Dont Ever Let It Touch the Ground David Lubar

Oh gosh, he let the flag touch the ground. Wait, he didnt, or did he? Hi, Im
Samantha Cook, and Im in the seventh grade at Saint Matthews School. This
story is about my little brother Felix, who liked to challenge anything and
everything I say. Then, theres me, who tries to be the perfect older sister. But
remember to tell Felix to drink milk and listen, because flimsy arms and rude
attitudes can get someone in trouble.

Careful I told my little brother, Felix, when I saw him marching up and down the
front yard with the flag. He had the pole on his should but he was so short that one
corner of the flag hung just a couple of inches from the ground.

Careful about what? he asked.

Youre almost letting it drag. I didnt even know if he was allowed to take the
flag out of the house or even touch it. Dad kept it in the closet and only put it out
on flag flying holidays. So?

Youre not supposed to let the flag touch the ground. Everyone knows that. At
least everyone, but little brothers, I thought, Why not? he asked. Thats the
problem with Felix. He doesnt accept what I tell him. Hes always asking for
explanations. Because, I told him. What? Just because? Thats not an answer.
Well you could get arrested. He shook his head.Youre making it up, I dont
believe you. Watch this. He swung the pole off his shoulder and flung it in front
of himself. Hs thin arms were shaking as he struggled against the weight.

Stop messing around. I warned him. Im gonna do it. Dont let it ever touch
the ground. A corner of the flag rested on the grass. Oh no, Im going to get
arrested. Im a criminal.

I rushed over and snatched the pole from his hands, raising the flag high off the
ground. Hey! he said. Give it back. Im telling. And then Ill tell on you. I
said. Then youll be in big trouble. I carried the flag inside. Behind me, through
the closing door, I could hear Felix shouting. But no matter what, he shouldnt
have let the flag touch the ground. I know that, I mean, I dont know if theres a
law, or anything.
I put that flag in the closet. But instead of standing it in its usual spot, I untied it
from the pole and hit it up on the shelf behind Dads old hats. Felix would never
find it there. That night, after Id gone to bed, I started thinking about the flag
again. Someone had to teach him a lesson.

Hed let the flag touch the ground. That wasnt right. Nobody else knew, so it was
up to me. Id show him. As a big sister, that was part of my job. My favorite part. I
couldnt help smiling as I slipped silently out of bed. At first, I thought that Id just
sneak over and shout something to scare him. It touched the ground! Or maybe
just, Protect the flag! But that wasnt enough to teach him a real lesson. I wanted
him to remember what I taught him forever.

I went downstairs and got the flag from the closet. Right outside the room, I draped
it over my head and shoulders. I wanted to look like Death does in the cartoons,
with his hood flapping over his face, hiding his eyes. That would scare Felix.

I realized I could hold a flashlight under my chin to look even spookier. Id wake
him and pretend I was trying to take him away. As soon as he started screaming,
Id dive into bed and hide the flag under the covers. Then when the folks came, I
could tell them that Felix was having a nightmare. That would teach him.

I reached toward his shoulder.

Which one? The whisper from behind me was so soft I thought it was just some
stray echo of my own thoughts. Isnt it obvious? The second voice was louder. I
spun, and froze. Two men stood across the room in tattered uniforms from the
Revolutionary War. Her, the man on the left said, pointing at me. She mocks
the flag we died for.

I shook my head. Not me. I wanted to scream, but fear had gripped my throat.
Him, I said, pointing to Felix. No honor, the first man said. See how she
accuses others? Shes a liar and a coward as well. He pulled my face forward.
When he spoke, I felt no breath. No heat, just the cold, damp, smell of the grave
Never let it touch the ground.

The second man put his face close to mine, too. Nothing reflected from his dry
eyes, I couldnt even see my own fear. Never let it touch the ground, he said.
It wasnt me. Thats what I wanted to say. They had to understand. But thats not
what I said. I knew those words would anger them. I nodded; even that motion was
hard. My head wanted to tremble in every direction. Yes, Ill never let it happen
again. I swear.

For a moment, the first man squeezed my jaw so hard I thought the bones would
crack. Then he stepped away from me. Never, he warned. Never, warned the
second man. They backed away. Still moving backward, they passed through the
wall of my room. As soon as I could move, I took the flag from my shoulders and
folded it, carefully. I was too scared to take it back through the dark hallways to
the closet downstairs, so I put it on my desk.

Then I crawled under the covers, closed my eyes, and shivered until I fell asleep.
In the morning I shot up from my bed as the images of two ghosts tore into my
dreams.

Dont ever let it touch the ground.

There was no flag on the desk. A dream? It had to be. It was just a bad dream.
That explained everything, Felix wasnt in his bed. No surprise. He liked to get up
early.

I rose, and stretched. A feeling of unease settled on me. Faintly, from far off, I
heard singing, at first; I couldnt make out the words. But I recognized the rhythm.

ONE, two, THREE, four. Then, and the singer moved closer, I heard the words.

Over hill, over dale, we will march the dusty trail.

A song for waking and carrying a flag. I ran to the window. Below, in the front
yard, Felix paraded with the flag over his shoulder. The flag hed taken from the
desk- where Id thought Id put it in a dream. No dream. The men were real. I
touched my jaw. My flesh burned with the memory of those frozen fingers. Felix
marched across the lawn with the flag hed taken from the desk. The flag that had
scraped the ground with one striped corner, sending a call to the night visitors.

Theyd be back tonight, I knew that now; but not for Felix. Theyd be back for me.