THE LAKE

Saturday, May 6th. Today is the day, our first date and I am so excited I can barely contain myself. We are all excited except for the Lieutenant who treats it as a normal day. The Lieutenant sits at his little "command post" as Obrenski calls it and listens for today's reports out of one of the headphones of the radio. We all wait anxiously like runners waiting for the pistol to fire. "Well, what are we waiting for?" demands Obrenski. The Lieutenant holds up his hand in order to sush him. After a few minutes, the Lieutenant sets down the headset, stands up and says calmly "Gentlemen, enjoy your leave." Kurtz exclaims "Yippy!" and Obrenski smiles, I feel the excitement building within me. We scurry up to the ramp to the kubelwagen but Obrenski beats me to the driver's seat. Obrenski jumps in first and I shout," What do you think you are doing? You know I have a date today!" "Don't worry Franz, you are only dropping me off." he says. I huff and climb into the passenger's seat and Kurtz sits in the back. "Hold on everyone!" Obrenski shouts as he starts the vehicle and puts it into high gear. We barrel down the dirt road, I look back to see Kurtz standing in the backseat waving to the Lieutenant. 

We enter the city and head south, people wave to us on this bright, cloudless and hot Saturday morning as we pass between the rows of businesses, houses and apartments. We enter the southern side of the city and I notice the immediate change of scenery. The side of the city is gloomier compared to the rest of the city. A lot of the buildings are gray instead of the usual colored variety I am used to. I see boarded up shops and busted out windows. The curtains are all closed on the houses we pass. Very few people walk the sidewalks and I noticed how glum they look. On some them a yellow star of David is sewed on to their suits or dresses above the right breast. 

Obrenski notices my bewildered wandering eyes. He speaks, "This is the jewish sector, It was attacked when those Nazi pricks started a riot. Those bastards are long gone now but this place never recovered."

I look around me and feel almost depressed. Then I see the large double funnels of the power plant sending up its dark black clouds. It is a one hundred feet long and two story tall building which powers the entire city by coal. There is a rail line behind the building in which a steady stream of the black substance makes its way from the mines to the train station and then finally here to be burned. We stop several blocks away from the plant at a slightly run down house. The old gray wood boards of the home have seen much weathering. The house is two stories with two windows on the top and bottom floors. There are three stairs that go up to a small patio that sits before the front door.  Obrenski steps out of the vehicle and walks to the door. "What are you doing?" I ask. "Going to see old friends." he replies. Before he can go up the stairs, several women exit the building and stand before him. They say flirtatiously, " Hello Obrenski." They smile and giggle and Obrenski flashes that grin. It's a brothel! I just realized that's why he came here. A heavy set woman appears and says," Obrenski you have a lot of nerve to show up here." He responds still grinning, "My money is still good isn't it."  She rolls her eyes and huffs. One of the women walk up to my side of the vehicle and says seductively, " Hello soldier, you can come spend time with me." She flashes a smile. I blush uncontrollably and look nervously for an outing. Obrenski turns to be my savior and says," Not that one, he is taken." She frowns and walks off. Kurtz exclaims excitedly, "Can I go inside?!" I turn and shout, "NO!" Kurtz whimpers, "awwww."

I ask to Obrenski, "What do I do about Kurtz?" "Take him with you." he says while being dragged away by the promiscuous women. I huff aggravated and exit the passenger's seat in exchange for the driver's seat. Kurtz takes my place in the passengers seat and Kurtz ask excitedly, " So where are we going next Franz?" Even though I am fuming, I decide that I can't take it out on Kurtz. I reply monotone, "We are going to the lake." "Yay!" Kurtz shouts as we leave this place and head north.

We arrive at the lake in the northeast part of the city. We parallel park on the road next to the sidewalk. The lake itself is at least over a hundred yards long and wide. There is about a thirty yard stretch of grass before reaching the waters edge. The only means of shade is several large trees that ring the circumference of the lake until about the far side where they have been cleared away giving an unobstructed view of the rail line that runs parallel to the lake. On the opposite side of the road sits several large four story apartments. I step out of the vehicle and Kurtz follows me.  I try and look for Irina but there is a crowd of people gathered at the lake. Men and women shuffle about, I see some in bathing suits swimming in the crystal blue lake. On the far side some older men fish. I see some families having little picnics in which the aroma of baked goods is strong. Women pass us on the sidewalk in dresses of reds, blues and purples and men wear tailored suits of usually black or blue. Small children run around swimming or playing in the mud at the waterline. It is a beautiful day for all the activities. 

