Blue Sky

For twelve weeks every year, the Blue Angels descend from the heavens and land in heEl Centro, California. The residents treat the pilots like gods: the city council members host black-tie galas, little old ladies bring them homemade pies, and groupies wait by their rooms to satisfy their desires.

Everyone worships them—everyone, that is, except for me. I hate the way they waltz into my poor town and romance all the residents only to vanish into the sky.

But even I can’t afford to say no when...