FOR HONOR

Tom's posse of neighborhood boys gather in his back yard. Today, they are ninjas. A couple of the boys, including Tom, have karate outfits. The others wear robes and strips of cloth tied around their heads. They have all kinds of weapons. A couple have wooden swords. One has his pockets full of pine cones. One boy has plastic nunchaku. Another has a lightsaber. One just has a long stick.

"Ok, boys, The emperor's daughter has been kidnapped, and is guarded by a fiend most foul." Tom points up to the treehouse where Lily, wearing a kimono, waves down at them. Tom's dog, next to her, barks.

"His death shall be swift!" says Daniel.

"I shall save the damsel and bring honor on my family!" says Johnny.

"Where's Jim?"

Jim runs into the yard carrying a plastic sai. He wears glasses. "Sorry, guys. I had to go to the eye doctor."

"You have to wear glasses?" asks Ted.

"Yeah. The doctor says I'm nearsighted," says Jim.

"Fellow ninjas, we must be careful not to break Jim's glasses. Now, for honor!" says Tom.

"For honor!" repeats the posse.

The boys fight each other and try to scramble up the ladder to the treehouse without be pulled down by the others. Ted pulls Jim down and scrambles up. Jim's glasses fall off.

"STOP!" yells Tom. All the boys stop while Tom helps Jim up and gives him his glasses. "Ok, go!" The fight continues.

Johnny monkeys up the treehouse rope, slays the fiend, and saves the princess. In other words, he drops the pine cones around the dog, tells him to play dead, and screams, "FOR HONOR!" while leading Lily back down the rope.


Elizabeth Williamson Copyright © 2011