My search for Irina ends when she suddenly emerges from behind a tree, she is wearing a dark blue dress with daisies patterned on it. Her deep blue eyes are mesmerizing and her blond hair is tied up in a braid. "Hi Franz. It's good to see you again." she says. "Hi Irina it's nice to see you as well." I say. Kurtz walks behind me. We approach each other awkwardly. "Hello Kurtz."she says. Kurtz exclaims jittery, "Hi Irina it nice to see you again, Franz has talk all about you. We have all talked about you. I'm so happy to see you again." "I'm happy to see you too Kurtz." she says with a smile and then it fades and Irina raises her eyebrow, "Is that so Franz?" I run my hand through my hair. "I may have mentioned you."Kurtz says jittery with excitement "Nah uh, You talked about how you kissed her and that was gross and Obrenski wanted to know "details" whatever that means." I look to Kurtz and then back to Irina she now has crossed her arms and gives me "that" look. I swallow hard and think my date is over before it started. She walks past me over to Kurtz and bends over him with hands on her knees "Kurtz why don't you go makes some new friends." "Ok!" He exclaims gleefully and wanders off to pester another poor soul. 

She looks to me with intense eyes. I stutter for an explanation," Th.. That's not at... at all how we talk about you." She suddenly smiles, "I know I'm just giving you a hard time." I breathe a sigh of relief and relax a little. "I'm sorry I had to bring him." I say. "It's fine." she says starting to removing her dress. I am utterly bewildered and embarrassed trying to advert my gaze, my face is blushing I'm sure of it. "Wh..what are you doing" I stammer. She reveals a one-piece bathing suit underneath that are short cut at the thigh. "What? I thought we were going swimming." Swimming? I hadn't even thought of swimming. I don't have anything to swim in, all I brought was my gray army uniform. She looks at me as she removes her shoes "Are you not going to change?" she asks. I don't want to ruin the date so I say, "Uh... uh no." "So you are going to wear that?" she asks. "Yup." I nod my head affirmatively. "You're a funny guy Franz." she says. 

She walks to the water's edge and dips her feet into the water while I remove my boots. She turns and asks, "Are you coming?" "Yeah." I reply as I remove my stubborn left boot and I roll up my pants legs. I can't help but admire her slender frame and legs that shine from the water. She is gorgeous and I try to keep from staring but I find myself standing and gawking. "Come on slowpoke!" She shouts wading deeper into the lake. I near the water's edge and dip my feet into the cool enlivening water. I sweat in my army uniform and embrace the cooling refreshment of the crystal blue water. I dash through the lake to Irina who stands waist deep. We stand among each other and she smiles. 

"So Franz where are you from?" she asks. "Frankfurt, I used to live in Frankfurt with my father."  "Really I wouldn't have thought that. Of course I have lived here my entire life with my mother and father. Before father went off to war." She looks saddened at the thought. I pause and say, "Well I have only been posted here a few months." She perks up and says, " Really I thought you had been here longer?" "No, I came during the winter. My father is a logistics officer and they let him choose where I would go. He figured I would be far away from the frontline here." "What about your mother?" she asks. "My mother died when I was little."

Oh, I'm so sorry Franz." She says. "Its alright, I really don't remember her. I was too little." I reply.

She pauses and then says excitedly, "You haven't seen the flower festival yet!" "The what?" I ask. "The flower festival happens on May 23. Its a celebration of the towns history, oh there are games, crafts, a band and where people line up and pick the flowers in the field. It's a wonderful event! You must absolutely go!"  I ponder it for a minute and decide it would be a bad idea but I would have to see what day it falls on. 

