I shifted part of a smashed brick with the toe of my boot. "Come on Hilda! If we don't hurry up you'll be late for your class at the nursery. You know how Mrs. Zoller is when you're late." I called back to my sister who was walking slowly down the street with her head down. "Oh come on Hilda, if I can put on a brave face so can you." I said kneeling down in front of her. Ever since our parents had died in a bombing raid a few months ago she seemed to be more and more depressed. Our parents death really took it's toll on us, but I put on a brave face for Hilda. I looked at my watch and grabbed Hilda's hand. If she was late I could be sure I would hear about it from Mrs. Zoller. We arrived with thirty seconds to spare. "Cutting it rather close today aren't we Mr. Schultz?" Mrs. Zoller scorned. "Sorry ma'am but we had to take a detour." I stammered out. With Hilda at her class I had to get moving to make it to the barracks.
~~~~~~~~~~~
As I walked up to my locker to get my uniform I was surprised to see Heinrich in a Wehrmacht uniform. "What's with the new uniform?" I asked as I put my Hitler Youth uniform on.
"They need fresh men in Russia. I just got this this morning." he said waving his hand down at the uniform.
"Is it because you just turned sixteen?" I asked worried.
"Ja. And I saw the list of names. You're two behind me. Figure you'll get one on your birthday."
"If I get sent to Russia who will take care of Hilda? I looked at the picture of our family in my locker. My eye's focused on Hilda. She was only eight years old and I was the only family she had left in this city.
"I know she means a lot to you."
"She needs me and I need her." I said still looking at the picture.
"Schultz! You're to report to the Kammandant's office."
I turned and saw our group leader staring at me from the door way. I snapped to attention and saluted and thanked him for the information.
"I know you hate that." Heinrich said. I had known Heinrich ever since before I was Hilda's age and he had learned my every quirk.
"Hate what?" I asked as I laced up my shoes.
"Saluting. I know you hate doing that. I also know you don't like der Fuhrer." he said as he sat down on the bench next to mine.
"What's your damned point?"
"I know you blame them for your parents death's." I stopped lacing my shoes and just stared at them. It was true that I hated the Nazis, Hitler, and I did blame them for my parent's deaths. If they hadn't started the war we wouldn't be dealing with the bombing raids. I finished lacing my shoes and stood up.
"Heinrich, do me a favor and stay alive."
"I will."
~~~~~~~~~~~
I snapped to attention and saluted. "You wished to see me Herr Kammandant?" I asked, still standing at attention.
"Ja I did. Have a seat Schultz." The Kammandant waved his hand at a seat in front of his desk. "Schultz, I need you to be on night patrol. Report to Kaptain Hess at eight tonight to begin your patrol." The Kammandant said as he offered me a cigar. I never cared for smoking but took it as to not offend him.
I was dismissed and returned to my barracks to grab my wallet. If I was going to wander around the city till tonight I was going to need some money. I saw few people in the market but it was still fairly for midday. The chatter of the patrons was interrupted by the all to familiar wail of the air raid sirens. Suddenly I realized something, everyone was looking at me! I remembered that if there was no air raid wardens present then they should turn to a military figure if possible. I was the closest they had. After directing them to the air raid shelter I climbed in and shut the door. As I went down the dimly lit stairs I could see a group of small children huddled by the base of the stairs. As I walked past I felt a small hand grab my leg. I turned to see one of the kid's looking up at me with fear in his eyes.
"When's the siren going to stop?" he asked on the verge of tears.
"Soon I hope." I replied trying to keep him calm.
As I walked down the aisle looking at the people I remembered being in one of these shelter's a few months ago with Hilda and when we emerged we were orphans and homeless. When the sirens began to wind down a few hours later from the raids one after another by the American planes from England and Italy, I opened the door letting fresh air rush in. By now it was seven thirty and I had to get Hilda from the nursery. As I walked down the street to the nursery I could see the girls leaving. One began running towards me.
"Hans! Hans! Guess what we got?" Hilda asked jumping up and down.
"What?"
"We got our uniforms today! Isn't that great?" Hilda asked still jumping with excitement.
"Sure but you get tired of them after awhile." I said with a grin. "I have patrol tonight. You want to come with me?"
Her face went from excitement to pure joy.
"I've never been on patrol with you before! Of coarse I want to go!"
"Well lets go. My patrol starts at eight." I said grabbing her hand.
"Can I wear my uniform?"
"Sure. You can dress in the barracks and put your stuff in my locker." I said as we rounded the corner to the City's Hitler Youth Headquarters. I led Hilda down a hallway and out a door to a row of huts behind the building. I led her into the empty barracks and showed her where she could change then went to the other room.
"Are you almost done? I have to report to Kaptain Hess in ten minutes."
"Give me a second!" Hilda snapped. A few seconds later she walked out in her blue and white dress.
"Let's go!" I said as I rushed her out of the barracks.
~~~~~~~~
"Schultz, you're patrolling the old part of the city. Be careful and don't get hurt."
Unlike the other leaders Kapitan Hess was a nice man and was well known for his leading abilities. But unlike most leaders he also detested Hitler, but he wouldn't say it out loud because he knew it would mean death. "Good luck and try to find cover if the sirens go off." Kaptain Hess said as he walked off to meet with his next appointment.
"Come on Hilda lets go." I said as I checked the 9mm Luger the Kaptain had given me for protection.
"I liked him. He seemed nice." Hilda said walking along side me. Hilda seemed to be out of her depression tonight and began to ask me her silly questions just like before our parents died. "If you were a mythical creature what would you want to be?" she asked as we walked past a bombed out pub.
"A pegusus. I always wanted to fly. What about you?" I asked looking down at her. "A unicorn." she said with a smile. Typical Hilda, always did like unicorns. As we walked I could hear what sounded like a distant swarm of angry bees.
"Hilda, we have to find shelter." I said calmly trying not to scare her.
"Why?"
"I just have a feeling."
Not ten seconds later the sirens began to wail as the Royal Air Force's bombers neared the city. "Hilda run!" I yelled as I grabbed her hand. That's when I heard the worst sound I could imagine, the scream of the bomb's as they fell towards the earth. Suddenly the world around us shook and illuminated with a brilliant white light. The force of the blast sent me flying through the air. I hit the ground with a thud and saw Hilda laying on the ground near me before the world went black.