“Hey Pete did you hear that?”

Pete sighed. “Carl i swear if you farted i’ll kill you if i can grt out of this seat” Pete started shifting as if to find a good angle to push himself up.

“If i farted youd be dead by now” laughed Carl. “With great age come great power in the way of toxic waste”.

“Well spit it out then” Pete was definitely testy in his old age.

“Its a whole lot of nothin” a gentle breeze was all that could be heard. It was a beautiful day as the two friends sat on the porch in their rockers.

“Carl if you die tomorrow I may finally know peace” Carl exclaimed grumpily.

“Then who would you have fun with? Once upon a time they called us the Twin Rebel Rousers.” Carl energetically said as he fanned one arm out. “There wasnt a mother around that didnt tell their daughters to stay away from us”.

“Thanks to all that rousing i got a bum knee and im still banned from the bingo hall” Carl threw his hands up in frustration.

“I swear if you cry about that knee one more time im going to trip you. That was not my fault and you know it.” Carl started to lose his light banter. “60 years youve griped about that knee but didnt stop you from dancing at all the weddings.”

Wiping at his head Pete seemed to deflate. “Im tired Carl” he turned his head peering down the road as if searching for something. “Its just us now. The girls are gone and the kids have their own lives. The glow of life is over. “ finally resting his head in his hands.

Carl sat there dismayed at what he was hearing. Pete was like a shining star their whole life riding a course all the way through. He was moved like the wind as kids. He remembered how he stole Mrs Lucy’s fresh pie right the window. He flew down that drive dodging her pellet gun like the wind whispered the shots. The same man that threw him up to Pam’s window to sneak his first kiss. They did everything together. A life time of friendship but it was more than that to Carl. Pete was true family, from the joys of life to the burden of loss. He was there when we got the final news for Pam and when she took her final breath. To hear him finally being beaten was just too much for Carl.

Carl knew he needed to do something for his friend. A time to ride the breeze into a gale. Possibly their last dance. Leaping up surprising even his old body, he snapped a plan together.

“Alrighty Petey we gotta do something! I need you to run down to the grocer and get some confetti eggs for me” Carl buzzed with excitement.

Groaning Pete responded “You know i hate when you call me Petey, and why on Gods green earth do you need confetti eggs. Its doubtful the grandkids will come by anytime soon.”

Carl began to drag Pete out of the chair. Shooing him towards the cars. “Nevermind why i need them just go get them for me” Carl was not about to take no from Pete. Reluctantly he walked over and began the journey to town.

With his hands up high by his chest, Carl powerwalked to the shed. “I know its in here somewhere” thought Carl as he rummaged around the dusty relics. Toys and tools from multiple generations of kids. A rocking horse from the late 1800s that was Carl’s father’s as a kid. Ornate and beautiful from a generation come and gone. “Ah there she is” Carl carefully slid a case off the shelf and made his way to a work bench. Pulling the draw string for an overhead light Carl reverently stared at the cases occupent. The spud gun in all its glory. The cool kids thought it was fun to hit mailboxes with bats but we decided to take it to another level with a homemade potato launcher. Its how we became known as the neighborhood rebel rousers. A weight lifted off Carl as he stared at his memories. It was time to make a new one.

Carrying his gun case out like a trained sniper, Carl headed to get the last piece of the puzzle. He set the case down as he rolled back the cover to the second instrument of the rebel rousers. A sleek midnight blue 64 Thunderbolt with 435 horses of rebel. “Man if the boys could see her now” thought Carl. The weight returned as Carl thought of Tyler and Carter.

“Oh i know you dont think we can drive that thing anymore” exclaimed Pete. Carl jumped having been lost in memory. “That car has been on a no fly list for 50 some odd years. Surprised shes still in such good shape.“ Pete set the bags on the hood as he walked around the car reverently. Smiling he poke his head in the back seat. “Whooo if the girls could see this thing now”.

Shaking his head Pete jingled the keys “lets ride partner”.

The men sat there anticipating the engine firing. With a whoosh of power the men began to vibrate with energy as the car plopped away, as if it was urging them to ride again. Life filled the men as the fist bumped. Simultaneously cranking the windows down to embrace the wind. Carl reached back and handed Pete the case. Grinning Pete knew exactly what Carl had in mind. “Crazy old fool” said Pete as he loaded the gun with an egg.

With a whoop Carl brought the car to life. Throwing rocks as they raced down the drive. The back end of the Thunderbolt slid out as they hit the road. Pete had his arm braced in the window with a grin from ear to ear. Racing to town like two teenagers the men discussed the plan of attack. It was simple, shoot eggs at all the kids houses and any old nemesis homes for nostalgia sake. Carl practiced on trees to get some practice.

On the outskirts of town the old men turned boys began the rousing. Confetti burst into doors and windows aplenty. Even Mrs Lucy’s old mailbox wasnt safe from them. They delt more alive than they had in years. Laughing and hollering like they were teenagers again. Some of the grandkids got a show as they came peeling down the street while they playing in the yard. Theirs cheers only egged them on further. Unfortunately it wasnt long till they saw red and blue in the window. “5 bucks says Sophia called Blake on us” said Carl. Blake was Pete’s oldest grandson and was a police officer.

“Pull over now you two” came a familiar voice. Carl began to slow down.

“Let me show that boy what grandpa used to be like. Before Carl could do anything Pete leaned out the window with the laucher. Swerving while trying to keep one hand on Pete’s belt, Carl roared with laughter. He could see the explosion of confetti in the rearview as he pulled him back in.

“Now thats what im talking about Petey!” Yelled Carl. Sliding the car around onto Main Street the men got a good look at their hometown. Racing down the street grinning at the mayhem they caused. Carl looked at his best friend and smiled. As they raced put of town the two relaxed and just enjoyed the ride. Wistfully Carl looked in the backseat from the rearview. Visualize the brothers that were no longer with them. He could see Tyler with his glasses and long flowing hair. If only he hadnt gone to war he may still be with them now. Glancing over he could see small Carter with his freckled face. He was never the same after his mom passed away. Time had a way with taking loved ones away but the memories stayed with them.

“The boys would be proud of us aye Petey” said Carl.

“Oh they’d be dam proud” said Pete as he smiled at his friend.