. It wasn’t the same for younger members the neighborhood who would suffer the three’s harassment from time to time. It was unusual for Nate or Ross to fall victim to them, however. To hassle Nate or Ross was the same as hassling Max who considered his brothers an extension of himself.
Max returned to the project and started directing again.
“We’ll sink a 2x4 in each corner of the building and halfway in between on the long sides. Then we can attach boards about halfway up each, see, and put the platform on top to serve as the ceiling for the first floor and the floor for the second floor. The platform already has a hole in it to serve as the entrance to the second floor. The hole will be closed by a trap door.” Max was talking fast with his arms waving again. The others watched in wonderment, not so much in awe of the plan, but for the rapidity of Max’s speech, its cadence and energy. “We need shovels. Nate, go get the shovel from our garage.” Nate stood obediently and followed his brother’s order.
“We have a shovel,” cried Paul. “I’ll go get it.” Paul followed Nate.
”Now… we can put the fort against the fence. The fence will support it and serve as the back wall. That will save us some wood. We’ll make it big enough to sleep in, and with four rooms, there should be enough room for everyone.” Max walked up to the fence separating the yards. He put his back to the fence. He lay on the ground perpendicular to the fence, and extended his arm over his head. He held the spot with his hand as he got to his knees.
“David, get me a stick.” David got Max a stick, and Max drove it into the ground where his hand was. “That’s one corner,” He walked to the pile of lumber and pulled out a plank, held it against his body with his arm raised above his head. The board extended just above his hand. He looked up, smiled and said. “Great, find me three more pieces of wood this length. “
Debbie and Ross started to rummage through the wood until they found three boards of the same length as the one Max had shown them. Max took the first and placed it where he had lain. He placed the second at the corner he’d staked out perpendicular to the first board and placed third piece of wood on end to the second piece. He placed the fourth perpendicular to the third and the fence to create the other corner.
“Dave, help me with the tree platform,” Max asked.
Max and David maneuvered the platform into place over the four pieces that were already on the ground. The platform fit the length without problem but was narrower than the width. No problem, Max thought. It would not be difficult to extend the platforms width, but the key to the structure would be the number of 2x4 studs. Max had not checked to see how many they had salvaged from the fence or what their lengths were.
“Dave, how many 2x4’s do we have?”
Dave jumped at the call and began to rummage through the pile of wood, pulling varying lengths from it. Unfortunately, there were only a few 2x4’s. Two were eight feet in length, but the others were no more than 4 feet and some were shorter.
“Not enough 2x4’s.” Max mumbled to himself.
Ross stood and walked over to the pile of wood. He pulled out too long studs.
“What are these?” Ross asked.
“1x4’s. About 8 to 10 feet long. They ran the length of the fence, “ David answered.
“If we put two together,” Ross put two boards back-to-back, “what do we have?”
“2x4’s!” Max shouted, pleased with his brother. “Good work, Ross.”
Ross beamed as he and David pulled enough 1x4’s, each 8 feet long or longer, from the pile to make the supports needed. One support would be placed at each corner and half way between each corner of the long side.
Max marked the spots where each support had to be placed, and set Toby and Carl to work digging the holes. Debbie, Paul, and Nate were sent to find stones to fill in around the stud supports, securing them in the holes. David and Ross, with Max’s help, began fastening the pairs of 1x4’s together.
Once the supporting studs were complete, the cross pieces were attached, each at the same distance from the end. The ground was fairly even and, with holes in which to set the studs of equal depth, the second floor was level.
Toby and Carl finished digging the six holes. Debbie, Paul, and Nate returned with ample stones. It was time to put it all in place. Max and David attached the floor supporting boards to the studs at equal distance from the ends. Nate, Paul, Ross, Toby, and Carl found themselves supporting three eight-foot “H’s”, each connected to the other on the long wall side. David and Max guided each end into its respective hole and braced the ends with stones and dirt. As the others continued the hold their assigned support position, David and Max lifted the platform onto the three cross bars and nailed it in place. They stepped back at Max’s signal and, to everyone’s delight, the structure stood strong.
The afternoon was spent. They walked around the fort admiring their work from different angles as if it were a fine sculpture. Framed out in front of them was a structure they had built, approximately 8 feet high, 6 feet deep, and 12 feet long. Carl and Paul were called for dinner. Dutifully, though reluctantly, they all headed home. Max suggested they meet after dinner. They would further secure the studs by crossing boards below and above the level of the platform on all sides. They would also place the shorter 2x4’s under the joists that supported the platform.
The heat of the afternoon quickly dissipated as the sun made its way towards the horizon. Each worker carried home the sweat and grime of the day’s toil, and the satisfaction in seeing their concept take form. There’s a certain pleasure derived from building and creating, a pleasure, not just in accomplishing something, but of having thought of an idea, worked out a plan, and then seeing the plan to fruition. When they left the hill, with the fort framed out, there was a sense of excitement. When they returned, they finished the framing, strengthening the structure, as Max directed. Max brought a ruler to measure lengths of wood, and a saw to cut them. He directed their placement, and once complete, he invited all to climb through the hole in the platform and sit with him as he watched the sun set and the moon rise.
The next day Max showed them where to put the entrance, how to partition the lower and upper rooms and how to make the roof. Nate, Ross, Debbie, and Paul worked as a team on the siding. Toby and Carl worked on the room partitions while David and Max worked on the roof. The sound of hammering was deafening.
David glanced up for a second to wipe sweat from his forehead; it was more humid this day than it had been the day before. The sun beat down through a gray haze. The leaves on the trees were flipped over by an updraft that portended bad weather. David patted Max on the shoulder. Max stopped hammering and looked up.
“Trouble,” David said and gestured in the direction of Carl’s house were Johnny P. and the Kelly Twins appeared. Max watched them approach with their cocky swagger and prepared himself for a confrontation.
“What have we here?” Johnny said as he drew closer. He focused his attention on Debbie, Paul, and Nate who stood near the pile of boards. Max made his presence known by jumping from the second floor. Johnny brushed Nate aside instead of pushing him down when he saw Max.
“Heard the banging. Thought we’d check out the noise,” Johnny called to Max. The twins stood silently by his side.
“Well,” Max said. “Check it out.”
The side facing Johnny and the twins was nearly complete. Boards of different size and color made the structure appear makeshift, shack-like. Johnny walked up to the partially finished south wall. If he was the least bit impressed, it did not show. He walked to the side where Max had framed a spot for a door, then to the west side that was entirely open. He looked at the opening in the second floor platform, the support beams that rose a full 4 feet above it, and the joists at the top that would support the roof.
