And the rockets' red glare...

EXT. DAY

Two boys, JIMMY and TOMMY, are shooting the shit on their way home from a gem of a day at school. Both carry their country's flag, red and white vertical stripes, with a single blue star in the middle resembling the face of a former president.

JIMMY: Wow, that was a killer assembly! I mean, four hours never went by so quickly!

TOMMY: You're tellin' me, blood. And my arm didn't even get sore from all the flag waving. I'm definitely a little hoarse from the singing, though (TOMMY laughs and coughs a bit).

JIMMY: Yeah, me too. But it was worth it! I mean, heck, we're only a year away from being eligible to take the oath. Honestly, and don't tell my parents, but I've already filled out my forms to head out for Reframing Training. I can only pray I hear from the Microphone and they send me out East to fight the mud left over in New York.

TOMMY: I can't believe they even call themselves Americans!

JIMMY: Well, they know what's coming. God told us, and now we're gonna tell them, with a double-tap, ha!

TOMMY: We should have opened Gitmo's all over Cuba after Castro died. Hey, did you hear about Brian's dad? I never would have thought.

JIMMY: I know, I saw the black vans last week. But, like, you saw all that new stuff Brian was bringing to practice and school. His dad must have been making money out East, or maybe even in the "clean-up" of Iran. I mean, they're not even going to build malls over there on top of that mess.

TOMMY (kicking a stone): Yup, he was into some bad stuff. Like the Mic says, "Make money, but make it for the right reasons." You could tell he was on the wrong side - and well, the Mic knew.

JIMMY: Exactly - hey, you in for practice tonight?

TOMMY: Naw, I'm having dinner with my fam, then watching the new torture tape from that base in California. I think it's on Fox at 9. You should come over! We're doing up sundae night!

JIMMY: Cool! I'll see if I can convince my parents that I'll read to the Mic before bed. Hey, who's on tonight?

TOMMY: I think it's a few of those clowns from, what was it called, the ACLT? No, U... that's right.

(The boys realize they've arrived at their street. They begin to part ways.)

JIMMY: Sounds good, blood! I'll scan you later. Forever, we are!

TOMMY: Back at ya, blood! Forever, we are!

FADE OUT