Jonathots Daily Blog
(4001)
Sitting Thirteen
Karin ran out of ladylike ways to handle the situation. She wanted to seem intelligent, in control or even demure. But the sight of a young boy walking toward a hand grenade which was capable of tearing his body to shreds, not to mention casting lethal shrapnel in her direction, stirred up all of her jungle instincts.
She ran and tackled Iz and threw him to the ground as the soldier made his way up the embankment to the grenade.
Even though Iz struggled—apparently possessed by some sort of demon of self-destruction—Karin climbed on his back and held him down, as the two lay panting, staring at the stumbling soldier like two chums on their bellies in front of a movie screen.
When Minioz came within two meters of the grenade, he paused, chin rubbing, head scratching, hands on hips, with loud cursing. He then gently tiptoed a centimeter at a time, closer and closer. Then, in one lightning-fast motion, he picked it up and held it in his hand.
Karin braced herself, ready for the impact of explosion.
Nothing.
The absence of nothing.
A perturbing, chilling silence.
Minioz looked around at the desert like a man discovering treasure, wondering if others passing by had seen. He was grateful.
Then he fell to his knees and started digging a hole. The sand was loose and light, and in no time at all, a two-meter chasm was unearthed. He dropped the dud inside and used his arms to quickly spread the sand over the top.
In the meantime, Karin had gradually climbed off Iz as the boy calmed, gaining sensibility. She flipped him over on his back, pinned his arms and shouted into his face, “Iz, what in the hell were you thinking?”
He stared at her—no, beyond her—and replied, “It just seemed like the time for us to die.”
Before Karin could respond, the sergeant, having completed his burial detail, suddenly stood and ran down the hill toward his jeep. Karin quickly pulled Iz to his feet. “Listen, I need to catch a ride with him. I will be back. Do you understand me? I am coming back. You must promise me…”
She stopped. What did she want to say? What was he supposed to promise? The young fellow was obviously damaged and needed some help. His friend was on a lark and didn’t realize the serious nature of his buddy’s situation. So what promise could Iz keep?
In the midst of her deliberation, Iz pointed and said, “Lady, look.”
Karin quickly glanced down the hill as the soldier leaped into his jeep, frantically started the engine, put it in gear, whirled it around and took off.
Karin just shook her head and said, “Wow.”
“I guess you’re stuck here with us,” Iz said.
Karin collapsed back onto the sand, half in exhaustion and half exasperation. She said, “My mother told me never to date soldiers. She said everything they have is a weapon, and unfortunately, they’re still in training.”
Pal walked up and looked down at the defeated reporter. “I guess we don’t have a grenade anymore,” he said.
Iz shook his head and intoned, “That’s not good.”
Karin looked at the two boys, who had obviously separated the little bit of sense they once had from the reality they now knew.
They didn’t understand.
No one understood.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation for this inspirational opportunity
Jonathots Daily Blog 
