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

The First Day Home

It was amazing how quickly Ella settled back into a familiar rhythm with her mother. It was as if she had never left, at least for a moment. After the first flood of emotions had ebbed, Isabel grabbed one of her daughter's bags and led her into the new family home.

"We haven't painted or decorated your room", she explained with an apologetic glance. "I thought you'd like to choose those things yourself."

Ella smiled. "It's okay, Mama", she assured. "Army accommodations aren't too colourful either."

Isabel chuckled. "I can imagine."

She opened the door and motioned for her daughter to enter. Ella looked around, jaw slack. "Wow", she made. "Is this...is this all mine?"

A pang of sadness hit the older woman because she knew why her daughter thought having a medium sized bedroom to herself was a luxury. She tried not to let it show as she nodded and answered: "Yes, charina. It's all yours."

The young girl beamed.

***

There was a bed in the corner, a small nightstand beside it. Under the window stood a desk with a filing cabinet underneath. A wardrobe, a couple of shelves, a chair, a hamper. The furniture was new, or at least it wasn't the same as she remembered from Frederica. Her personal possessions were all there, neatly organised on the shelves and on the desk, her clothes in the wardrobe. On the desk sat a package, which she recognised as the loot she had shipped home from Berchtesgaden.

"It's fantastic, Mama", she managed, getting choked up again. She blinked rapidly and set down her luggage. "Thank you."

Isabel waved it off. "No need to thank me, charina. Now", she clapped her hands, "what do you want to do first? Unpack and get settled, eat, or change clothes and get a show around the house?"

"Hmm..." Ella grinned. "I'd like a tour first, if that's alright."

Her mother smiled. "Of course. Let's see if your clothes still fit you."

The younger Sawyer woman snickered. "I didn't put on weight, that's for sure", she quipped, placing her uniform hat onto her bed and shrugging out of the jacket.

"I'm guessing you even lost some", Isabel agreed, assessing her critically before striding over to the wardrobe. "But your muscles are more defined. You're a bit wirier now."

Ella took a glance at the contents of her wardrobe while unlacing her jump boots. "I think I'll just go with some pants and a t-shirt", she decided. She had never worried about what to wear. Fist because they couldn't afford it, then because she was in uniform around the clock.

Isabel pulled out a pair of blue jeans and a grey t-shirt and placed them onto the bed, chuckling as she watched her daughter slip out of her uniform with an efficiency that came from years of practice.

When the young brunette saw the clothes her mother had laid out, a wistful smile flickered across her features. "My favourites", she said softly, fingers brushing over the warm fabric of the t-shirt. She quickly changed into the civilian clothing and took a moment to get used to the feeling that came with it.

Isabel nodded approvingly. "You look like a different person", she noted. Seeing the odd look on her daughter's face, she questioned: "Are you alright?"

Ella smiled at her Mama. "It's just different, that's all", she reassured her, expression lightening again. Opening her low bun and letting down her hair, she tacked on with a small grin: "I'll get used to it." Hoffentlich, she added in her mind.