“Max and his munchkin brigade,” Johnny said, snidely. He grabbed one of the south side supports and shook it. To his surprise, it did not move. “Solid?” he let slip out, just audibly.
“Do you guys want to help?” Max asked. “We can always use more help.”
Johnny glanced at the twins. They seemed interested, potentially willing to participate. Johnny sensed their interest. He seemed to waver briefly, then looked at Max’s crew. How could he play with the likes of Ross, Nate, Paul, and Debbie?
“What? Help? You’ve got to be kidding. No. I’m no nursemaid. You can keep this daycare program,” Johnny said and walked away. “Come on Tony, Mike. Let’s get out of here.” As they left, Johnny said in a stage whisper for all to hear, “maybe we ought to visit later. See how strong that thing really is.”
“Yeah, “ Tony answered. “Lot of wood. It’d make a great bonfire.” The three laughed and left.
“Max,” Ross angrily demanded. “How could you invite those guys to help us?”
“Because I knew they wouldn’t. At least they had the opportunity.”
“Did you hear what they said?” Ross said still angry, not frightened.
“Yeah, I heard. So, what?” Max said.
“So? What are we going to do? How can you let them say those things about us?”
“Well, first of all,” Max responded, “I don’t think they would be so stupid as to try to destroy this – especially to burn it, and I really don’t care what they say about me or us. I say we get back to work. Come on, David; let’s finish the roof. You guys get as much siding done as you can. I think I’ll sleep out here tonight. Anybody want to join me? David? Carl? Toby?”
“Sounds good,” David answered. Carl and Toby nodded affirmatively.
The four older boys had no trouble securing permission from their parents to sleep in Karl’s yard. The weather had cleared and a request to sleep outside was not unusual on hot summer nights. Nate, Debbie, and Paul hadn’t really wanted to sleep outside and didn’t mind being excluded. Ross, however, was distraught, given the potential confrontation with Johnny P. and the Kelly Twins. Even so, Ross was reluctantly resigned to his mother’s decision to keep him home.
With the wood nearly gone and the nail supply almost exhausted, construction ground to a halt. As the summer evening’s light faded from yellow to red, the crew dispersed. David, Toby, Carl, and Max would return with their sleeping bags, pillows, flashlights, and snacks.
When the four boys returned, they decided to sleep on the second floor, off the ground. Besides, one of special intrigues of the fort was the need to crawl through it, as if through a maze, in order to get to that floor. They set out their sleeping bags, Carl and Toby in one room, and David and Max in the other. Snacks were placed in a plastic bag and hung from a nail.
The heat of the day dissipated as night extinguished the last of the sun’s light. The haze of earlier day had gone, cleared by a gentle steady breeze. The heaven’s stars shone brightly, occasionally obscured by a high cloud that drifted past. The boys sat on their sleeping bags. Carl and Toby elected to take the first watch.
Carl and Toby sat at the edge of the west wall. They listened to the crickets and observed the bats fly from tree to tree snaring moths. Flashlights in hand, they sat and watched vigilantly. Suddenly, Carl and Toby were aroused by the sound of approaching voices. They immediately jumped to the ground and drew their flashlights, switched on the lights, and pointed them in the direction of the sounds.
“Who’s there?” Carl shouted.
Beams of light played across the yard casting eerie shadows as they passed through trees and bushes. They raked the foliage slowly with their lights, back and forth, until the intruders were illuminated. The intruders were Nate and Ross, and Ross was scolding Nate.
“Go home. Stop following me,” Ross whispered loudly obviously annoyed. “Does mom know you’re here? Max isn’t going to be happy when he sees you, especially if mom doesn’t know,” Ross said sternly as he tried to direct Nate towards home.
“Max won’t mind. If you can be here, I can be here,” Nate argued.
Max stepped out of Fort and started towards his younger brothers.
“Ross, Nate, does mom know where you are?” Max shouted.
“Mom thinks I’m asleep. I don’t know what she thinks about him.”
Nate rushed at Ross with his arms extended, hands in tight fists. Max stepped between them and flipped Nate upside down. Nate started to flail his arms at Max. Max laughed.
“Calm down, and I’ll put you down.”
Nate’s arms stopped flailing. Max put him down.
“Let’s go home and talk to Mom, “ Max suggested.
Max told the other boys he’d be right back, and headed home with his two vagabond brothers. Toby, Carl, and David resumed their vigil.
“Do you suppose Johnny P. and the Kelly twins will come? “ Toby asked.
“Not as long as they think Max is here,” David answered.
“I wish he’d hurry back,” Carl added.
“He won’t be long,” David assured them, and it wasn’t long before Max returned. Ross was with him. Nate stayed home. Max and Ross entered the fort and made their way to the second floor. Ross arranged his sleeping bag next to Max’s and made himself at home.
The five boys talked, ate their snacks, and gradually tired. Carl and Toby resumed their watch while David, Max, and Ross rested. It wasn’t long before Ross fell asleep. David and Max soon followed. Around midnight, Carl and Toby aroused them, so they could take their turn at watch.
David and Max sat with their legs dangling from the east wall. The moon had begun its descent, while stars, scattered like so many sequins, adorning the clear summer sky.
“You think they’ll come?” David asked.
“No. I never really thought they would,” Max answered “but it was sure a great excuse to sleep out here. What a great time of the day,” Max continued. “I sometimes wish I didn’t have to sleep. Just think how much we could get done.”
“I guess,” David answered.
They sat in silence for a while and enjoyed the quiet cool darkness of the night.
“David, did you know there isn’t anything we can’t do, if we set our minds to it.”
“Really?”
“Really. I know it; I can feel it. I don’t mean just now, this minute, but in our future. Just like I knew we could build this fort, I know we can do anything. “
David looked at the stars again and smiled inwardly.
The two sat on the wall no longer talking much. In less than an hour, they started to doze. Max suggested they go to sleep doubtful they were in any kind of real danger from Johnny P. and the Kelly Twins, and he was right.
The next morning the five awoke with the rising Sun, gathered their sleeping gear, and trudged home for breakfast. When they returned to the fort shortly after, they began to work again. Max reassigned tasks. They replenished supplies, and by afternoon, the fort was nearly complete. They found enough plywood to cover the roof. Overlapped and slightly slanted to the west, the plywood sheets would surely keep out the rain. They partitioned the rooms as directed and fashioned a door to the east entrance. They made slit-like windows in the south, east, and west walls. The walls were a collage of different woods. In spite of its appearance, it stood strong. Max climbed to the roof to test its strength and found it solid. He nailed short pieces of wood on the west wall to create a ladder for easy access to the roof. After supper the group gathered again. They marveled at their creation. They busied themselves crawling through it and climbing on top of it. Johnny and the Kelly twins arrived early that evening.
