Cozy With Katyusha

The Party

"Move forth!" cheered Katyusha, pointing towards the horizon.

"Aye, commander!" I replied. I moved first my hands then my legs as I crawled across the lawn with Katyusha on my back.

"Ha ha, those pesky Germans don't stand a chance against us," she cheered as she lifted her rifle and leveled it at the targets in front of us. "Oorah!" In the time it took her to fire off two shots from her pellet gun I watched the two targets fall over torn open by the lead slugs that hit both sides. It all happened in an instant and was over.

"I don't see why we couldn't just use a real rifle," she groaned, looking over the toy rifle.

"Yeah, OK, we'll see how you like having one go off next your ear," I gave retort.

"Silence! No talking back to your superiors!" she said in a stern, yet playful way.

"Well, well, what have we got here?" asked Nonna from behind us. I turn to look and spot a plate in her hands which stirs Katyusha.

"Are they ready!" asked Katyusha, excitedly.

"Yes, Kay finished cooking these not too long ago, so I figured I'd bring some out for you two." replied Nonna.

I felt a kick as Katyusha excitedly tried dismounting me, which resulted in me falling over onto her. "Sorry," I said much to Nonna's amusement. I got up and helped up Katyusha as we found a place for us to sit down and eat. Nonna had a table set for us and placed the plate of burgers and hotdogs in the middle of us.

"Mmm, those look good!" said Katyusha excitedly.

"You think so?" asked Nonna uncertainly, prodding the meat, "so this is American food?"

"Well, we have a lot of other things, but sure, these are pretty American foods." I reply.

"I think I might stick to the hamburgers," said Nonna as she took one from the tray.

"I think I'll have both!" said Katyusha excitedly.

"Any toppings for you two?" I asked.

"Toppings?" asked Nonna.

"Sure, like lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup, mustard...." as I went through the list, Katyusha began taking condiments from the center without really listening and adding them to her meal. Nonna took a few things for her burger and spread them out thinly.

While Nonna was doing that, I watched Katyusha enjoy her food, trying different toppings on each part of her hotdog and then tasting her hamburger. "Man you can stuff a lot in your mouth," I joked.

"What?" she asked with her mouth full. "It's good."

"That doesn't mean you need to be so sloppy," said Nonna, sternly.

Katyusha shrugged as she continued eating. Nonna pulled out a bottle of Vodka and poured herself a shot "Gimmie!" said Katyusha reaching for the bottle.

"No, if I give you some, you'll get tired and fall asleep at the party," said Nonna as she poured me a glass.

"Aw, please," begged Katyusha. "I promise I won't get sleepy."

"Fine," relented Nonna. "Here," she said, giving Katyusha a shot to have with her meal. When we finished eating, Katyusha had a number of drinks and was becoming tired next to me. She leaned over to her side and rested her head on my shoulder. "See, I knew you'd get tired."

"Kitakyushu's just a little sleepy. Maybe Katyusha might have a nap," smiled Katyusha.

"Well, what now?" I asked.

"I suppose we should take her up to the loft so she can rest." replied Nonna.

"Yeah, OK," I said as I picked up Katyusha and carried her indoors. As I passed some of the other guests of the party I got a few "aw"s from people, but none of it seemed to bother Katyusha as she covered her face in my shirt.

I moved Katyusha up into the loft and set her down on the bed to rest and sleep off the alcohol, when I felt her tug at my shirt just as I got up to leave. "Wait," she mumbled. "Don't go."

"What is it, Katyusha? Do you need something?" I asked.

"I can't fall asleep without a lullaby. Can you sing me a lullaby?" she asked.

"Well, I don't really know too many," I began to say.

"Please?" pouted Katyusha.

"Very well," I said as I thought of a song to sing for her.

"Quieter," she mumbled.

"What?"

"Quieter!" she groaned as she turned over to face me. "Sit closer."

"Alright," I said sitting down on her bed as I resumed singing and watched Katyusha.

 Katyusha let out a yawn before resting her head into my jacket once more and moving under it. "Thank you," she whispered. I unbuttoned the rest of the coat to keep her from getting caught in it.

"Are you ready to sleep now?" I asked. "May I leave you?"

"May I ask you something first?" she whispered.

"You may."

"Do you think I'm tall?"

"I think you're lovely as you are," I said to her, not wanting to lie.

"You don't think I am, do you," she said dejectedly.

"But I do think you're lovely, so never mind being tall, you are just fine as you are to me, Katyusha. Never forget that."

"Can- can I ask you another thing?" she stuttered.

"You may," I said to her, petting her gently.

"Do you... like me?" she asked softly.

I thought about what to say to her before at last saying, "I do, Katyusha. You're a one of a kind commander, a great friend, and loyal most of all to those you're close with. I couldn't be happier to work with another tank commander."

"I... I guess you could say, I want to be loyal to you," she said.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

"I want to be closer to you, I want to be... be... I'm."

"Katyusha?"

"I love you!" she said.

I was stunned for a moment as I looked at Katyusha who was now sitting up beside me. I placed a hand on her shoulder and nodded before saying, "I love you, too, Katyusha. Now how about you rest for now, we can talk about this when you're feeling better in a while."

"Will you be here when I wake?"

"Always," I said, petting her head. Katyusha laid back down and closed her eyes.

"I love you," she hummed.

"I love you too."

I sat back and looked down to see my friend Katyusha sleeping on my chest. I smiled and shook my head as I took off my shoes and thought how lucky I was to have made such lovely friends since joining the tankery team. "What a wonderful world," I thought and with that in mind I turned to look out the window to watch the clouds in the sky until I too fell asleep.