| Jake looked over and saw that Brian had also been hit by the water-balloon. Both boys allowed their bikes to stall in the middle of the intersection. Lucky for them there was such little traffic that the intersection did not even merit a stop sign on any of the four directions. They watched through the road dust that the Norther’s bikes had kicked up. Brian kicked his bike back to life and Jake did likewise. They neither said anything, both rode on to Brian’s house still soaked and now cold from the wind caused by the ride. Jake pulled up next to Brian as he got off his bike and removed his shirt. He wrung it out while looking at Jake and saying, “Big mistake. I thought maybe we were going to have a summer where maybe the Southers and the Northers got along since football is coming up and all. Two-a-days start the second week of August. That’s about sixty days from now.” “Fifty-five.” Jake noted. “Just sayin’.” “Yeah, okay, fifty-five. Well come the start of season, we are going to have to be on the same team. I don’t have to tell you football trumps any small-time feud we might have between the north side of Staywell and the south side. They know it too. Hell that’s probably why they came down and went swimming with us the other day. To talk things over that we do have football coming up. The only thing they didn’t mention was that they were coming down to make sure we were going to be friends when season starts: so they could have the green light to start a war with us in the meantime.” “You and Mike couldn’t have worked that all out and approached this like men?” Jake asked, inferring that the sneak attack had been an act that was less than honorable. Certainly not worthy of being an act that a real man would do. “They do leave a bit to be desired when it comes to being a representative for all of us in town, don’t they?” Brian asked. It was a rhetorical question to anybody that had grown up with them. “I guess I will see you tomorrow.” Jake said. “What are the plans for tomorrow anyways?” Brian gave a snort like it was a really dumb question. If Jake were honest, he would have admitted it was a dumb question. He knew what they were going to do. He just didn’t know for sure how they were going to go about it. “Want me to bring some balloons?” Jake asked smiling. “Baggies work better. Way better. Alligator baggies. I’m surprised you don’t know this? I guess you weren’t around when we went through the water bag fighting phase here?” He was talking about their pool. Obviously they went through a period where they had a lot of water balloon fights. “The baggies split open easily. That’s a plus but it also means you have to be somewhat careful with how you handle them. You know what the single reason they are by far the best things to use when having a water-balloon fight?” He didn’t wait for a guess. “Its because you can fit a lot of things into the mouth of that baggie. You can only fit water into a balloon, not too mention they often are too strong and will bounce off your intended target.” “The alligator bags won’t do that?” Jake asked. “Nope. They even cost less. Its a win-win.” Brian replied. “Okay. I’m going to get going. I want to stop by the quick-shop and by some alligator bags so I will have them tomorrow. After tomorrow I will always be riding with ammunition.” “Me too. Hey if you go, pick me up some too. I’ll pay you back.” Brian asked. “No worries.” Jake replied. He kicked his motorcycle to life and sped off toward the quick-shop. By the time he left with his purchases, the sun was starting its way down on the western horizon. Jake sped home. When he reached the point where they had been attacked with the water balloons earlier that day, he got it again. Two of bikes, the same two, with the same four guys on them, roared up and splattered Jake good. Since Brian wasn’t with him, they were able to concentrate on getting him wet. They were very successful. Jake had a cold ride home. It wasn’t terribly uncomfortable but it wasn’t how a guy would choose to ride. It was okay. Tomorrow revenge would be served. Only Jake had an idea that would allow for a much better attack than the ones he endured. Today, the enemy attacked using single-shot muskets. Tomorrow, the enemy was going to find out what it was like to charge a machine gun. The thought kept him warm all the way home. —————— Chapter ———————— Phone calls were made that night. Plans were made. Resources were checked and if needed, supplies brought in. The Southers generals kept their phone lines warm until everything was organized for the upcoming battle. Everyone was to meet at Brian’s house in the morning. Denny and Cory were warned to be extra careful when coming out to Brian’s since they had to travel through the Northers territory. It was getting warmer, earlier in the mornings. A sure sign that June was not far from giving way to July and that summer had arrived. Everybody was on time and they began their day by creating their arsenal. Two outside hoses were put into use as the boys filled up their water balloons, or in the case of Jake and Brian, their water-filled alligator baggies. Next came an important aspect which nobody thought about. They needed a way to carry the water bombs, which would not cause them to explode prematurely. Jake saw a plastic bucket laying around Brian’s garage. He asked could he use it and forty-five minutes later he and the other boys all had fashioned a bucket, box, or basket, onto their respective bikes. |  Jake put his bucket so it was strapped to the back left side of his Honda. He was left-handed which gave him a decided advantage in this battle. All the right-handed riders had to take their hands off the gas-petals to throw anything. He did not. Jake could actually speed up while throwing. Of course in either case the rider had to take a hand off the handle bars. A dangerous endeavor under the best of circumstances but a feat harder to do when you cannot maintain a steady speed. Brian went with a basket that he strapped to the front of his bike. Denny and Cory both used sturdy boxes which they duct-taped to their bikes. Jeff found an old plastic sword sheath that he was able to stick a few water bombs into; and then he strapped it to his bike using a rubber strap that truckers use to hold their tarps on the trucks. He had found it on the road while riding. They were common to find though about half of them would prove to be broken. The other fifty-percent were very handy things to have. When spotted, the boys would stop riding and see if the strap was a broken one or one they could use. If useable, they would strap it to their bike so they would have it to use later. Just such instances as this water-bomb war, were the proof that it paid to keep your eye out for free things. After getting their carriers strapped or duck-taped to their bikes, the boys began filling them with their water bombs. There was some trouble getting situated. The water bombs made from the alligator baggies were very unstable, but could be counted on to explode on contact. Something the other versions of water bombs, could not boast. “Lets go!” Brian said, then he kicked his motorcycle to life. “We’ll cruise the cliffs first. If they are not there then we can swing down to the steps and see if they are there. After that we can head north and cruise their territory. “Wahoo!” Jeff exclaimed over the sound of his bike roaring to life. The rest of the boys brought their bikes to ready and Brian led them out. They fell into place down the cement driveway to where it changed to gravel. Before too much of a cloud of dust was raised the group came to stop while Brian looked both ways. Seeing it was clear he led the four other bikes to cruise their territory in search of the enemy that had ambushed them the day before. The “Cliffs” were nothing more than a hillside which had been cut into to make way for the train tracks. The inside of the hill revealed to be all rock so the railroad company was forced to dynamite the hillside back to where they wanted it. The remains were a sharp-sided hillside that stair-stepped its way down to the level of the tracks. The kids would sit with their legs hanging off the stair-steps of the rock hillside. It was popular for both making out and for just partying. True that the cliffs were more often used during the night-time hours than during the day. That was the case when the Southers rolled up on them. Next Page |