“Where’s Max, master wizard, king of the dwarves?” Johnny shouted at Nate.
“By the fort.” Nate pointed up the hill.
“Come on you guys, let’s see what they’ve done.”
Johnny started up the hill as Nate followed. Debbie, who was sitting on the roof, spotted them first. She pounded on the roof with her fist sounding the alarm.
“What’s up?” Max asked from the upper West room where he was working.
“Johnny, Tony, and Mike are back, Max,” she called from above.
Max slid through the trap door, down into the dark lower west room, through the partition into the lower east room, and out the door.
Johnny and his henchmen were just reaching the top of the hill.
“Max,” Johnny called in an insincere friendly voice. “Are you done building this thing?”
“Just about,” Max answered.
“I see you have some trolls on your roof,” Johnny continued.
Max looked towards the roof and saw Debbie and Paul.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” Max asked.
“Show them how to leave,” Ross called through one of the upper room windows.
Toby, Carl, and David, who’d been working on the north side, made an appearance, but remained silent.
“That’s not nice,” Johnny called to Ross. “We just wanted to know if we could help. “
“There’s not much left to do,” Max said.
“Why don’t you three scum buckets just leave?“ Ross called from inside the fort, his face clearly visible at the window.
“There’s a little creep in there with the big mouth I’d like to nail shut,” Johnny said, provoked.
“Yeah?” Ross called back, not about to let Johnny have the last word. “You guys think you are so tough.”
Max turned to shoot a stern look at Ross. As he turned, Mike Kelly picked up a rock and let it fly in Ross’s direction. The rock went high and wide of its intended mark. Paul, who was still standing on the roof, dove to his left to avoid the missile. He fell squarely into Debbie. She tried to hold on to him but couldn’t. He was gone, out of sight, over the west wall. There was a scream as he fell, a brief silence as he thudded firmly into the unforgiving hard ground, then a siren of wild wailing arose from the depths of his lungs.
Max bolted to the west side of the structure where Paul landed. The others followed, all except Johnny, Tony, and Mike, who were running in the opposite direction to flee the scene. Max found Paul lying on the ground sobbing wildly and repeating, “my arm, my arm…”
“It’s okay. It’s okay” Max tried to assure him. Max quickly assessed the situation. Paul was alert moving his head from side to side. His face was tightly grimaced, already wet with tears. His legs were flexed, shaking, kicking, but the movements appeared normal.
“Try not to move your feet, Paul.“ Max spoke calmly, and Paul stopped writhing. “Where does it hurt?”
Paul looked at Max. Calmed by Max’s low controlled voice.
“My arm, Max. My arm.”
Max looked at Paul’s arms. His right arm appeared normal, but the left was positioned grotesquely beside him with what appeared to be a new joint between the elbow and shoulder. His hand appeared dusky and pale. Blood was flowing briskly from a cut in the flesh where a white jagged edge of bone protruded.
“Don’t move, Paul” Max commanded. “Carl, go get your mother. Now!” Max instinctively grabbed the arm just above the fracture and pressed firmly to stop the bleeding.”
“Am I all right?” Paul asked Max
“Just fine, Paul.”
The others stood in silence; paralyzed by the reality of Paul’s plight, frozen by the horror of his twisted, bloody arm. Carl returned with his mother. She reached Paul well before Carl.
“My God!” She cried. “What happened?”
“He fell from the roof, Mrs. Johnson,” Max reported. “I think his arm is broken.”
“Paul, dear.” She stroked his face reassuringly, then saw Paul’s arm. “My God, your arm!”
Mrs. Johnson glanced from Paul to the structure behind them. She was concerned, fearful for Paul, but also angered. She presumed Max was responsible for what happened, but, her concern for Paul, made her concentrate on only him. “Max, don’t move him. I have to go back to the house to call for help.”
She was back shortly and, within minutes, the ambulance arrived. The ambulance attendants placed Paul, pale, in shock, and still in pain, into the ambulance with his mother, and drove away. David’s mother appeared at the street when she heard the ambulance arrive. As it pulled away she placed a reassuring hand on Carl’s shoulder and directed him, David, and Debbie to her house. Max stood in silence, stunned by the event. Ross was angry, vengeful, but his anger was muted by his concern for Paul. Nate stood behind his brothers, unable to fully comprehend what happened. Once the ambulance was out of sight Toby bid Max and his brothers, good-bye and returned home.
Max slept fitfully that night. Images of Paul’s arm, pale and lifeless interrupted his sleep. Max awoke early the next day. He dressed and slipped out of the house. He headed for the Johnson’s yard and the fort. He was tempted to run, hungry for news about Paul, but afraid the news would be bad. He walked slowly, prolonging the suspense, but delaying the sadness if the news were bad. When he arrived at the Johnson’s house, he stood in front of the back door hoping someone would sense his presence. He was suddenly startled by a loud bang and the sound of breaking wood as if shattered by a cannonball. Again and again there was a loud crack and the sound of splintering wood.
“The fort!” Max thought. He turned in the direction of the fort, and sprinted up the hill. There at the top of the hill was Mr. Johnson, sledgehammer in hand, broken wood littering the ground before him, shattered, as if bombed. Mr. Johnson continued to flail away at the structure. He stopped, placed the hammer down, and attacked wood with his hands prying the broken boards off and tossing them aside. He worked feverishly as if possessed. He raged at the instrument that had led to his son’s injury. Max stood twenty feet from Mr. Johnson. Max watched sadly as he witnessed the violent dismantling of their creation. He was powerless to interfere and, at the same time, accepting of the action, as a punishment for what happened to Paul. He watched the sweat pour from Mr. Johnson, soaking his face. His arms glistened with sweat, and sweat darkened his shirt under his arms across his chest and back. Max lowered his head in sadness and shame for what he now confirmed he had done to Paul. He winced with each blow to the wooden structure as if it were he who was being hit. He screamed and groaned inwardly as the wood screamed and groaned as it split.
As Mr. Johnson turned to wipe the sweat from his forehead, he saw Max. He turned to Max. Max looked up into Mr. Johnson’s enraged eyes. Max’s first instinct was to run; but taught never to fear the consequences of one’s actions; he stood there with respect and remorse.
“He almost lost his arm, Max,” Mr. Johnson said.
