My alarm clock went off and I lazily slapped the ‘off’ toggle. It was only five thirty in the morning, but Hector had mentioned the day before that he wanted to go running before it got too hot outside. Before I could fully wake up, the door to my room crept open and Hector walked in. The hallway was still dark so I couldn’t exactly see who it was, but as soon as I started getting beaten by a pillow I knew it was Hector coming to wake me up.

“I’m up I’m up. My lord didn’t you hear my clock go off?”

“Well yes of course, but I just wanted to be sure. Better to double check, right?” Still groggy, all I could manage was “uh huh”. Once Hector left I slipped into some shorts and an old t-shirt. When I went downstairs Hector was already tying his shoes.

“No morning tea?”

“Nah. prefer running on an empty stomach. Less chance of throwing up”

“I don’t think eating will guarantee a sick stomach, but that’s fine. Where are we running Hector?”

“I was thinking of doing the park pathway. Think you can handle it Donny?”

“Ya that won’t be too tough. You mind if we take the long way back home? I’d like one last look at the town before we ship out tomorrow”

“Sure why not.” We stretched our legs as we walked to the park entry. If anyone saw us we would have looked absolutely absurd, taking random lunges down the street, swinging our legs widely as we walked. I should go out in the early morning more often. There was enough light that you didn’t have to struggle to see, but the sun wasn’t up so you wouldn’t be blinded when running eastward. The air was cool enough to refresh you while you ran, but not enough to chill you. Ideal conditions for morning exercise. Once we reached the park, Hector and I did some final stretching.

“How much runnin’ do you think we’ll have to do for training Donny?”

“I don’t know. I’d imagine it would be walking long distances with heavy loads more so than running. Doesn’t hurt to be prepared though.”

“Let’s hope it’s in as nice of weather as this.”

“Here’s hoping.” We started a brisk walk, evolving into a jog, speeding up to a well paced run. The goal was to build endurance, so the two of us refrained from running as fast as we physically could. The winding path of the park was a nice change from the monotonous circling of the neighborhood we ran before. Slowing down as we approached and rounded bends, then speeding up for straights on the pathway. The cooler morning air took my breath away faster than it normally would, but the slight burning in the lungs hadn’t reached a point that I needed to stop. The two of us had run for about twenty minutes before Hector indicated he needed to stop. He placed his hands on his knees, slightly bent over. His breathing was rapid, trying to take in as much oxygen as possible. I was in a better condition seeing as I had run longer and more frequently than Hector had ever done in the past.

“Five minutes. Let’s just, whoo, walk for five minutes. Man this is rough. I should have started running a while ago. Ugh.” I stood there waiting for Hector to catch his breath more before we started walking.

“Well I think you’re definitely getting better Hector, for such a short period of time that is.”

“You’re just saying that to get me to run more. I refuse! Walking, walking is so much nicer. Ya think Fritz likes walking to? I think so. Boy do I have so many ideas for the army once we are at base.”

“Ah yes, they will definitely listen to your suggestions. Especially after they get to know you.” I shot Hector a wink.

“How do you do that?”

“What? Wink?”

“Ya. No one else in the family can do it. We don’t even know anyone that can do it either!”

“What if I told you there was a secret winking school, where young men and women can hoan their natural winking abilities?”

“Then I’d say you’re a dirty liar!” Hector laughed, and as he did so I casually looked over his shoulder into the trees of the park. While the lighting at the start of the run was enough to see, had it not gotten brighter I wouldn’t have noticed two figures slumped together in the nook of a tree's large roots. An evil grin spread on my face.

“Would you say I’m a dirty liar if I told you there was a certain Hollar sleeping, all cozied up to a Ms. Damoi, under a tree?”

“Well that’s oddly specif…ooohh” Hector said as he caught on to what I was saying and turned to face the same direction. He started giggling like a merry little girl.

“Oh this is going to be good,” he said, “what plan should we concoct?”

“hmm , I don’t know. Honestly just waking them up and seeing their reactions is enough for me.”

“How elegantly simple Donovin. I wonder how Ben is going to explain this one, as if they’ve been “subtle” up until now. May I have the honour Donny?”

“After you good sir.” We crept up to the two of them, still fast asleep, stifling laughter as we grew closer. Once we were directly in front of them we could see Cheryl had wrapped an arm around Benjamin, with her head resting on his shoulder. Ben’s head was leaning against and atop her own, and the blanket they had brought had fallen slightly from their shoulders.

