Chapter 3

Dennis froze in place, hand about to grab a plate.

"Hold on, Dallas- the president was heading there today, right?" Mister Jones asked.

"Y-yeah. He was there, people knew about it, but… who on earth is attacking us if it isn't the commies?" Mister Carlson asked.

Nobody answered as the special report continued, Dennis tuning out the noise of the ongoing murmurs within the diner as his mind began conjuring up the images of Dallas under attack in his mind, where he stood.

He quietly watched as his mother walked over to the radio and turned the volume up slightly. The reporter was now speaking with an eyewitness, presumably live from the city, and finally attempting to answer the question they all had in mind.

"…witnesses are describing men in roman-like armor, and… and monsters? Fairy tale creatures? Did I understand you correctly, sir?"

Everyone winced from the statement.

Monsters? Fairy tale creatures?

A man that sounded like he was jittering began to speak then.

"Y-yes sir, I was… I was with my wife, planning on seeing the president. We were on our way to the Plaza, and… and they just... they just came barreling down the road, you know? Cavalry- I mean men on... on horseback with swords, stabbing anyone they saw, shattering windows, throwing these spears into people, just... killing anyone they saw. I- I… I managed to get Linda- my wife, into a little shop, try to hide because… I didn't have my gun… we managed to sneak away, but sir, I saw… saw these large… things in the sky. Flying... not planes or birds, but... I swear, they looked like dragons, real dragons I mean. I saw what I can only describe as fat ugly men ten feet tall with these… these weird… pig… or hog-like… heads-” then, as if exasperated, “They're monsters, I don't know what else to call 'em! They were… cutting people down like nothing! Just… Awful!"

A pause.

"And this was a coordinated effort?" the reporter asked.

Another pause.

"Sure, looked like one! There was this cavalry charging down the street, then behind them were the large creatures… I didn’t get a great look earlier, but sometimes you can see the dragons flying around over the buildings, patrolling I reckon, ‘cause they seem to have men riding them, and in the air force we usually do reconnaissance with aircraft, so maybe that's what they were for… the guys on horses were almost paving the way for the monsters and cavalry, clearing the streets, but what really makes no sense is… why? We don’t know where they came from, who they are, what they want... The hospital here is getting overwhelmed for God’s sake! They’re killing so many people and we have no idea why!"

Yet another pause.

"As you can see, folks, it seems that the United States has been attacked once again, and thus far, there is no word or demand from the attacking forces; all that is known is that they are hostile and seemingly fantastic in origin. The police have formed defensive perimeters across various streets and have appeared to hold the attackers at bay, though we can see smoke rising from here from Parkland Memorial Hospital. The National Guard is expected to begin mobilizing, though what form of response will be necessary is as of this moment unknown. Governor Connally has urged everyone to remain calm and let the authorities handle the ongoing situation. We will continue to report as the situation unfolds...”

Dennis felt the sounds dissipate as eyes in the diner slowly turned to him, the most worry-filled belonging to his mother. So, needing a distraction, he fixed his sight on staring out the window, eyeing the green trees and grass in the afternoon sun outside. He didn’t say anything. What was there to say, really? No one spoke, no one ate; the news continued in the background.

It was Mister Jones who finally broke the silence, saying "Don't know what they were thinking invading Texas with swords. Guns beat swords nine times out of ten."

"Nine?" the youngest of the miners asked, eyebrow raised.

It was the older Carlson who said "Misfires, reload… had a cousin who fought in Okinawa, said the Japs would rush you with their swords and if you weren't quick enough you would be… uh… cut down… still, there's a reason we mowed them down when they tried it."

The last part seemed to be added to ease the look of discomfort his mother wore, her features shifting slightly as she probably tried to hide the inner turmoil she was probably feeling. Probably. Dennis wasn’t a mind-reader, but as he watched her expression drop, worry written all over her face as she remained silent, he had a pretty good idea why.

Silence again, Dennis half-listening to the radio report coming in on the scientific opinion on the ongoing situation despite it being the only sound in the diner. His mind thinking of what he could say. Play it all off as nothing to worry about? Just deny his mother’s fears? Assurance, maybe? How exactly could he assure her now?

So, he remained silent, instead.

After a moment, Mister Jones yet again broke the silence.

"Err… we should be getting back… Chris, you need any change?"

"I-I got it… thank you for the meal, Miss Orville."

"Yeah, thank you… See you around, Dennis, Agatha."

“Thanks, Terry, Chris... I’ll see you gentlemen later, alright?” she managed, forcing a smile Dennis didn’t have to see to know she wore as she waved the men goodbye.

The men shuffled out of the home, leaving the mother and son on their own, the deathly silence returning as his mother shut the radio off.

She spoke then.

"You don't have to go… I know some of the men can find you some work here."

No, that wouldn’t do, and he knew that she knew that much. He turned to her and locked eyes as he answered her.

"I want to, ma. I… I can't sit by and just watch, I want to be somewhere I can do something… something other than… than listen to reporters talk about it over the waves!" he said, sounding a bit more forceful than he meant to.

He noticed his mother’s pained expression and looked away from her, partly ashamed, partly because he knew she was coming from a good place. But there were no more words on the matter that hadn't already been said, and it was long decided where he would go. The flag and photograph of his father stood silent on the far end of the room’s wall, a reminder.

Oh, he could easily find work in town. Easy work, as well. But Dennis Orville wasn’t interested in that. There was college, too. He could go, try and get a degree. But ultimately, Dennis Orville had no interest in college.

The back of his head was still somewhat shaved from boot camp, and his stance was still rigid.

He was already in the Army.

Even at age 17.

Dennis Orville, the latest boy in a line of soldiers, had no qualms about joining the American Armed Forces.

“But... you can stay in the reserve...” she spoke slowly.

Dennis nodded in kind.

His mother had reluctantly agreed to let him enlist early he knew, even if it meant she would be alone for quite some time while he trained. Being in the reserve would make it so he didn’t have to be apart as much, as well so long as no major conflict broke out after all. But now...

He said, “But it pays more, and I can do more there.”

She said nothing for a moment.

His mother hadn’t stopped him. Not yet. The black and white photograph of a smiling young man in the older United States Army uniform that hung on the wall was an eternal reminder of the risk.

Still...

She finally nodded silently, turning to pick up the dirty plates and glasses that remained, saying "Alright. Give me a hand with the dishes, please."

“Ma...”

She turned to him, the weak smile on her face silencing him immediately.

“I know. I know... you want to go. And you know I worry... that I just can’t help myself... If I let worry fully control me, I would stop you.”

Her smile wavered slightly.

“But I know you can do some good where you go, and that’s all I want from you, alright?”

He nodded, slowly, seemingly abashed.

“Good. Come on then. Dishes won’t wash themselves and alien invasion or not, you’re still here.”

He nodded again, doing as told.