Pitschen ma en gamba - Small, but powerful [A Band of Brothers Story]

Sobel being Sobel

Sobel's regular raids for contraband were always a cause for annoyance among the men. Even if everything was in order, everyone's property was still strewn all over the floor. The barracks generally looked like a tornado had gone through afterwards.

This time was no different. The men returned from their training and got quite worked up about the state of their quarters. Grousing and cursing, they started sorting through the mess, gathering up what was theirs and putting everything back in order.

Ella dug around in her footlocker, muttering under her breath. "Kumm scho, das gits doch nid. Wo isch es?"

Johnny Martin, who was just putting away the last of his possessions, looked over. "What language is that even?", he asked.

He wasn't a big talker and could come across as slightly bitter or aggressive, especially when he used his stern, bitchy glare. But underneath all the sarcasm and snarky remarks, he was a good guy. One night, when Ella had woken up in cold sweat, he had quietly stated: "You must miss home."

When she'd affirmed, Johnny had instigated a hushed conversation, talking about Ohio and his wife, while she in turn told him about her mom and her brother. From then on, he would surreptitiously check on her every once in a while, making sure she was doing okay. And he would never admit that the 'Good night, Johnny' she whispered each night after lights out made him smile. Or that he actually returned it.

"Huh?" Ella turned her head, still rifling through her things. "Oh, I can't find something." She sat back on her haunches and scowled. "For crying out loud!" She gave the footlocker a frustrated kick and plonked herself onto the floor, back leaning against her cot.

"What you looking for?", Luz wanted to know.

She looked up. "My knife." Her dark expression mellowed. "My brother gave it to me before...before he enlisted." She was silent for a moment before her temper flared once more. "And now Sobel had to wreak goddamn havoc in here and fucking confiscate my knife!"

The men turned and stared at her like she'd grown another head. They had never seen her angry or heard her curse like that.

Guarnere guffawed. "Jeez, I didn't think ya even knew how to swear, kiddo", he said, "Guess we're rubbin' off on her, guys." The rest of the men laughed.

Ella huffed, but in the end, she couldn't help but join the laughter.

***

In the evening, Ella walked past Winters on her way to the mess hall and stopped abruptly. "Lieutenant?", she called.

He turned around. "What is it, Corporal?", he asked in his usual calm and friendly manner.

Suddenly feeling self-conscious, Ella blushed and said: "Congratulations on your promotion, sir."

Winters smiled. "Thank you, Corporal."

She saluted and continued her way.

The newly appointed 1st Lieutenant shook his head in amusement as he watched the young girl walk to the mess hall. He hadn't quite managed to make sense of her yet. There were so many sides and layers to her, she still was a bit of a mystery to him and the rest of the company. But that didn't matter. They all had a right to privacy. What mattered was that Ella was extremely likeable and fit in perfectly with the men.

"Didya hear?" Penkala leant over the table. "Sobel was made Captain."

Ella nodded and replied after swallowing her last mouthful of whatever the kitchen was trying to pass off as food. "I saw Lt Winters earlier. He's 1st Lieutenant now."