The Second Red Baron

Chapter 2 - Not alone at least

Throughout the weekend Fritz couldn't relax, no matter how hard he tried. Frustration, confusion and insecurity flowed through his body.
"Why do I have no choice?", he muttered from times to times when noone could hear him. "I have my own life to live".
On sunday, early afternoon, someone knocked on the frontdoor. Fritz hurried to the hall from the living room and opened the door. To his suprise, Fritz found Karl standing infront of him looking worried. Seeing him like that meant something was really wrong.
"Hey Fritz, Uh, so I got this letter. Or my mom did.", Karl stuttered.
"Yeah I got it too.", Fritz answered him. "Yours was about the 'You have to be a soldier now' thingy too right?"
"Yeah it was. I figured that maybe yours did too, so I decided to go visit you for clarification.", Karl said, relieved that he wasn't the only one in this. "Then I thought that we could go to Günter and ask if he got the same letter.", he continued.
"Good idea, I'm just going to ask my mom first."
Fritz ran to his mother's room and asked if he could be with Karl and Günter for a while. Not saying what they would do; he didn't find that to be necessary.
"Of course, darling.", Anna answered him with her kind, loving voice that she had lacked for the past few days until now. Fritz thanked her and rushed to Karl again, while trying not to fall down the stairs.
He deserves this, it has been a though weekend for him. Anna sighed and proceeded to read her book.

Soon enough, Fritz and Karl could glimse the house that belonged to the last best friend of their trio. They didn't have to knock; Günter was already outside in his garden harvesting the strawberries that had grown big this spring. He was wearing his big farming hat made out of straw. If something made Günter happy, then it was taking care of plants.
"Hey Günter!", Karl shouted. Günter lifted his head from the strawberries to see who it was and lit up when he saw them two.
"Oh hello guys!", Günter greeted them and raised his dirty hand to wave.
"Just come in, mom and dad aren't home right now anyway."
"Okay!", Fritz answered and opened the fencedoor. He held it open for Karl and then closed it carefully. When they walked up to Günter he asked:
"So you guys just want to hang out I guess? We can be here, I'm sure mom and dad won't be mad."
"Yeah we can do that, but we just have a question to ask you, Günter.", Fritz replied in a draggy way. Günter nodded and hummed a "Mhm" as an indication that he could continue.
"Do you know if you - or maybe your parents have also gotten a letter about having to join the military?"
Günter's happy face faded into a more serious and resigned one when he answered back: "Well yes, actually. I don't understand, they put it like I have no choice but to do that."
"Yeah exactly! We can decide over our lives, right?!", Fritz agreed.
"It's so weird.", Karl added. "Do you guys think that maybe, this war that everybody is talking about, is bigger than we think and the military need more soldiers? That the government doesn't have so much control that they say that they have?
Those were the exact thoughts that had been flying around in Fritz's head lately. Those and that they; three boys that aren't even adults yet, having to fight as soldiers, risk their lives and what not - while everything being against their own will? It all sounded...well insane.
All three of them were quiet for a while until Günter finally broke the silence:
"I also read that we have to start our military training on the first of June."
"Wait what?!", Fritz and Karl exclaimed in chorus.
"B- but that is in less than a week and a half!", Fritz trembled. "Could they not wait until school has finished at least?!"
"Yeah like come on, I still have some stuff to learn, you know?!", Karl shouted out.
"I'm honestly a bit scared, is our country that desperate?"
Günter stared at Fritz and Karl almost in panic, which in turn scared Fritz a little. "Are they willing to sacrifice school boys?"

A whole week and a couple of days later, Fritz tried really hard to stand straight. Beside him, was Karl and Günter also standing up straight with deadpan faces.
They were not alone; a lot of other boys and men stodd with them.
It was almost complete silence for something that felt like eternity, but then a rough voice echoed through the large hall;
"Hello and welcome to the Luftwaffe air force. You have made an excellent choice for choosing us as your military specialty."
Fritz saw the man talking when he walked closer to where Fritz was standing. He was a tall man with broad shoulders and visible muscles under his uniform. The man continued to speak:
"My name is Diedrich Altenburg and it is my duty to make you the best set of fighter pilots ever made. I am sure you will enjoy this time here and that you are willing to learn and be disciplined while you are at it. Okay enough ramble, let's move on and start your first training day, shall we?"
Everyone started to move and Fritz looked at Karl and Günter. They looked back at him and their eyes said what Fritz was thinking. Dear God let this just be a weird dream.