Ask your questions. *raises water gun* or I will shoot you.

*quickly throws water gun* no I'm just kidding I love y'all so much but please pretend my threat still stands.

—~•~—

Heart pounding I'm his chest, John recorded the paper and tucked it his pocket.

"Hey Mary, have you seen Martha's mushroom collection?" He asked his sister.

"Yes." She nodded.

"Wanna go... see them again?"

"You're trying time get rid of me." She pouted, then pointed at his pocket. "What did it say?"

"Oh... nothing." John forced a smile.

"That's a dumb letter." Mary huffed.

"Ok fine I lied. It's just... it's from my— a friend of mine. I need to go talk to dad, so please go see Martha or Henry, I can't have you out here alone."

"You never talk to dad." Mary scrunched up her face in confusion.

"Well I've got to right now. Please Mary."

She huffed but agreed, picking up the painting and walking back to the house.

John let out a breath and grabbed the paint and brushes with shaky hands, heading back behind his sister. He put the things he was carrying on the first available surface and walked to the staircase, heading to his father's office.

Once in front of the door, John stuck his hand in his pocket and fiddled with the paper, reconsidering his decision.

He partially unfolded the paper in his pocket then folded it again it, knocking on the door.

"Who is it?" Henry Sr.'s voice rang out through the door.

"Your son." John replied. "The old one."

"Get in here John."

John pushes open the door and walked into the unfriendly room, stepping up to his father's desk.

"What is it?" Henry Sr. snapped. "It's not about your marriage, right? I told you I wasn't canceling it."

"No, it's not." John took a deep breath. "I want to go to war."

"Why?"

"I just..." John fumbled for a non-homosexual excuse. "I'm tired of watching everything happen and not being able to do anything. I want to go help."

Henry Sr. sighed. "I guess we could make that happen."

"Thank you."

Henry fished through his drawer and pulled out a pamphlet, tossing if across the desk at John.

"Choose one."

Without a word, John picked up the pamphlet and read through it, seeing the names of the camps with their locations and a few other informations.

John was looking for Alex's whereabouts but they were impossible to find and somehow he knew that the shroom had been moved.

When he saw that there was absolutely no sign of his friend, John decided to let luck choose for him and handed the papers back to his father.

"Did you pick?" Henry Sr. asked.

"No, I don't really care where I go."

His father hummed and put the pamphlet back where it was, and dismissed John with a wave of his hand.

John walked out of the room and shut the door, walking down the stairs and taking shaky breaths as he stepped into his room.

He took the folded letter out of his pocket and put it with all the others. The ink stained paper and wonky folds contrasted oddly with the other mail which was all neat and spotless. John had just hidden the letters away again when the door opened and Mary waddled in.

"Hey Mary." John grinned at his sister, who pouted. "What's wrong?"

Her frown deepened and she glared silently, sitting on her brother's bed. John sighed and went to sit next to her.

"Mary, what's up?"

"Henry and Martha didn't want to be with me and you were busy."

"Well I'm here now, what do you want to do?"

"Are you gonna leave?"

I opened my mouth to lie but her wide eyes compelled me to do the opposite of that and so I pulled her into my lap and hugged her tightly.

"Yes, yes I am." I whispered. "I'm sorry Mary."

She clutched my arms protectively.

"But until then let's have some fun, ok? What do want to do?"

She didn't respond, only held on tighter.

"Hey, you know who'd love to go for a ride?"

She looked up questioningly, her little brain (as in small child brain, not that she's an idiot) not being able to stay sad when a question was tossed her way.

"Darwin." I smiled and a grin crept onto her lips. "Wanna go ride Darwin?"

She nodded enthusiastically and hopped up, heading out the door and to the stables where the horses (and most importantly Darwin) were patiently waiting. We stopped in front of Darwin's stall. My horse neighed softly and pressed his soft nose into my hand as I stroked his face.

"Can I ride Darwin alone?" Mary asked, leaning on the stall.

"You're a little small for that... what about Pirate?" Pirate was James's pony but he let Mary ride whenever.

"No!" She whined. "I want Darwin!"

I glanced at the white horse.

"Just this once, hear me? And I'm riding beside you on Cooper." I bargained.

"Yay!!" She squealed, clapping her hands.

"Shh." I pressed my finger to my lips. "Don't excite the horses."

"Sorry." She whispered solemnly.

I grinned and saddled Darwin and Cooper, tying them up outside. I hoisted Mary onto my horse and climbed onto Cooper, not before untying them of course. We set out across the field to the horse path, me keeping a close eye on my sister from beside her.

According to Henry Sr. the horses had no names, for example, Darwin was "John's horse" and Cooper was "the ginger one". John had taken pity on the beasts and singlehandedly named all the ones that they had at the time. Then his siblings caught on and suddenly every new horse had to be named the second they met it. John kept his eyes trained on his sister, thoughts wandering from horses to Alex to the war then back to Alex before sticking there.

Alex. He needs help.

His thoughts stuck on that and it was lingering in his mind until he fell asleep that night.

—~•~—

So sorry it took so long to come out, I ran out of prewritten chapters and imagination. All good now though (on the imagination front. Still got no prewritten chapters)

Love y'all
Starii🌼