“Will he be okay?” Max asked, his voice trembling, tears coming to his eyes.
“The doctors think so. You probably saved him by putting pressure on the cut and getting Mrs. Johnson.”
Max felt inward pride, but saw no reason to be happy.
“This goes,” Mr. Johnson said, pointing to what was left of the fort. “You apparently brought all this wood here. Now you can haul it away and dispose of it properly.”
It took less than a week to build, several hours to destroy. Destroyed so that little wood could be salvaged, with no possibility of reconstruction, no further injuries, and so that all that remained were the memories of what had been.
The Fort(Peter J Barbour)
The Fort
by
Peter Barbour
Word count 6587
It was a hot and humid mid-summer morning, no school, no worries, no plans. David and Max sat on the back door stoop in silence. Max, two years older than David, drew lines in the dirt.
“You think Carl’s home?” Max asked.
Carl lived next to David. He was David’s age and had been at sleep-away camp.
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him,” David answered.
“Do want to have a catch?“ Max asked.
“Sure,” David answered. They continued to sit.
The quiet of the neighborhood was suddenly shattered by the sound of hammering that appeared to be coming from Carl’s yard. David and Max stood and marched to Carl’s yard.
“Hey, Carl, when did you get home?” David called excitedly.
Carl didn’t notice. He continued to hammer. The racket was deafening, amplified by the board propped up against a cement step. Carl startled, when he saw them, misdirected the hammer, and struck his finger.
“Yee Ow!!” Carl howled. “Why did you sneak up on me?”
“We didn’t sneak up on you,” Max responded.
“Are you okay?” David asked with genuine concern.
Carl stopped shaking his hand, stuck the injured finger in his mouth, took it out, and inspected it. “I guess it’s okay,” he said, and stuck his finger back into his mouth.
“What are you going to do with this wood?” Max asked.
Carl took his finger out of his mouth. David walked over to the board Carl was assaulting and inspected it.
“Don’t know,” Carl finally answered.
“How much wood do you have?” Max asked.
“My father took down the fence on the other side of the house. The wood is propped against a tree in the back.” Carl responded.
Max leaned forward so he could see around the corner of the house into the backyard. There, neatly stacked against the tree, were several sections of the fence.
“That’s a fair amount of wood. What’s your dad going to do with it?” Max asked again.
“Don’t think he’s going to do anything with it.”
“Nothing?” Max mused, as he scrutinized the wood.
“Yes,” Max said reflectively. “I can see it.”
“See what?” David said.
Max squatted. Carl and David squatted next to him.
“See what?” David repeated impatiently.
“A house – a clubhouse,” Max said softly. Max picked up a stick and smoothed out a patch of dirt on the ground. He paused, and then dramatically drew a box in the dirt. Carl and David watched expectantly. They followed Max’s hand as it translated his mental image into a tangible reality as his smoky idea took form in the dirt.
“Looks like a box,” Carl said.
“It’s not just a box. It will be a hideout, a clubhouse, a…a fort. He waved his arm slowly through the air as he mentally made the pieces of wood rise before him and take the form he envisioned. He no longer saw just a pile of wood; he saw structure and function.
Max placed the drawing stick just below his lower lip. Then, he let his stick-holding hand fall gracefully toward the ground. He quickly drew a second box above the first and divided each box into two, creating two rooms in each.
“There.” He said, extremely satisfied. “Simple, perfect,” He glanced to either side and was surprised to see puzzlement.
“You guys don’t get it, do you?” Max asked.
“Not exactly.” David answered.
“What’s so great about that?” Carl asked.
“What’s so great? Is this –“ Max took the stick again and pointed to the wall of the lower box, “This is the entrance to the first room. You have to go through a second doorway here.” He pointed to the wall dividing the lower box into two. “There will be a trap door entrance to the third room above this one, and a doorway, here, into this room.” He pointed to the line separating the two boxes, then the partition drawn in the second box, and the fourth room.
David looked from the dirt drawing to the wood.
“I think you’ll need more wood, Max.”
“There is plenty here to get started. We can find the rest from around the neighborhood.” Max paused. “There’s the tree platform behind my house. There’s enough wood there for the floor to the rooms in the second story. I’m sure we can find enough wood.”
David and Carl nodded in agreement.
Max stood up and began to survey the yard.
“Carl,” Max said, “what’s up the hill at the very back of your yard?”
“Nothing special.”
“Then we’ll make it special. That’s where were going to build it.” Max extended his right hand to the others, made a fist with the pinky finger extended. David and Carl extended their right hands in the same manner, and the three interlocked their small digits and shook one hard downward shake to seal the deal to build the fort.
The three walked to the back of Karl’s yard up a gentle hill to a low wooden fence that marked the property line. When the three reached the fence, they turned towards Carl’s house; now, at eye level, were the tops of the trees that mostly obscured the roof.
“This is where we’ll build it, in your yard, Carl, because it will be built mostly with your wood, and it was in your yard that we had our idea,” Max declared as Carl beamed with pride.
They began to move the wood up the hill. All the while, Max planned out loud.
“First, we’ll move the wood. Then we’ll get hammers and nails from home. How many more nails do you guys have? We can save nails from the fence as we take it apart. I think we’re going to have to buy more though.”
David and Carl listened to Max’s constant banter in silence. The work in the hot sun quickly made them wet with sweat. They moved, sorted, and re-stacked the wood. They would have to separate pieces still joined. As they returned from the hill to fetch the last boards, Carl’s younger brother, Paul, and David’s younger sister, Debbie, were waiting.
“Carl,” Paul asked, “What did you do with Dad’s wood?”
“It wasn’t Dad’s wood. It was just wood, “Carl answered, annoyed by Paul’s question.
“We’re going to build a fort, “ David said.
“You can’t go in it,” Carl added.
“Maybe I don’t want to go in it,” Paul quickly retorted.
“Wait a minute,” Max intervened, “anybody that helps build it, can go in it.”
Paul and Debbie smiled. David and Carl reluctantly agreed. As they moved the last of the wood, Max suggested a break for lunch. He asked David to recruit Toby, a peer of David and Carl who lived up the block. Max would get his own younger brothers, Ross, and Nathan, to help.
Once home, Max gathered his brothers. As they consumed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Max talked about the fort. They were, at first, reluctant to give up their tree platform for it; but when Max described the trap door to the second floor and each of the four rooms, they eagerly locked little fingers with him and shook on it.