“Hey there buddy”, Hector said as he gently shook Ben’s shoulder, “Long night?” I continued to try and suppress my laughter as Ben was slowly roused. He opened his eyes slightly, looked at the two of us, but must not have registered who we were right away as he sort of settled back into the tree and Cheryl. It must have suddenly hit him because he suddenly jolted wide awake, waking up Cheryl in the process. Hector and I completely lost control and started howling in delight. Now the two of them were fully awake, faces as red as raspberries. Cheryl drew in the blanket over her more and looked away, while Benjamin got up and gave Hector a shove.

“What the He..why are you guys here?!”

“We were out for a run.” I said through tears and gasping. I was more out of breath than Hector, who was on the ground hooting like a mad animal, had been from running. Cheryl had stood up and folded the blanket during this.

“I’d ask you the same thing, but it seems that question might be too intimate in your case!” Hector laughed even harder at this.

“It was nothing! We just fell asleep while we were stargazing. Nothing happened!”

“Try explaining that to mom. She's gonna be livid!” I struggled to get that sentence out, still shaking with laughter. Hector was out of commission at that point, balled up on the ground shaking, laughing so hard that no sound was coming out, just the wheeze of air escaping his lungs.

“It’s not that funny.” Benjamin scowelled. Cheryl looped her arm around his and they started walking towards the entrance of the park, leaving Hector and I to our own devices. It took us a few more minutes to fully compose ourselves.

“My sides, my sides hurt so much.” Hector said as he got himself off the ground. “This isn’t an excuse not to run I swear.”

“I don’t care if it is, that was worth it. Let’s at least finish walking the path then head home. Embarrassing our elder brother is hungry work.” We continued down the path for another thirty minutes or so, occasionally giggling as we recalled what had happened. Once we returned to the park entrance, Hector turned towards the town square.

“Oh you actually meant it? Taking the long way home?”

“Common, I keep my word for the most part!”

“Yes but you usually twist the meaning in some manner to match your own agenda. You’re a sly fox Hector.”

“I may be sly, but at least I’m not a hideous beast like you!”

“We’re idententicle you dope!” We laughed for a moment and carried on. Today was a good day. But I have a feeling there won’t be many of these in the months to come.

-----------

Despite Canada only joining the war a short time ago, it was amazing how fast our hometown had changed. Everywhere, as Hector and I walked, we saw various posters and billboards, company adverts and military recruiters, talking about what those at home could do. A particularly common poster was that of a woman and small girl tending to a small garden. The heading read, Start a Victory Garden! Feed Our Soldiers for the Fight! There were also posters advertising war bonds, and other means of supporting the war effort. As we continued through the streets, we saw a long line of women coming from the door of a small office building.

“What in God's name are all of these women, and fine ladies, doing here?”

“Hmm, who knows. Why don’t you ask one of them?”

“Huh never thought of that.” Hector took a long gander at the line, then approached what was easily the prettiest one there. She was probably in her early twenties, with long, dark, straight hair and a reasonable bust. She was talking to a lady beside her, presumably her friend, with her back turned to Hector as he walked up to her. Her friend noticed him coming and whispered something to her, causing her to turn around.

“Can I help you little boy?” she said sarcastically, with the most gorgeous smile I had ever seen. Not to be out done, Hector replied equally sarcastically,

“Why yes little girl. My curiosity got the better of me, and I just had to know why there are so many fine women such as yourself lined up at this here office.” Her friend rolled her eyes, but the girl’s smile remained.

“We’re waiting to be interviewed for a factory job. It’s quite exciting. I’ve never even had the chance to see inside a factory, let alone work in one.”

“A factory?! But you’ll get grease all over that pretty face of yours” I shook my head, cringing at Hector’s flirting. The lady’s friend noticed, and gave me a wink.

“Well little boy, someone has to make all of those bullets, and I don’t see you volunteering to make them.”

“That's cause I’ll be the one shooting them!” The woman’s eyes took on a slightly sad look, but she kept wearing her smile. By this time she had reached the door of the office, and it was her turn to go in.

“Make them count then, cause they don’t grow on trees. Now shoo, I have grown up business”

“Of course ma’am. A good day to you” He tipped an imaginary hat and waltzed back over to me.

“That hurt to watch Hector.”

“Ya think I was too obvious?”

“Too subtle in my opinion. I don’t think she got the message.”

“Damn, I’ll have to try harder next time. I’m surprised factories are hiring women. Never thought I’d see the day.”

“Makes sense. All the men are leaving to fight the war. I wonder if mom will pick up a job”

“If anything she’ll start a ‘victory garden’.” Hector said, using his fingers to make air quotes.

“I think the last thing I want to eat in the middle of a war is mom’s boiled vegetables. Ick. just give them to me raw.” Our conversation carried on as we started heading towards home. Despite the jokes about home cooking, I’m sure we’ll come to miss it pretty soon.