Billy looked at Joey and said "This is the armory." Billy opened the barn door wide open, letting the sunlight in. The door knocked the side the barn causing dust to fall. Billy coughed and sneezed. He motioned for his best friend to come in.
"Come on in. We're gonna need this stuff. We don't have a choice anymore."
"Are you sure? Your Dad said we're not allowed in here. It's dangerous," Joey said. He was standing on his tippy toes, trying to look around; as if a trap had been set, ready to behead him, if he so much as took one step in the door. Billy was already kneeling down in front of some old shelves, shoving boxes out of the way. Joey started brushing off dirt and leaves from his shirt and pants.
"We aint gonna be made fools of no more by those losers. How else are we gonna win this war Joe? Now get your butt in here and help me open this locker."
Joey walked slowly into the barn that was lighted by nothing more than the sunlight shining in through the opened door. He knelt down behind Billy who had just retrieved a pocket knife from his muddied pants. Billy started jabbing at the latch on the camouflaged foot locker. The latch snapped causing the chest to crack slightly open.
"What's in here?" Joey asked, as his eyes were gleaming widely.
"You'll see," Billy said, as he slowly lifted the lid. When the light made its way into the chest, Joey could see the camouflaged stuff inside. Billy pulled out a camouflaged jacket and handed it to Joey, along with a canteen. "Whoa", Joey whispered, this was just what they needed. Billy then pulled out some binoculars and an army helmet.
Walking to the back of the barn, Billy looked around, then removed a rake and a shovel hanging from the wall. He handed the rake to Joey, who was now wearing an army vest that went down to his knees. He reached for and started pulling on a wide black tube. Attached to the other end of the tube, a giant red container rolled out into the center of the room.
"Go get the water hose Joey, we need to fill this up."
Joey leaned his rake near the door, and ran outside. "These are not toys." Billy's father told him long ago about the stuff in the barn. Billy knew what that meant, but sometimes "a man has to be a man," he whispered to himself. They were not going to be laughed at any more! The gloves were coming off now, he thought, as he opened the lid on the big red bucket. Joey was coming back in the barn, dragging the garden hose with him. Water was gushing out everywhere as they worked to get it pointed into the bucket.
"What's it do?" Joey asked.
"This shoots the water out this hose, and just push this button, and it sucks it back up! We're gonna give em’ a water bazooka bath!"
"Awesome."
After the bucket was almost full, Billy put the lid back on while Joey dragged the garden hose back outside. It took both of them to slowly get the bazooka out. Joey was pushing it, and Billy was pulling it by the hose. When they finally got it out in the middle of the yard, they plugged it into the electrical outlet on the side of the house. They went back to the barn and retrieved their weapons and an American flag. They picked up some white rocks from the flower bed and stuffed their pockets until they were overflowing. Billy retrieved a long stick, attached the flag, and plunged it into the ground near the water bucket.
"We'll leave the water bazooka here, and fall back if things get rough. On the other side of that wall," Billy said while pointing towards the row of bushes separating his yard from the neighbors, "is our enemy. They are getting ready to destroy us. We have to get them while they're still regrouping. Are you ready?"
Joey stood at attention, and raised his hand to salute. Some rocks fell out of his vest pockets. "Yes sir!"
"Charge!" Billy hollered, while raising his shovel. They took off running towards the bushes. Joey was just a couple steps behind, wielding his rake. Half way there, and suddenly, explosions of dirt and mud were all around them. Muddy splatter was spraying everywhere. A big black glob of it got in Billy's eyes. Onward though, they charged through it. Joey took a hit to the shoulder and went to the ground. Billy noticed, turned around, and made a flying dive onto the ground near Joey.
"Can you get up? We must keep going."
"I can make it." Joey said, trying to get up. Billy hunched over and helped him up.
"Incoming!" Joey yelled, and pushed Billy out of the way. A branch shattered into a hundred pieces as it crashed into the ground right where Billy had been standing. They pressed onward, through the explosions of dirt and leaves.
Reaching the bushes, they huddled down and started throwing their rocks over, a handful at a time. Their barrage of rocks did nothing to prevent another massive mud bomb from pelting Billy in the chest. He flew backwards, crashing on his back.
Joey ran over. "We need more firepower. Retreat!"
After crawling back to the other side of the yard, they had decided this time to sneak in with the water bazooka, and surprise their adversary. They huddled stealthily behind the big, heavy red bucket and slowly started pushing it through the yard. When they got close enough, Billy retrieved his binoculars and started scanning the bushes.
"What do you see?" said Joey.
"I've spotted them. There's bazillions of them this time. They're everywhere and they're getting ready to make their move. It's now or never!"
They pushed with all their might, until the water bazooka broke through the bushes. Billy grabbed the hose and pointed it at the ant mound. The mound was littered with white rocks, and the ants were scattering outward, protecting their territory.
Billy braced himself, knees bent, ready to obliterate everything in his path.
"FIRE!"
Joey pressed the 'ON' button. Nothing happened. Billy shook the hose. Joey peered around the bucket, and started tugging on the electrical cord.
"It's not plugged in Billy!"
They looked back through the bushes towards the house. Billy's mom was standing there holding the end of the cord.
Billy looked down and noticed a couple ants started crawling onto his shoe. He immediately went to the ground with a thud. Billy yelled, "Help! They've got me!" while clawing at the ground, trying to escape from getting pulled into the ant mound. Joey leaped over the bucket, catching Billy's arms, pulling him to safety.
"Boys, come eat lunch," Billy's mom said with one hand on her hips. "And stop playing with your Dad's wet-vac."
They got up and squeezed back through the bushes. Billy adjusted his helmet straight on his head. "Aw, Mom!" He looked over at Joey who was also completely covered in dirt, mud and leaves. "They beat us for now," Joey said. "Let's get em’ after lunch."
"We'll need to use the tank next time." Billy said, pointing to his wagon.