by H. L. Sudler
“Waiting for me to do what?”
The young woman who’d turned away, turned back quickly.
“To lead us.”
She grabbed Roxanne’s hand and dragged her out of the park, through the crowds of people and traffic, beneath the blare of a ceaseless siren. Roxanne bumped someone and she turned around to look back.
“Come on,” the young woman yelled. “We don’t have much time.”
But Roxanne couldn’t move, she could only stare at Pat Papadopoulos, standing there smiling, looking young and handsome as ever, with his beautiful eyes and thick black hair. He pointed to his eyes with his fingers, then pointed to her and smiled wider, indicating he’d probably see her again. He shooed her, turned away and disappeared into the crowd, a book in his hand. Undoubtedly A Brief Excursion Through American History.
There was an explosion at one of the skyscrapers, and people screamed and yelled and pointed. The entire top floors were a fireball and rained glass. The young woman pulled at Roxanne’s arm and Roxanne looked at her, at her pleading eyes that seemed to say that she must come now. People were counting on her. And although Roxanne didn’t know where she was, what year it was, or what she was supposed to do, she knew she was where she should be. That her fire, her strength, her resolve was what was needed now. To inspire. To protect. To lead.
Roxanne ran toward her future, with the memory of her friends, their love and their wind, strongly at her back. There was no rest for the weary. There was no time for sleep.
Author’s Note
I often joke with friends about teenagers nowadays: “Were we ever that obnoxious?” The clothes, the language, the bullying, the narcissism, the anger, the bad behavior. But then I see other teens and I’m amazed. They’re intelligent, driven, outspoken, articulate, and resourceful. I wondered what would happen if you sent today’s teenagers to the past. How would they fare? How would they survive? Could they navigate less enlightened times. And what contributions could today’s teenagers make to the world of yesteryear and subsequently to tomorrow?
About the author
H.L. Sudler is the author of six books, including Patriarch: My Extraordinary Journey from Man to Gentleman, CafeLiving’s Favorite Cocktails (with Keith Vient), Man to Gentleman: A Beginner’s Guide to Manhood, his short story collection The Looking Glass: Tales of Light and Dark, and his thriller novel series Summerville and Return to Summerville. His short story The Way of All Flesh was selected for the PATHS Humanitarian Writing Award. He has served as a magazine publisher, a newspaper editor, and a contributing writer to numerous anthologies and periodicals. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but is now married and lives in Washington, DC.