The tree platform sat in a tree halfway up a steep incline behind their house. Although the platform was easily twenty feet above the yard, one could climb onto the tree from behind it, due to the incline of the hill. Max put an old surplus army tent on the platform that was entered from below through a hole in the platform. The wood for the platform was formerly a deck, roughened by weather, but remained solid without rot.
“Why don’t you guys climb onto the platform and sit in the tent one last time before we take it down.” Max insisted.
The two boys did as Max suggested and then took down the tent. Max instructed Nate and Ross to hold sticks under the platform to balance it while Max undid the lashings that held it to the tree. The platform remained steady as Nate, Ross, and Max carefully guided it to the ground. The three picked up the platform and carried it to Carl’s yard.
When they arrived in Carl’s yard, Paul, David, and Debbie were waiting. Toby had joined the group. Max surveyed the work crew and then gave out assignments.
“David, you and Paul finish taking Carl’s fence apart. Remember to save the nails. Debbie, Carl, Toby, and I will look for more wood. Nate and Ross take this.“ Max handed Nate and Ross $4.00, “go to Tom’s Hardware Store and get more nails.”
“I’ve got some plywood in my garage, “ Toby volunteered.
“Then you and Carl can start there. Debbie, Paul, and I will check the creek and see what we can find.”
Each group went its way. Nate and Ross headed down Powder Mill Lane to Manoa Road, turned left and headed towards the strip of stores that included Tom’s Hardware Store. From Powder Mill and Manoa to the store, the sidewalk climbed a long hill that in the summer heat seemed much longer and steeper. The two boys arrived at Tom’s Hardware Store, entered, and walked up to the counter. Tom, the owner of the store, looked down on the boys from behind the counter. Tom was a large man with thick arms, the right, adorned by a faded tattoo of an eagle clutching ribbons and a bent sword.
“What can I do for you gentlemen today,” Tom asked.
“Max sent us for nails. We’re building a fort,” Ross said proudly.
“Then, I guess you’ll need fort nails,” Tom teased.
“I guess that would do,” Ross answered with the same bravado.
Tom stepped from behind the counter and showed the boys barrels filled with nails.
“So, what do you want?” Tom gestured with his left hand toward the barrels. Nate couldn’t take his eyes off Tom’s right arm as he tried to make out the details in the tattoo.
“The fort nails, like you said. Max gave us four dollars.” Ross took the crumpled bills from his pocket and showed them to Tom.
Tom smiled. He placed two pounds of 8 - and 10 - penny commons in two bags and handed one bag to each boy. He took the money from Ross and rang up the charge on the register. The bill came to $3.10. Ross took the change, thanked Tom, and departed with his little brother.
Next to the hardware store was Phillips’ Drugstore. Nate looked puzzled for a moment when Ross turned in the direction of the drugstore.
“Wrong Way,” Nate said as he grabbed Ross’s shirt and attempted to redirect him.
Ross turned quickly to face Nate. He wore a menacing scowl. He then focused his gaze where Nate still held his shirt.
“Did I give you permission to touch me?” Ross asked.
Nate immediately released his grip. “No, but you’re going the wrong way.”
“It’s hot. We have a long walk home. Let’s get something to drink first,” Ross suggested.
“No money,” Nate countered.
Ross pulled a dollar from his pocket and reminded Nate of Max’s change as he led Nate into the drugstore. They placed their bags of nails on the soda fountain bar, climbed up onto the stools.
“Mr. Phillips, Sir, Nate and I would like to share a cherry water. “ Ross said in his most adult voice.
They finished their drink and were about to rise when Ross felt a hand on his shoulder. He spun on his stool to see who it was. Nate, disturbed by Ross’s sudden movement, wheeled around as well. Behind them stood Johnny P. and the Kelly Twins, Tony and Mike. Nate jumped from his stool and tried to leave, but Mike Kelly blocked his way. In his haste to leave, Nate had left his bag of nails on the counter.
“Leave him alone,” Ross demanded.
Johnny kept his hand on Ross’s shoulder and would not let him rise. Tony grabbed the bag of nails left by Nate.
“You forgot your bag,” Tony said.
Tony held the bag just within Nate’s reach. Nate reached out to take it, and just as he grabbed for it, Tony let it drop. The bag burst when it struck the floor and nails scattered everywhere.
“Oh my. Look what happened,” Tony said with feigned concern.
Nate dove under Mike and tried to contain the spreading mass of nails. Ross stared directly into Johnny’s eyes. Johnny and the Kelly twins were two years older than Ross but a year younger than Max. Even though he didn’t have a chance standing up to these three physically, Ross was not about to back down.
“Okay, okay,” Johnny said. “You guys are awfully jumpy. What’s with the nails?”
“We’re building a fort,” Nate blurted. Ross poked him in the back to keep him quiet. Nate continued to gather the nails, stuffing them into his pockets and wrapping the rest in what was left of the paper bag. Nails gathered, Nathan and Ross left the drugstore and headed back to Carl’s yard.
Johnny watched them walk away. “Can you believe Ross tried to stand up to me?” Johnny said. “So, they’re building a fort. We’ll have to pay a visit.” Johnny looked at the Twins and the three laughed.
By the time Nate and Ross arrived in Carl’s yard, the others had amassed an impressive collection of lumber. David and Paul had finished dismantling the fence. Max waved his arms, pointed, and motioned like the conductor of an orchestra, as he communicated his plan in words and gestures. Max stopped directing when he saw his brothers approach.
“Where have you two been? ” Max asked.
“Well, we stopped for a soda at the drug…” Ross answered, but was interrupted by Nate.
“Johnny P. and the Kelly Twins were there. Tony Kelly spilled my nails all over the floor.”
“Did they do anything else to you?” Max asked.
“No,” Ross answered. “But, Nate told them what we are building. So, I expect them to be here soon enough.”
“Let them come,” Max said. When he and his brothers had first moved into the neighborhood, the Johnny P. and the Kelly Twins’ welcome wagon tried to run him over. In the fight that ensued Max had no trouble making each say “uncle” in turn. After that they avoided Max. It wasn’t the same for younger members the neighborhood who would suffer the three’s harassment from time to time. It was unusual for Nate or Ross to fall victim to them, however. To hassle Nate or Ross was the same as hassling Max who considered his brothers an extension of himself.
Max returned to the project and started directing again.
“We’ll sink a 2x4 in each corner of the building and halfway in between on the long sides. Then we can attach boards about halfway up each, see, and put the platform on top to serve as the ceiling for the first floor and the floor for the second floor. The platform already has a hole in it to serve as the entrance to the second floor. The hole will be closed by a trap door.” Max was talking fast with his arms waving again. The others watched in wonderment, not so much in awe of the plan, but for the rapidity of Max’s speech, its cadence and energy. “We need shovels. Nate, go get the shovel from our garage.” Nate stood obediently and followed his brother’s order.
