Before We Were Heroes

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice.

'Before We Were Heroes' by Capresha Curtis is a poignant exploration of the thin line between the vivid imagination of childhood and the stark reality of adulthood. The narrative opens with a high-stakes 'battle' in the woods, where a group of young boys, led by the protagonist Dickie, engage in a desperate struggle against a 'monster.' As they navigate the dense canopy and open fields, their oversized coats serve as capes and armor, marking them as a brotherhood bound by loyalty and friendship.

The story masterfully shifts perspective as the 'bloody battle' is revealed to be a spirited game of tag played on a family farm, with the 'monster' being Dickie’s older brother, Tommy. This innocent prelude, centered around a birthday celebration and the gift of a handcrafted rocking horse, sets the stage for the inevitable passage of time.

As the boys grow older, the setting moves to a cold, rain-slicked city where they navigate the complexities of young adulthood—faking IDs, visiting popular clubs, and encountering the first flushes of romance. However, the shadow of a much larger conflict looms in the background. With the onset of war, the playful skirmishes of their youth are replaced by the grim reality of enlistment and the front lines.

Curtis weaves a tapestry of nostalgia and growth, reminding us that every hero begins as a child in an oversized coat, dreaming of battles won and lost in the safety of their own backyard. It is a story about the bonds that sustain us and the memories that define who we become when the games finally end.