First+Chapter+of+Camouflage

Hi! So... this is the first half of the first chapter of //Camouflage//, a story that I started in sixth or seventh grade. I will add the rest later, although I did not initially plan on putting any of //Camouflage// on Jabberwicky. I apologize that the plot is not clear in these first few sentences, but hopefully, it will be after I add the rest. ~ Lauren

Chapter One

That December morning was bleak, just like the near future. Janna Jallo felt alone staring out into the gray snow, despite her nine-year-old brother, Jacob, besides her. The inside of the house was hot and bitter. Janna’s father and nineteen-year-old brother had been gone for only an hour, but it already felt like months. “Think Dad’s gonna get to drive a tank?” Jacob whispered. These were the first words that had been spoken in the Jallo house since the departure of Janna's brother and dad. Janna shrugged. “He left to join the army.” “Well, people in the army drive tanks,” Jacob argued. “Okay,” Janna said, pulling herself away from the window. “Dad joined the army. People in the army drive tanks. Can we please make some conclusions here, Jacob?” “Yes or no?” Jacob asked. Janna rolled her eyes. “You should have repeated third grade.” Jacob grated his stubby fingernails against the soft, wooden table. His jade eyes were sorrowful. His pale red hair was held up limply with watery hair gel. But Janna was in no mood to apologize. “Do you think Dad and Jonathan should have stayed home?” Jacob questioned. “Mom does,” Janna answered. “I know. But what do you think?” “If… if it’s what they wanted to do,” Janna replied slowly, “then, no.” Jacob nodded. “What if they die?” “They won’t,” Janna insisted. “But what if they do?” Janna’s stomach twisted. “Then, I’ll die on the inside.” “Me too.” Jacob rested his dimpled chin on the table. “Jonathan’s not going to be here for Christmas. He’s not coming back until next September. I’m not going to have anyone to watch Shark Week on Discovery Channel with this summer.” Janna rolled her eyes. “Dad and Jon are going out there to risk their lives, and you’re worried about lacking a TV-watching partner.” “Yeah,” Jacob pouted. “I am.” “Well, don’t be, you meathead,” Janna snapped. “What?” Jacob yelled. “Did you make some rule that people can’t worry about more than one thing at once?” “No!” Janna cried. “I made a rule that people can’t worry about stupid things!” “It’s not stupid,” Jacob pouted. “Compared to the rest of the world’s problems, it is,” Janna retorted. “Compared to your problems, it’s wisdom,” Jacob riposted.

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