Battling the Clouds

At Fort Sill, airplanes drone overhead—but Bill and Frank are watching a furious tarantula hurl itself against its cage. Then Frank suggests a much faster adventure: taking Bill’s little car for a spin, despite Bill’s promise to his mother.

Under the blazing summer sky of an Army post, young airmen swoop down like “huge dragonflies,” and the boys are eager to be part of their world. Frank, the Major’s son, boasts of piloting planes and wants Bill to share his appetite for speed; Bill is quieter, careful to keep his word and protect his mother’s peace of mind. Their teasing hides a rivalry—and the first hint that life among soldiers, aviators, and unexpected companions may test what each boy thinks he knows about courage. How far will Frank’s daring carry them, and what will Bill refuse to risk?

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