My thoughts are interrupted by a loud train whistle. We turn and look to see a dark red locomotive and several passenger cars. The train sends it's black smoke puffing into the sky as it chugs us by. We wave and can see the shapes in the passenger cars wave back. The train leaves us out of sight behind the tree line with its whistle as its only remnants. "Irina turns to me and says, "Did you ever attend a school?" "Just the public schools though I moved around a lot." "Really, I went to the academy here in the city." "What did you study at the academy?" I ask. "Biology."she replies, "I wanted to be a nurse, sometimes I volunteer at the hospital." She pauses a second and then says, "I was a member of the Hitler League for Girls but I left after the party came to power. I didn't like how they treated people." I say astonished "You were in the Girls League?" She looks ashamed, "Yeah but I don't support them anymore." I inform her, "I am not a fan of the party either." She warns me, " Be careful who you tell that to Franz." "I know." I tell her.

"What about your mother, what does she do?" I ask. "She works at the tank factory, my mother has slender fingers so they use her for wiring." she replies. "Oh ok, she didn't like me last time. How did you convince her to let you come see me?" She pauses before saying bashfully, "Well you see uh she doesn't know I'm here." "What?" I exclaim. "I told her I was with some friends." she says, trying to reassure me. 

We pause and I look for Kurtz to find him crouched at the water's edge studying something closely. I turn back to Irina and she smiles before splashing me playfully with water. Me not expecting the surprise, I cough and gag as the liquid goes up my nose.  She giggles before I splash her back, "Hey! I'm going to get you for that!" Soon we engage in a water battle. We laugh playfully soaking ourselves before suddenly she stops, her eyes wide with terror. She screams "Franz look!" she points behind me. I am confused at first before I see a figure desperately and frantically trying to stay above water. I realize what is happening. It's Kurtz! He is drowning! Kurtz can't swim! He knows he can't swim! I wade over to him as fast as I can muster but my wool uniform is soaked and makes movement much more difficult for it is quite heavy. I make it over to Kurtz just in time to watch his struggling stop and him fall beneath the water. I dive down, the water must be five feet deep here and Kurtz is four foot five. What was he thinking? I reach and grab his hand and pull him back to the water's surface. He gasps for air, coughing and gagging, coughing up fluid that must have entered his lungs. I drag him back to the shore where I stand him up and beat against his back to help him expel the liquid from his lungs.

 Irina has now reached us and exclaims," Oh my God, Kurtz are you ok?!" Kurtz coughing begins to subside and this breathing improves. I shake him and shout, "What were you thinking?" He says," I wanted to show you the cool bug I found." I roll my eyes and say," Don't do that again." "I'm sorry Franz." He says. I reply, " Its ok, just don't do that again." "I'm sorry Franz, I Iost the bug." he says. I smile and shake my head. Irina brushes me aside and speaks to Kurtz like a mother trying to console her child, "Kurtz you have to be more careful." "Ok!" he says cheerfully. "Can I get back into the lake again?" He asks. I just look at him stunned, the boy nearly died and wants to go back. Personally I really would like him to quit interfering with my date, I am about to give him a menial task so he quits bothering us when Irina says," Sure Kurtz, just stay close to me." I look at her astonished, my date now involves Me, Kurtz and Irina! "Ok!" he exclaims. He gleefully skips to the waters edge before turning and saying, "Franz, the water tastes bad." Me and Irina chuckle before entering the water.

Now it is late afternoon, we had stayed at the lake almost the entire day. Luckily Irina packed a lunch of ham and bread for us to eat. We had a good time though I felt it would have been better without Kurtz. The date started to feel between her and Kurtz more than me and her. She was very motherly toward him and she is great with children. I asked her how she was so good at handling him and she informed me that she babysits a family friend's grandchild. 

