The Airbound

I don't like church

"Ty, why weren't you in church this morning?" Called mother.

"I was busy," I called back.

"Honey, your fifteen you can't go around skipping church all the time,'

My little sister Mel, was just nodding along with whatever mum said.

"Yeah!" She burst out, in a high pitched baby voice.

At this point I just shrugged her off leaving her fuming on the porch. Church was much to boring for me. If I end up in hell then that's screwed up system. I'd much rather go around the beautiful city Halifax and find something exiting.

I was walking down Regimental avenue when I saw some guys all crowded around an old Ford and listening to the radio. I walked over interested about what they were listening to. When I was about five feet away I started picking up the broadcast.

" Germany and it's allies are continuing a fast and brutal campaign against Poland using tanks men and they're Air Force. Yesterday our majesty the King George of England and his parliament, have forcefully threatened Germany to stand down or face the consequences. Germany says they will not stop until they have what they believe is rightfully German territory. One hour ago Toronto time. Great Britain declared war on Germany and it's allies. Our Prime Minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King, is still working out the details on how we should engage with pressure from Britain to join the war. You have been listening to CBC radio we will keep you posted in the coming hours." At this point the broadcast cut out and went to playing a laid back country song.

"Boys There's a war on," yelled one of the men standing around. Then they all started yelling. Some saying let's go to war,and others saying it'll pass. Someone I recognized suddenly jumped out of they're circle walked up to me.

"Eh, Ty you hear that," It was Tommy Philips my best friend since he pulled me out of a fight in kindergarten.

" Yeah," I said, not quite getting the full picture. "Er...When did Germany attack Poland I thought they were just showing off they're troops."

"They invaded on the first surely you heard."

Actually I faintly remember that there was a lot of excitement a couple days ago, but I just passed it off because the circus was in town.

"Anyways. The minute that I hear we're at war I'm joining up."

"What? Your only fifteen though,"

"So are you but we don't look it."

He was right. Both of us were almost six feet tall and our faces got so busted up in fights that we look twenty. A twenty year old who likes to fight.

"You need to show ID,"

"Half the population of Canada doesn't have ID's since the depression,"

"Alright," I agree'd, I'm always willing for some adventure.

Two hours later the radio program was interrupted and this was broadcasted to millions of Canadians.

"Prime Minister ,William Lyon Mackenzie King, will now tell you of the war." -Several seconds passed- "My fellow Canadians, I am hard pressed to tell you that we have declared war on Germany and it's allies. We will focus mainly on production of ammunition and materials, but our Air Force is already being deployed and will be the first to engage against The German Luftwaffe..." The rest was drowned out by the cheering of the men around the car.

One street over we could see more people running downtown towards the regiment.

"C'mon!" Yelled Tommy to me and the other men from the car.

I excitedly, and started jogging alongside Tommy. Then I broke into a run. Then I was full on sprinting, towards the regiment.

Very soon I found myself in line, ahead of Tommy and about, twenty men behind the front. I took a glance behind me, and saw that the line went for along ways.

"Here," Tommy said handing me a blue paper slip that read 'Ty Laurez Hilton, 1/15/20,' and there was a grainy photo of me and some numbers.

"Tommy. How did you get these" I said while shuffling forward.

"My uncle works for the citizen registration office," The colour of his face slightly draining.

"He could get in huge trouble for this, you know," I shook the ID at him.

"It's fine he was in the Great War and said that if I ever wanted to get into the army he wouldn't let me get hauled down because of my age,"

" Is this the same uncle who let you drive when you were four?"

"Yeah but now I'm a great driver," he grinned sarcastically.

"Fine, but if these don't work I'm throwing you off the wharf,"

He made a fish face and laughed.

As the line started to recede, and we got closer to the front, my stomach started to fill with butterflies. My knee's felt weak and my head was lighter. Finally I just took a deep breath and said in a hushed voice to myself "Stop worrying your fine,"

The line continued to shrink until finally I was standing in front. I looked down. Sitting at an old table sat an older gentlemen with a bushy moustache. He wore a dark blue formal uniform and smelled like cigars.

"ID please"

I handed him the blue slip. He looked it over quickly, and then handed it back to me. Then he reached under the table. He pulled out a booklet with a number of lines and paragraphs.

"On the first line, element you wish to join; on the second line, your signature.

I skimmed over the booklet and got down to the first line.

It took some thought. Of course it took some thought, I was dividing where I would serve. I thought of the radio broadcast. Air Force would get me to the front quicker. But I wouldn't want to rush into combat. Navy I would have the British navy supporting me. But swimming in thousand foot deep water scares the hell out of me, not knowing what's swimming below me. That left what I wrote down, Infantry.

I then skimmed down to the second line. I hesitated. War, if I sign this I have to tell mum that I'm going where Dad went. I have to endure training, and the I have to endure combat. I've read the letters heard the stories.

"C'mon, lad." Piped the old officer. He had a slight British accent and a slight quiver.

I made up my mind. Down on the line I wrote, Ty,L,Hilton.

The officer nodded to a doorway behind him and ripped off the sheet I'd just wrote on. He looked at it very quickly, then handed it to me.

I walked to the doorway and began my military career.