The Screaming on the Beach

“You know, why don't we all just get along and then go back to sleep.” Jay requests.

With intricate detail the author explains these events as frightening and overwhelmingly difficult to tolerate. Beah, exposed to combat at age 12, was traumatized by battle and portrays details of the horrifying events through imagery. “When the rebels finally came I was cooking... My heart was beating faster than it ever had. Each gunshot seemed to cling to the beat of my heart.”

When the helicopter landed, I was the first out. I was greeted by a small, scrawny man holding a clipboard, one of the paper-pushers as the Sergeant in charge of leading us called them - they didn’t fight, they only made sure supplies got where they needed to be - and that nothing was missing. The moment we got off, shots began to ring out. I had no idea what to do, I didn’t know from where the bullets were coming. The tree line to the north was empty, the citizens were running for cover - my brother was already dead - and he hadn’t even exited the helicopter. I realized who was shooting now.

Nodding in reply we start walking out of the house, quickly picking up Crookshanks. "We're taking my truck. Mom and Dad left, Matt took Yogi, and I'm left with you, Kyle, and Alex."

Spencer walked over to another campsite and talked to the campers. For whatever reason, he came back with an air mattress twice the size as the ones we were using. We had heard from other hikers of the presence of bears. So we set a bear watch of two hours each, all night long. As would usually happen one of the watchers would hang around and talk way into the relieving watchers time. Which was always a welcome relief to the one awakened. There is nothing better than talking to a friend under the spectacular and unobstructed view of all the stars in the heavens around a warm campfire. This solitude however, was continually interrupted by Spencer, for every time he rolled over on his new mattress it went

“We should sleep,” Keith murmurs, and Lance nods in agreement, gently pulling him down to rest against the blankets on the floor. He curls against Keith’s stomach, the other boy’s arms thrown around his waist protectively. Nuzzling into his neck, Keith lets out a tender, satisfied sigh before Lance’s gentle hums lull him to sleep, Lance not far behind.

Jolted awake by the light shining directly in her face, Casey opened her eyes to find Ray leaning on one elbow staring at her as she slept. Twisting his wrist, she checked the time on his watch. “We’re late. Why didn’t you wake me?”

During this time, as wounded and deceased soldiers arrived at the hospital in England, Joe was forever affected by what he saw, smelled, and heard. The deceased were charred lumps. The smell of burned flesh filled the nostrils of the medical staff. The painful wailing of the injured, suffering from horrific burns, was heart wrenching. Joe had never seen such devastation and destruction before.

“He is and he’s asleep. Don’t wake him.” I strain to keep my voice steady. My heart is thumping in my chest, heavy beats like a drum. To my surprise, they do not raise their voices. We continue talking in

“Can you stop” I yelled at him as I got up and brought him to

"Let 'em sleep," He grumbled as he pulled his arms free. "We'll get Leo into the house and then I'll deal with 'em, okay?" Casey shrugged as him and April climbed out, allowing Raph to slowly get out, clutching his brother close to him as he sighed. He could see the bruises that lined his face more clearly now that they were outside, and he didn't like it. He wanted to go back to NYC and beat the shit out of Shredder and the Kraang. But he couldn't leave his brothers here. He couldn't abandon them because he was mad. He followed April into the house with Casey behind him. He stood rigid in the bathroom as she filled the tub to the mid point. He placed his brother in, watching as the unconscious boy slide down before his shell hit the bottom. He bit his lip before ordering April to watch him while he got Mikey and Donnie. Casey tagged along with him, for some unknown

“I think I just need to sleep on it. Good night.” I didn’t sleep the rest of the night. I laid in bed tossing and turning,

Martin screamed, hoping someone could hear him. In the corner of his eye, Martin saw 3 tall men in yellow and orange suits carrying a stretcher over to him.

"I am not in the mood for arguing" I said, "all of you, strip to your boxers" I put down the materials and watched as Bruce sat down on the bed.

Marty closed his eyes, thinking that if he pretended to be asleep, Bernie would leave him alone (this was foolish to believe, of course, for, having both been positioned to stare straight ahead, neither had the