Mutinous

The Capitals Return

"Gaura. Come outside" yells mom. Her eyes are filled with pain and defeat, but she cannot see anything.

I look away remembering the time when mom could see, the sunset rise and set, the gulls sit on the warfs, the trees blowing in the wind.

But though days are over, we both wish, and pray one day mom will see again.

My father has died in a war, they say it was a terrible one. It had to be to kill my father. With my mothers story's he is alive in my heart forever.
I am snapped out of my thoughts after mom picks up a package and hands it to me.

I pull the pink ribbon along the purple cardboard. Smoothly and genteelly I open the top of the box.

There is a strange bird planted on a piece of card stock. I don't recall ever seeing that logo before.

I remove the card and reveal a note

"Curfew: 7:30. Anyone out after the given time shall be shot on the spot"

I drop it.

What force wants us to be inside our houses? Why will they shoot us?
"What is it?" She says. I can't tell her. Not now, not ever. "A box of chocolates from grandma." I say.

"Okay, you can have them. Don't tell grandma I said this now, but her chocolates make me puke."

"Okay." I say quickly shoving the note in the box.

Time passes and sure enough I'm forced to stay inside after the curfew has hit.

I think about the logo so much my head starts to hurt. "Mom?" I say

There is no answer.

"Mom?"

There she is.

Out hanging clothes on the clothes line.