“We have a shovel,” cried Paul. “I’ll go get it.” Paul followed Nate.
”Now… we can put the fort against the fence. The fence will support it and serve as the back wall. That will save us some wood. We’ll make it big enough to sleep in, and with four rooms, there should be enough room for everyone.” Max walked up to the fence separating the yards. He put his back to the fence. He lay on the ground perpendicular to the fence, and extended his arm over his head. He held the spot with his hand as he got to his knees.
“David, get me a stick.” David got Max a stick, and Max drove it into the ground where his hand was. “That’s one corner,” He walked to the pile of lumber and pulled out a plank, held it against his body with his arm raised above his head. The board extended just above his hand. He looked up, smiled and said. “Great, find me three more pieces of wood this length. “
Debbie and Ross started to rummage through the wood until they found three boards of the same length as the one Max had shown them. Max took the first and placed it where he had lain. He placed the second at the corner he’d staked out perpendicular to the first board and placed third piece of wood on end to the second piece. He placed the fourth perpendicular to the third and the fence to create the other corner.
“Dave, help me with the tree platform,” Max asked.
Max and David maneuvered the platform into place over the four pieces that were already on the ground. The platform fit the length without problem but was narrower than the width. No problem, Max thought. It would not be difficult to extend the platforms width, but the key to the structure would be the number of 2x4 studs. Max had not checked to see how many they had salvaged from the fence or what their lengths were.
“Dave, how many 2x4’s do we have?”
Dave jumped at the call and began to rummage through the pile of wood, pulling varying lengths from it. Unfortunately, there were only a few 2x4’s. Two were eight feet in length, but the others were no more than 4 feet and some were shorter.
“Not enough 2x4’s.” Max mumbled to himself.
Ross stood and walked over to the pile of wood. He pulled out too long studs.
“What are these?” Ross asked.
“1x4’s. About 8 to 10 feet long. They ran the length of the fence, “ David answered.
“If we put two together,” Ross put two boards back-to-back, “what do we have?”
“2x4’s!” Max shouted, pleased with his brother. “Good work, Ross.”
Ross beamed as he and David pulled enough 1x4’s, each 8 feet long or longer, from the pile to make the supports needed. One support would be placed at each corner and half way between each corner of the long side.
Max marked the spots where each support had to be placed, and set Toby and Carl to work digging the holes. Debbie, Paul, and Nate were sent to find stones to fill in around the stud supports, securing them in the holes. David and Ross, with Max’s help, began fastening the pairs of 1x4’s together.
Once the supporting studs were complete, the cross pieces were attached, each at the same distance from the end. The ground was fairly even and, with holes in which to set the studs of equal depth, the second floor was level.
Toby and Carl finished digging the six holes. Debbie, Paul, and Nate returned with ample stones. It was time to put it all in place. Max and David attached the floor supporting boards to the studs at equal distance from the ends. Nate, Paul, Ross, Toby, and Carl found themselves supporting three eight-foot “H’s”, each connected to the other on the long wall side. David and Max guided each end into its respective hole and braced the ends with stones and dirt. As the others continued the hold their assigned support position, David and Max lifted the platform onto the three cross bars and nailed it in place. They stepped back at Max’s signal and, to everyone’s delight, the structure stood strong.
The afternoon was spent. They walked around the fort admiring their work from different angles as if it were a fine sculpture. Framed out in front of them was a structure they had built, approximately 8 feet high, 6 feet deep, and 12 feet long. Carl and Paul were called for dinner. Dutifully, though reluctantly, they all headed home. Max suggested they meet after dinner. They would further secure the studs by crossing boards below and above the level of the platform on all sides. They would also place the shorter 2x4’s under the joists that supported the platform.
The heat of the afternoon quickly dissipated as the sun made its way towards the horizon. Each worker carried home the sweat and grime of the day’s toil, and the satisfaction in seeing their concept take form. There’s a certain pleasure derived from building and creating, a pleasure, not just in accomplishing something, but of having thought of an idea, worked out a plan, and then seeing the plan to fruition. When they left the hill, with the fort framed out, there was a sense of excitement. When they returned, they finished the framing, strengthening the structure, as Max directed. Max brought a ruler to measure lengths of wood, and a saw to cut them. He directed their placement, and once complete, he invited all to climb through the hole in the platform and sit with him as he watched the sun set and the moon rise.
The next day Max showed them where to put the entrance, how to partition the lower and upper rooms and how to make the roof. Nate, Ross, Debbie, and Paul worked as a team on the siding. Toby and Carl worked on the room partitions while David and Max worked on the roof. The sound of hammering was deafening.
David glanced up for a second to wipe sweat from his forehead; it was more humid this day than it had been the day before. The sun beat down through a gray haze. The leaves on the trees were flipped over by an updraft that portended bad weather. David patted Max on the shoulder. Max stopped hammering and looked up.
“Trouble,” David said and gestured in the direction of Carl’s house were Johnny P. and the Kelly Twins appeared. Max watched them approach with their cocky swagger and prepared himself for a confrontation.
“What have we here?” Johnny said as he drew closer. He focused his attention on Debbie, Paul, and Nate who stood near the pile of boards. Max made his presence known by jumping from the second floor. Johnny brushed Nate aside instead of pushing him down when he saw Max.
“Heard the banging. Thought we’d check out the noise,” Johnny called to Max. The twins stood silently by his side.
“Well,” Max said. “Check it out.”
The side facing Johnny and the twins was nearly complete. Boards of different size and color made the structure appear makeshift, shack-like. Johnny walked up to the partially finished south wall. If he was the least bit impressed, it did not show. He walked to the side where Max had framed a spot for a door, then to the west side that was entirely open. He looked at the opening in the second floor platform, the support beams that rose a full 4 feet above it, and the joists at the top that would support the roof.
“Max and his munchkin brigade,” Johnny said, snidely. He grabbed one of the south side supports and shook it. To his surprise, it did not move. “Solid?” he let slip out, just audibly.
“Do you guys want to help?” Max asked. “We can always use more help.”
Johnny glanced at the twins. They seemed interested, potentially willing to participate. Johnny sensed their interest. He seemed to waver briefly, then looked at Max’s crew. How could he play with the likes of Ross, Nate, Paul, and Debbie?
