THE ENDLESS GAME

In Lakeside, Illinois, generations of neighborhood kids have competed in an epic battle of capture the flag.

Fred Townsend and his family arrive in the summer of 1998. Fred moves often for his father’s job, and he dreads being the new kid again. When white-presenting Fred meets his neighbor Rusty, who appears Black, he’s pulled into the town’s capture the flag game—a tradition dating back to 1923. Intended to ease tensions between Uphill and Downhill, the two halves of town, it only made the rivalry stronger. Today, the game includes kings, castles, jails, and the nonpartisan rule enforcers the Council of Homeschool Kids. Fred joins Downhill amid chaos: King Mike was framed for spraying graffiti and banished. The new leader, King Raquel, must juggle winning with pressures to prove Mike’s innocence. Visually, the teams are worlds apart: Downhill players are portrayed in soothing earth tones with a faint golden glow, and the members have individual styles, while Uphill members, whose panels feature cooler tones, stick to matching button-down shirts and dark pants, and several are named Matt. The teams’ looks reflect their worldviews: Downhill values individual strengths, while Uphill depends on conformity and obedience. The racially diverse players on both teams feel real and complex, showing that people are more than just “good” or “bad.” Together, they realize winning isn’t about the flag—it’s about friendship and discovering one’s unique purpose.

A nostalgic celebration of childhood and how it helps shape who we become.