My First Jihad by Charlie Swart

When it came to the pecking order of lower Woodsdale in the 50's and 60's, the house of Quinn was by far the most powerful. For some reason, which has always escaped me, the Mary Wheat house challenged the Quinn's. I believe I was around the age of seven or eight at the time one of the elder Quinn's [Michael] issued a Fatwa to prepare for open warfare against the Mary Wheat gang for their defiance. I knew I was involved in something big when I was asked to be a foot soldier to be capably armed with as many apples as I could hold. At that age I could not throw with a force which could put an eye out but none the less I had a big heart and felt the cause was just. I took cheer knowing that all the neigboring kids who counted (Leibolds & Butlers) were involved in some form or another.
I did not appreciate at the time how schooled in military tactics the Quinn's were. They copied the techniques used by the Russian shock troops during WWII. Essentially Stalin would arm the peasants with wooden rifles and have them attack the German positions in masse. The Germans would then open up on the shock troops with their artillery and reveal their entrenched positions. The main assualt group would then take care of the Germans. My role as a shock trooper was to lead the charge along with other dispensables against the Wheat front lines and force the Gang to exhaust their ammunition on us while giving away any hidden positions. I remember my nervousness on the day of the battle. This was my chance to be a shock trooper and I did not want to pass up the opportunity to make a good impression. As best as I can remember, the Quinns, Leibolds, Swarts and the Butlers were involved. A formidable force as these were the days when families knew how to make more than two children, (the Quinn's had around 13 or 14). On the day of the battle I recall more words (which I did not understand) than apples being thrown around. I came out of the skirmish unscathed but with a lifelong fear of Mary Wheat and her gang. These were the days when the rules against water boarding would have been ignored and as I was prominent (front & center on the field of battle), I knew the Wheat Gang would get even if they could.
I would like to know what Mary Wheat did to earn the Quinn Fatwa. Of note is back then it was where you lived, not blood which determined allegiances as the Leibold's were related to the Wheat's. They may have been first cousins.
The Mary Wheat gang morphed into the Alison Taylor Beat Up Club when I moved from Woodsdale. Unfortunately our gang never mustered enough volunteers to face Alison, alone or with support. Alison was a pretty tough cookie and we needed a four or five to one advantage to confront her. Fortunately for us, Alison was probably not aware of our club which accoutns for my never being beaten up by a girl.