~Tommy Belin, Class of 2027

Ratttttttttttttttttat…..!

     “Was that auto fire”? I say. “That was like a lawn mower engine.”

     I peek around the building – BOOM, BOOM – paint splatters on the wall. 

     “Awwwww he sees me,”   I think in my head.   “Wait, is that Robert?” 

     I peek again – BOOM, kerSPLOOSH – a head shot. 

     My mask is covered in orange paint. Not knowing where I’m going, because of the paint, I walk off the battlefield.   

     Soon it’s the end of the round and Robert comes off the battlefield and says,  “Bro I sniped you”. 

     “Ohhhhhh like I didn’t notice” I responded. 

     The area had multiple little buildings with a sniper tower. One of the rules was if you were 10 feet away or less you could say surrender and the other person would be out! Round two, the air horn sounds. I go to my normal station which I will call the bunker. I see Thomas go to the sniper tower and we make eye contact. 

     Boom, boom.   He hits me in the arm – “@#$&!”

     It was like my arm had been hit by a guitar 4 times. I grab my arm and immediately put my Gun up to signal that I’m out. 

     When I’m off the battlefield, I take my mask off. I saw my arm and I got shot 4 times. It was like I was getting targeted by my own friends. 

     Round three was a blast at the beginning,  instead of walking to the bunker, I sprinted. Now, I know what will happen if I peek too many times. Fast forward a couple minutes, and I see my first target, it’s Robert. He is hiding in a trench with Jack. It would be hard for Robert to be  down there because he is tall.   I see the top of Robert’s mask – boom, boom, splat, splat –  it felt amazing to hit him after what he did to me.

     Wait, I just hit the birthday boy…. Oops! 

     I see the top of Jack’s mask – boom, boom, splat, splat – and he’s out!!!!! 

     My insides were going to explode with happiness.

     I see William – boom, boom, boom, splat – shoot, I’m almost out of bullets. 

     “Round over” the ref says into the microphone. 

     I had so much excitement built up that I was itching to get out to the next round.

It seemed like forever until we  restocked on bullets and we went to the arena. There was another group there.

     “Soo, what are we going to do refs?” I say 

     “We’re going to the professional arena,” the ref said.  

     “The whattttt?” I replied. 

     “The professional arena.  Look over there,” he says back.

      I looked – “Ohh dear lord” – at that moment, my  stomach went on a roller coaster. It went upside down with sharp twists and turns.   

    The professional arena is not any type of arena I’ve ever seen. There are  inflatable shapes that prevent you from getting shot and that’s it.  No sniper tower, no NOTHING, just inflatable shapes.  When you shoot the inflatables the bullets bounce off. It sounds like kicking a yoga ball as hard as you can against a wall.

     Round Four started – Boom, boom – bullets were flying everywhere, I tried to move to the next inflatable but my feet wouldn’t budge. It was like my feet were made of concrete.  Then, they moved and I sprinted to the inflatable almost falling over mid way. 

     Peeking around the inflatable, I saw Oliver at his team’s starting point.  Then, he saw me – boom, boom – he hits the inflatable. 

     I shoot back, he ducks,and I miss. Still shooting, he shoots, it looks like it’s going to hit the inflatable so I keep shooting. Well I was wrong, the bullet hits me in the neck then bounces through my mask and hits me in the upper chin. I’m out.  

      I say goodbye to my kill streak and walk off the battlefield with my head hung low. 

      I’m happier because there’s cake.  I say Happy Birthday to Robert and thanks for inviting me.  Robert hands me a goody bag! 

      I go home to take a shower. After the shower I feel like the bathtub should be orange after how much orange paint I had on my body!