“What? Help? You’ve got to be kidding. No. I’m no nursemaid. You can keep this daycare program,” Johnny said and walked away. “Come on Tony, Mike. Let’s get out of here.” As they left, Johnny said in a stage whisper for all to hear, “maybe we ought to visit later. See how strong that thing really is.”
“Yeah, “ Tony answered. “Lot of wood. It’d make a great bonfire.” The three laughed and left.
“Max,” Ross angrily demanded. “How could you invite those guys to help us?”
“Because I knew they wouldn’t. At least they had the opportunity.”
“Did you hear what they said?” Ross said still angry, not frightened.
“Yeah, I heard. So, what?” Max said.
“So? What are we going to do? How can you let them say those things about us?”
“Well, first of all,” Max responded, “I don’t think they would be so stupid as to try to destroy this – especially to burn it, and I really don’t care what they say about me or us. I say we get back to work. Come on, David; let’s finish the roof. You guys get as much siding done as you can. I think I’ll sleep out here tonight. Anybody want to join me? David? Carl? Toby?”
“Sounds good,” David answered. Carl and Toby nodded affirmatively.
The four older boys had no trouble securing permission from their parents to sleep in Karl’s yard. The weather had cleared and a request to sleep outside was not unusual on hot summer nights. Nate, Debbie, and Paul hadn’t really wanted to sleep outside and didn’t mind being excluded. Ross, however, was distraught, given the potential confrontation with Johnny P. and the Kelly Twins. Even so, Ross was reluctantly resigned to his mother’s decision to keep him home.
With the wood nearly gone and the nail supply almost exhausted, construction ground to a halt. As the summer evening’s light faded from yellow to red, the crew dispersed. David, Toby, Carl, and Max would return with their sleeping bags, pillows, flashlights, and snacks.
When the four boys returned, they decided to sleep on the second floor, off the ground. Besides, one of special intrigues of the fort was the need to crawl through it, as if through a maze, in order to get to that floor. They set out their sleeping bags, Carl and Toby in one room, and David and Max in the other. Snacks were placed in a plastic bag and hung from a nail.
The heat of the day dissipated as night extinguished the last of the sun’s light. The haze of earlier day had gone, cleared by a gentle steady breeze. The heaven’s stars shone brightly, occasionally obscured by a high cloud that drifted past. The boys sat on their sleeping bags. Carl and Toby elected to take the first watch.
Carl and Toby sat at the edge of the west wall. They listened to the crickets and observed the bats fly from tree to tree snaring moths. Flashlights in hand, they sat and watched vigilantly. Suddenly, Carl and Toby were aroused by the sound of approaching voices. They immediately jumped to the ground and drew their flashlights, switched on the lights, and pointed them in the direction of the sounds.
“Who’s there?” Carl shouted.
Beams of light played across the yard casting eerie shadows as they passed through trees and bushes. They raked the foliage slowly with their lights, back and forth, until the intruders were illuminated. The intruders were Nate and Ross, and Ross was scolding Nate.
“Go home. Stop following me,” Ross whispered loudly obviously annoyed. “Does mom know you’re here? Max isn’t going to be happy when he sees you, especially if mom doesn’t know,” Ross said sternly as he tried to direct Nate towards home.
“Max won’t mind. If you can be here, I can be here,” Nate argued.
Max stepped out of Fort and started towards his younger brothers.
“Ross, Nate, does mom know where you are?” Max shouted.
“Mom thinks I’m asleep. I don’t know what she thinks about him.”
Nate rushed at Ross with his arms extended, hands in tight fists. Max stepped between them and flipped Nate upside down. Nate started to flail his arms at Max. Max laughed.
“Calm down, and I’ll put you down.”
Nate’s arms stopped flailing. Max put him down.
“Let’s go home and talk to Mom, “ Max suggested.
Max told the other boys he’d be right back, and headed home with his two vagabond brothers. Toby, Carl, and David resumed their vigil.
“Do you suppose Johnny P. and the Kelly twins will come? “ Toby asked.
“Not as long as they think Max is here,” David answered.
“I wish he’d hurry back,” Carl added.
“He won’t be long,” David assured them, and it wasn’t long before Max returned. Ross was with him. Nate stayed home. Max and Ross entered the fort and made their way to the second floor. Ross arranged his sleeping bag next to Max’s and made himself at home.
The five boys talked, ate their snacks, and gradually tired. Carl and Toby resumed their watch while David, Max, and Ross rested. It wasn’t long before Ross fell asleep. David and Max soon followed. Around midnight, Carl and Toby aroused them, so they could take their turn at watch.
David and Max sat with their legs dangling from the east wall. The moon had begun its descent, while stars, scattered like so many sequins, adorning the clear summer sky.
“You think they’ll come?” David asked.
“No. I never really thought they would,” Max answered “but it was sure a great excuse to sleep out here. What a great time of the day,” Max continued. “I sometimes wish I didn’t have to sleep. Just think how much we could get done.”
“I guess,” David answered.
They sat in silence for a while and enjoyed the quiet cool darkness of the night.
“David, did you know there isn’t anything we can’t do, if we set our minds to it.”
“Really?”
“Really. I know it; I can feel it. I don’t mean just now, this minute, but in our future. Just like I knew we could build this fort, I know we can do anything. “
David looked at the stars again and smiled inwardly.
The two sat on the wall no longer talking much. In less than an hour, they started to doze. Max suggested they go to sleep doubtful they were in any kind of real danger from Johnny P. and the Kelly Twins, and he was right.
The next morning the five awoke with the rising Sun, gathered their sleeping gear, and trudged home for breakfast. When they returned to the fort shortly after, they began to work again. Max reassigned tasks. They replenished supplies, and by afternoon, the fort was nearly complete. They found enough plywood to cover the roof. Overlapped and slightly slanted to the west, the plywood sheets would surely keep out the rain. They partitioned the rooms as directed and fashioned a door to the east entrance. They made slit-like windows in the south, east, and west walls. The walls were a collage of different woods. In spite of its appearance, it stood strong. Max climbed to the roof to test its strength and found it solid. He nailed short pieces of wood on the west wall to create a ladder for easy access to the roof. After supper the group gathered again. They marveled at their creation. They busied themselves crawling through it and climbing on top of it. Johnny and the Kelly twins arrived early that evening.
“Where’s Max, master wizard, king of the dwarves?” Johnny shouted at Nate.
“By the fort.” Nate pointed up the hill.
“Come on you guys, let’s see what they’ve done.”
Johnny started up the hill as Nate followed. Debbie, who was sitting on the roof, spotted them first. She pounded on the roof with her fist sounding the alarm.
