Catching Stars  − July, 1993

It was dark, and in this dark fireflies danced around us like Earth-bound stars. The air was warm and thick, and my clothes clung to my sweat covered skin. One could hear the rattling buzz of cicadas, and the the warble of crickets singing their sad songs. A jar clasped tightly in my hands, we caught the stars, chasing after them on tireless legs behind Ashley's house. Our bare feet sank into the earth as we ran. Snatching them from flight and cupping them carefully in our palms, we deposited each firefly into the jar. Thoughtfully, We punctured its metal lid, as if we thought that air was the only thing needed to sustain these tiny lives.

Slowly, the jar was filled. We sat beneath a tree with it between us, watching in amazement as the small blinking bodies crawled over one another, confused and beautiful. Soft green light played across our young features as we stared.

Later on as the jar rested on a dresser in Ashley's room, and I fell asleep watching the light of our stars die.

Comments:

pepero (April 2, 2007. 08:47pm)

your story reminds me of an anime i once watched, it's called, <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=152">*grave of the fireflies*</a>. have you ever seen it?

Oblivious (April 2, 2007. 09:07pm)

I haven't, but that sounds really interesting. I may have to look into that.

pepero (April 2, 2007. 09:35pm)

i highly recommend it. i own it on dvd. i believe it loosely based on a *true* story. i think you'd enjoy it.

Oblivious (April 3, 2007. 06:53am)

Okay... so, I watched Graves if the Fireflies, and I've concluded that it is the saddest thing I've seen in my entire life.

pepero (April 3, 2007. 03:19pm)

i know. i never cried so much watching an anime. it makes you realize how tragic war is especially when you see it through the eyes of children.

Oblivious (April 3, 2007. 07:07pm)

It really does. I burned it to a dvd and I'm going to make my friends watch it :p