Around the bend

Chapter 2

Leon laughed "You're damn right I did!" Marvo glared at him with glazed eyes "So you're just gonna throw your life away! Just like that!?" He asked "Just like that!" laughed Leon again, Marvo swore under his breath "You're coming with me Marvo? Right?"  Marvo was silent "Right?!" said Leon again "Aaaaw come on buddy! You and me blasting them Germans!".  "You mean throwing our lives away for some rich white man who hates our guts!? bah!" Yelled Marvo, the factory froze, everyone was staring at him. He hadn't realized it, but he had stood straight up as he spoke and knocked his tray clean off the bench, sending his supplies and tools flying through the air. "Hey man, sit down..." whispered Leon quickly, Marvo slowly lowered himself onto his stool. "You don't get it, the Krauts are some of the biggest racist that ever lived! And we've got an open door to kick the crap out of them!" He said excitedly. Marvo nodded "So you're coming!?" Marvo nodded again slowly, Leon gave a jump of joy and attracted even more attention than Marvo had.

After work Marvo lined up with Leon to collect their pay then followed him to the local recruiting station. It was a towering building with intricate architecture and a thick metal door. Posters with the old man were stuck all over the building and a huge sign with Recruitment had been strung up above the main entrance. Leon bowed dramatically and stuck his hand out "Good luck!", Marvo ignored his hand and patted him on the back "I better not regret this!" Marvo laughed, they both said goodbye and then parted ways. Marvo walked slowly into the main entrance, overwhelmed by the great structure. He was greeted sourly by a young man dressed in a military uniform "Sorry, no beggars!" Laughed the man, Marvo ignored him "Im here to enlist!" He declared "Wow! A genius too!" Laughed the man again, Marvo glared at him and pushed his way past "Oh we got a tough guy!" said the man as he raised his fist, Marvo flinched, just then the recruitment officer walked in "May I ask what you two are doing?!" said the recruitment officer, the man confronting Marvo sprang into a salute "Nothing sir!"  "Good..now show this nice young man to my office, I have some papers I need to sort!" said the Officer "Of course sir!" said the man, sending a dirty look towards Marvo.

The Man shoved Marvo through the hall and past various rooms packed with weighing scales, uniforms and tape measures, into an office and then quickly shut the door without saying a word. The room was large, along the walls were a selection of photos and posters of soldiers, doctors, pilots and nurses, towards the back of the room was a huge book case filled with various feild guides and biography's of great civil war heroes. Placed neatly in the middle of the room was a desk with a picture frame perched nicely on it, behind this was an American flag, hung perfectly behind the desk.

The Officer walked in. "Have a seat son!" said the Officer, gesturing towards a seat directly in front of the desk. Marvo took a seat.The Officer was of medium height with a brown bushy mustache and a great bloated nose. He was large and resembled a walrus dressed in a green officers uniform. "So, you're here to enlist?" asked the Officer expectantly "Yes sir, I am..." Said Marvo "That's great to hear boy!" exclaimed the Officer "I just need to fill out this here form" he said holding up a large piece of sand coloured paper, Marvo nodded. "How old are you?" asked the Officer "17" replyed Marvo "Occupation?" asked the Officer, and Marvo explained all about his job, his Family, his pay and his home, After the Officer had weighed Marvo, Marvo asked "Pardon me if I ask you sir, but would it be alright if I was to be put in the same unit as my friend sir?"  "Of course!" chuckled the Officer "What fun would war be without a friend to share it with you? I just need to know your friends name!" "Leon  Aywood, sir" said Marvo "Aaah I remember the lad!" said the Officer "Enlisted just yesterday to the 761st Tank Battalion, you like Tanks son?" Marvo nodded "Well you're gonna hate them by the time this war is over!"