“What’s up?” Max asked from the upper West room where he was working.
“Johnny, Tony, and Mike are back, Max,” she called from above.
Max slid through the trap door, down into the dark lower west room, through the partition into the lower east room, and out the door.
Johnny and his henchmen were just reaching the top of the hill.
“Max,” Johnny called in an insincere friendly voice. “Are you done building this thing?”
“Just about,” Max answered.
“I see you have some trolls on your roof,” Johnny continued.
Max looked towards the roof and saw Debbie and Paul.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” Max asked.
“Show them how to leave,” Ross called through one of the upper room windows.
Toby, Carl, and David, who’d been working on the north side, made an appearance, but remained silent.
“That’s not nice,” Johnny called to Ross. “We just wanted to know if we could help. “
“There’s not much left to do,” Max said.
“Why don’t you three scum buckets just leave?“ Ross called from inside the fort, his face clearly visible at the window.
“There’s a little creep in there with the big mouth I’d like to nail shut,” Johnny said, provoked.
“Yeah?” Ross called back, not about to let Johnny have the last word. “You guys think you are so tough.”
Max turned to shoot a stern look at Ross. As he turned, Mike Kelly picked up a rock and let it fly in Ross’s direction. The rock went high and wide of its intended mark. Paul, who was still standing on the roof, dove to his left to avoid the missile. He fell squarely into Debbie. She tried to hold on to him but couldn’t. He was gone, out of sight, over the west wall. There was a scream as he fell, a brief silence as he thudded firmly into the unforgiving hard ground, then a siren of wild wailing arose from the depths of his lungs.
Max bolted to the west side of the structure where Paul landed. The others followed, all except Johnny, Tony, and Mike, who were running in the opposite direction to flee the scene. Max found Paul lying on the ground sobbing wildly and repeating, “my arm, my arm…”
“It’s okay. It’s okay” Max tried to assure him. Max quickly assessed the situation. Paul was alert moving his head from side to side. His face was tightly grimaced, already wet with tears. His legs were flexed, shaking, kicking, but the movements appeared normal.
“Try not to move your feet, Paul.“ Max spoke calmly, and Paul stopped writhing. “Where does it hurt?”
Paul looked at Max. Calmed by Max’s low controlled voice.
“My arm, Max. My arm.”
Max looked at Paul’s arms. His right arm appeared normal, but the left was positioned grotesquely beside him with what appeared to be a new joint between the elbow and shoulder. His hand appeared dusky and pale. Blood was flowing briskly from a cut in the flesh where a white jagged edge of bone protruded.
“Don’t move, Paul” Max commanded. “Carl, go get your mother. Now!” Max instinctively grabbed the arm just above the fracture and pressed firmly to stop the bleeding.”
“Am I all right?” Paul asked Max
“Just fine, Paul.”
The others stood in silence; paralyzed by the reality of Paul’s plight, frozen by the horror of his twisted, bloody arm. Carl returned with his mother. She reached Paul well before Carl.
“My God!” She cried. “What happened?”
“He fell from the roof, Mrs. Johnson,” Max reported. “I think his arm is broken.”
“Paul, dear.” She stroked his face reassuringly, then saw Paul’s arm. “My God, your arm!”
Mrs. Johnson glanced from Paul to the structure behind them. She was concerned, fearful for Paul, but also angered. She presumed Max was responsible for what happened, but, her concern for Paul, made her concentrate on only him. “Max, don’t move him. I have to go back to the house to call for help.”
She was back shortly and, within minutes, the ambulance arrived. The ambulance attendants placed Paul, pale, in shock, and still in pain, into the ambulance with his mother, and drove away. David’s mother appeared at the street when she heard the ambulance arrive. As it pulled away she placed a reassuring hand on Carl’s shoulder and directed him, David, and Debbie to her house. Max stood in silence, stunned by the event. Ross was angry, vengeful, but his anger was muted by his concern for Paul. Nate stood behind his brothers, unable to fully comprehend what happened. Once the ambulance was out of sight Toby bid Max and his brothers, good-bye and returned home.
Max slept fitfully that night. Images of Paul’s arm, pale and lifeless interrupted his sleep. Max awoke early the next day. He dressed and slipped out of the house. He headed for the Johnson’s yard and the fort. He was tempted to run, hungry for news about Paul, but afraid the news would be bad. He walked slowly, prolonging the suspense, but delaying the sadness if the news were bad. When he arrived at the Johnson’s house, he stood in front of the back door hoping someone would sense his presence. He was suddenly startled by a loud bang and the sound of breaking wood as if shattered by a cannonball. Again and again there was a loud crack and the sound of splintering wood.
“The fort!” Max thought. He turned in the direction of the fort, and sprinted up the hill. There at the top of the hill was Mr. Johnson, sledgehammer in hand, broken wood littering the ground before him, shattered, as if bombed. Mr. Johnson continued to flail away at the structure. He stopped, placed the hammer down, and attacked wood with his hands prying the broken boards off and tossing them aside. He worked feverishly as if possessed. He raged at the instrument that had led to his son’s injury. Max stood twenty feet from Mr. Johnson. Max watched sadly as he witnessed the violent dismantling of their creation. He was powerless to interfere and, at the same time, accepting of the action, as a punishment for what happened to Paul. He watched the sweat pour from Mr. Johnson, soaking his face. His arms glistened with sweat, and sweat darkened his shirt under his arms across his chest and back. Max lowered his head in sadness and shame for what he now confirmed he had done to Paul. He winced with each blow to the wooden structure as if it were he who was being hit. He screamed and groaned inwardly as the wood screamed and groaned as it split.
As Mr. Johnson turned to wipe the sweat from his forehead, he saw Max. He turned to Max. Max looked up into Mr. Johnson’s enraged eyes. Max’s first instinct was to run; but taught never to fear the consequences of one’s actions; he stood there with respect and remorse.
“He almost lost his arm, Max,” Mr. Johnson said.
“Will he be okay?” Max asked, his voice trembling, tears coming to his eyes.
“The doctors think so. You probably saved him by putting pressure on the cut and getting Mrs. Johnson.”
Max felt inward pride, but saw no reason to be happy.
“This goes,” Mr. Johnson said, pointing to what was left of the fort. “You apparently brought all this wood here. Now you can haul it away and dispose of it properly.”
It took less than a week to build, several hours to destroy. Destroyed so that little wood could be salvaged, with no possibility of reconstruction, no further injuries, and so that all that remained were the memories of what had been.
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