The Secret Life of Trash

Only when the dumpster lid slammed shut, containing the foul stench of used trash did the aluminum can turn to the banana peel, "Ready?"

The banana nodded and motioned for the cold peas to form a line, "Let's go."

A string of beans started to ascend the dumpster wall. They had been training for days in the moldy confinement, and now it had come . . . d-day, AKA Dumpster Day. Dumpsters up and down the ally opened to release their disgusting contents. Armed with flattened grapes and wine corks, troops lined the night-cloaked back road. They were ready to fight, covered in dark, until the very squishy ending.

Can and Peel turned towards Mandarin and Foil, eyes seething with hatred. The rest of the troop did the same, save for a young apple core who gazed lovingly at his orange rind mistress. Unbeknownst to both sides, Core and Rind had fallen madly in love during a previous confrontation. They hadn't dared mention it to a single bowl, for apples and oranges could never be together. It was simply forbidden. In silence they fought alongside their comrades, making sure the other was unharmed.

After hours of fighting, Core glanced up to find Rind nowhere in sight. In a worried frustration, he started to roll across the glass covered gravel. Peel reached forward with a yellow tentacle, "What are you doing, Core?"

"Let me go!" Screamed Core, "I. Have. To go."

"Why?" Confusion filled Peel's face.

Core simply said, "I'm in love." He then broke loose of Peel's grasp, and made his way across the battlefield only to find Rind, sighing her last breath. With it, she said, "Roll on, Core, I'll miss you."

In sadness, seeds began dropping from Core. His love was gone, and all that was left was to fight. In a moment of blind madness, Core turned around to eliminate three other orange enemies. Grape juice flying, and peas shooting, Core's squad took his lead and destroyed the other side - just to end dying in the combat.

The only warriors left were Peel, Can, Foil, Mandarin and Core. They stopped fighting, finally realizing the stupidity in it all. Family and friends had been lost. Peel and Can offered a truce, and Foil and Mandarin agreed how insane it was to be fighting against one another. They also agreed on the truce, so long as the two sides ended even.

Can and Peel sat in confusion, not realizing that Core was still alive. Badly beaten and heartbroken, but alive. They looked to their right, and then to their left, only to find fruit carnage. Core stepped forward, looking at the sky, "I will go."

The rest looked above to find a beautiful, young zesty Rind sitting upon a cheesecake in the heavens.

Core slowly floated above to Rind. As he was about to disappear into the night sky, he turned and smiled, "Remember, this was settled and won with love and loyalty, not with hate and betrayal. Please end the dumpster wars, it is my last wish."

The remaining waste wordlessly agreed admiring Core's sacrifice.

Peel, Can, Foil, and Mandarin met in the middle of the ally smiling in silence.

It was Mandarin who first spoke, "It was decided that we don't fight each other, but what about the humans?"

Foil shrugged, placing his acorn helmet on once more, "He didn't say anything."

Peel nodded, "Let's go."