spread open and pointing sharply in two different directions, Eric burst out laughing again. He laughed so hard that he fell down to his knees.
2
It was a long bus ride to the school. He sat next to Mr. Cluster who didn’t say a word to him. When the bus arrived at school, Mr. Cluster stood up and turned around.
“Go and have your lunch.”
The big doors were opened and Mr. Cluster grabbed Eric by the collar and marched him off the bus like he was a prisoner of war. But before they could disembark, the bus driver snatched Eric’s arm.
“My grandfather died in the war.” He snarled at Eric who didn’t seem to have any reaction.
Eric sat in Ms. Notthingham’s office for an hour while his stomach grumbled hard.
“How could you do such a thing? Do you think we take you to these ceremonies so you can besmirch the name of this school? Do you realize the sacrifices that those people made for you? Well do you have anything to say?”
“No ma’am.”
No, but what I really want to say is that you’re looking pretty hot today. How about you and that Donna slut and me do a threesome? What do you say Ms. Hot Stuff?
“Then what the hell is so damn funny?”
Mr. Cluster looked away in fear that he would lunge at the boy and slap him hard.
“Nothing.”
“Then wipe that damn smirk off your face. You are suspended and when you come back you have detention for the next two months.”
Mr. Cluster brought out the squashed poppy. Ms. Nottingham looked at it and she almost went berserk again. She picked it up and nearly washed Eric’s face with it.
“My grandfather sacrificed his life so little snots like you can play video games and criticize everything with your kindergarten remarks. You’re going to go home and write a five thousand-page essay on the importance of the poppy. I want it on my desk by Monday morning.”
He opened his mouth to protest but knew better.
“Get out of my office.”
“Your father should be here to pick you up in a few minutes. I’ll wait with you.” Mr. Cluster didn’t look at Eric. They walked out of the office together.
3
It was a long ride home and his father didn’t say a word. Suddenly, they turned down a different road.
“This isn’t the way home.”
His father remained silent until they pulled up to the cemetery. “Since you didn’t act properly during the first ceremony then you’ll behave right the second time around.”
They walked out of the car and Eric followed his father who knew exactly where he was going. They arrived at a neat, well-kept tombstone.
“Read the name.”
Eric appeared puzzled. “Alfred Sanderson. What gives?”
“He was my great uncle. He was in World War II and came back damaged goods. He lived in the hospital for a few months before he took his life to get away from the enemy.”
“I had no idea.”
“Now you do. Come on, let’s go.”
They started to walk and nearly ran over the old woman. She was dressed in an army uniform and smiled at both of them.
“Isn’t that nice a father teaching his son an important life lesson?”
“Good day.”
“But you don’t have a poppy young man.” The old woman reached in her pocket and pulled out a poppy. She pinned it to Eric’s jacket before he knew what was happening. “There you go.”
Eric’s father shoved him.
“Thank you.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Eric and his dad left.
4
It was late at night and the light on Eric’s desk was on. He sat in front of the computer staring at the screen.
“How the fuck am I supposed to write five thousand words about a poppy?”
He looked at the three words on the screen: The poppy is…..
There was a soft knock on the door.
“It’s open.”
His father walked in. “Lights out in a few minutes. How’s the essay coming?”
“I’m having a hard time getting started.”
“Just put your heart into it.”
“Sure.”
That’s easy for you to say cause you don’t have to write five thousand words.
“Good night son. I hope that you learned a lesson today.” His father left.
Eric looked at the poppy that the elderly woman had given him and shrugged his shoulders. A few minutes later he shut the light off and got ready for bed.
He was in bed when he got out and went over to the desk and picked up the poppy. Before he knew what he had done, he pinned it to the sweatshirt that acted as his pajama top. He went back to bed.
5
Eric was standing in a field and all around him there were thousands of poppies. The wind blew through his hair and moved the poppies back and forth like weepy, silent mourners at a military funeral.
Suddenly, a bomb went off not so far away. He looked around and there were soldiers running past him carrying very large guns. There was a siren and suddenly a bunch of planes came rumbling overhead.
“Get down you fool.” A hand dragged him down to the ground.
Eric looked up and saw some guy that was vaguely familiar.
“Who are you?”
“It doesn’t matter. We can do instructions later on. If you don’t move your ass, you’re going to get killed. Come on.”
All the other men ducked and started to shoot at the planes.
“Damn bastards,” growled Uncle Alfred. “Well don’t just sit there shoot at ‘em.”
Eric looked in his hands and he possessed a gun. “But I don’t know how to.”
Uncle Alfred, frustrated, took the gun a quick second and shook his head. “Just aim and fire.” He threw it back
