Fortress

(Signs of the Times is a work of fiction based on true events. Views expressed are the characters’ own. Viewer discretion is advised.)

Marshal is sitting in the passenger seat of his mom’s compact sedan. He waits for his mom to start driving. He stares at the shelves in their garage, wondering if he will make it to school on time.

She finally presses the ignition button. The A/C and the engine purr cut through the silence.

“Sorry, honey,” she says. “Let’s get you to the first day of school!” Her smile is strained. But Marshal just wants his mom to be happy. He smiles back. Teeth and all.

It’s not a far drive, and neither of them thinks to turn the radio on. Marshal looks out the window. Streams of houses, each more familiar and similar than the last blur in his vision.

They arrive at school. Although, this is not the school he used to go to. It occupies the same land as the previous one. It is similar, but it is distinctly different.

Gone are the wooden perimeter fences, the low chain link, and crèshes of kids huddled on the perimeter of the school before the bell tolls and they run in. This is all replaced by a tall, black iron fence with the pickets of each metal rod coming to a sharp point.

Marshal’s mom stops the car in front of the large sheet-metal gates that designate the only entrance to the school. A guard stands beside the gate with a big rifle. A white bit of plastic hangs from his ear and disappears into his collar. A lone, bright yellow, smiley-face pin adorns the ballistic vest he’s wearing.

Marshal’s mom begins to cry.