Vengeance wafted through the monkey bars. A unrelenting sun hung low in the sky. And the war on Maple Street raged on.

No one knew what started it. In the future, scribes may point to how Jaime Estevez’ bragging about his new Nerf Elite 2 Eaglepoint RD 8 Blaster lit the fuse. Others will say Caely Worth’s birthday party was the keg of gunpowder. But the children knew since mankind climbed down from the trees there has been the desire to fight.

Sweat stinging her eyes, Blessed Harvey signaled the Monty Twins for cover. She raised her head above the Worths’ boxwood. A volley of foam darts painted the lawn orange. Blessed ducked.

Everyone was sticky hot and parched. No one dared stop for Gatorade and apple slices. Lily Huang tried to go for supplies. Darted over and over, Lily tried and failed. Martin shared the last piece of gum with his twin while Blessed scoped the street.

They needed to protect their flank while sneaking up on their opponent’s rear. Unfortunately their base was too protected for a full frontal attack. Blessed sighed like a battered general.

A tune, both ancient and evergreen, met the warriors’ ears. “Turkey in the Straw” the music for Mister Softee ice cream van grew stronger. From behind a stand of marigolds, someone whooped Ice cream! There was a weighted silence. Then en masse the children of Maple Street stood up and began running home for ice cream money.

From an old black walnut tree, Lily shot kids, the enemy and her own band of brothers as they streamed from the battlefield. The royal blue and white van turned onto their cul de sac.

“No parley, no surrender!” Lily shouted as she emptied her N series infinite blaster at everyone.

Blinking under the blazing hot day, Lily shook herself. She ran after her friends leaving her Nerf rifle behind.