"Franz." she says, "I have to be getting back now. My mother will start wondering." We leave the water, me and Kurtz's uniforms are soaked. We sit on the ground and dry, Kurtz happily munches on a piece of leftover bread. "I had a great time today Franz." she says. She kisses me on the cheek. The cheek? We kissed on the lips last time. Oh no! What if the date didn't go well? What if she doesn't like me anymore? What if it is because of Kurtz? Damn Kurtz, I knew he would ruin things. She gathers her dress and picnic basket and says, "Goodbye Franz, goodbye Kurtz." With that said she walks off leaving me and Kurtz alone along with the many other patrons. Kurtz looks up to me and says happily,"She is really nice, I really like her. I want to see her again." I feel my blood boiling. This is it, I won't see Irina again and it is all Kurtz's fault. I snap angrily, " Dammit Kurtz, why couldn't you leave us alone?!" "I'm sorry Franz." he says, his smile turning into a frown. "Thanks to you, I probably never see her again." I snap. Kurtz asks cowering, "Does that mean I won't be able to see her again too?" "No! Why do you have to be such a child?!" I snap angrily. "Is it because you had to help me Franz? I'm sorry, I promise I won't try to show you anymore bugs." Kurtz says with tears welling in his eyes. He just doesn't understand. I feel so ashamed of myself for yelling at him, he is just a kid after all. "Come on Kurtz, lets get out of here." I say huffing. "Ok" he says sadly. 

We head back south to pick up Obrenski. Kurtz is unusually quiet and keeps his head bowed down in the passenger's seat while I drive. We approach the run down house and I stop and honk the horn. After a few minutes, an Obviously drunken Obrenski emerges with lipstick smudged across his face. Several women come out and wave him off as he enters the back seat and kicks his feet up on Kurtz's head rest. He lights a cigarette and smokes gayley with his hands behind his head. I drive off without interacting with them.

 We travel through the city out of the jewish sector and watch as people still stroll about on this still sunny late afternoon though the sun grows ever nearer to the horizon. At this rate we should make it back before sunset. Suddenly Obrenski says," So Franz, how was it?" I reply while trying to drive, "It was ok." "Just ok?" he asks. Kurtz suddenly speaks up, "Franz is angry with me." "Really, how so?" asks Obrenski. Kurtz says, " Irina said I tried to drown and Franz said she is not going to see us us anymore." " What happened Franz?" Obrenski asks. "I don't want to talk about it." I say. "Suit yourself." he replies.

We arrive back in silence, the sun now lights the sky with purples and oranges. Kurtz still has his head bowed down like a whipped dog while Obrenski happily gleams from the back. I feel ashamed of myself for making him feel bad while all the while I am still very aggravated with him. I park and turn off the ignition and we all exit the vehicle. I see Lieutenant Sprieg, with his hands folded behind him, admiring the sunset. 

Kurtz disappears into the barracks while Obrenski grabs my shoulder from behind. I turn and he asks," So what really happened?' I crack and tell him,"He hung around us all day and I barely got to spend time with her alone." "Ok, but what's really bothering you? It's not like you to snap at Kurtz." I sigh and say," She kissed me on the check this time instead of on the lips, I don't know what I did wrong." Obrenski chuckles a bit. I find myself growing angry at him and I am about to say something when he says,"Oh my boy, that doesn't mean anything." I, puzzled, ask," What do you mean?" He responds, "Boy, if Kurtz was such a problem, she wouldn't have spent the whole day with you." I pondered that for a second because I never noticed it until now, but she seemed to enjoy Kurtz being there and never said anything about wanting him to leave. Obrenski speaks again, "Boy, women are strange creatures, but if there is one thing that I have learned is that women are quick to let you know when they don't like something."  I never thought of that before. "I'm sure you two are fine. Was she in a hurry?" He says. "Well uh yeah." I reply. "That's what they do in a hurry. You're fine Franz. Its best not to put too much thought into these kinds of things." He smiles and says, "You worry too much Franz." He walks off and leaves me. I smile, breathe a sigh of relief and think that maybe I was just overthinking things which makes me feel even worse for yelling at Kurtz. I decide I should apologize to him but first I have a question to ask the Lieutenant. 

I walk up to the Lieutenant who still gazes at the descending sun. He turns his head to look at me, with his arms still folded behind his back. " Ah Franz, how was your day?" I look at him and ask, "Lieutenant Sprieg, have you ever been to the flower festival?" he looks puzzled before saying, " No but I know it is how the town cherishes its culture. It is a celebration that the whole town partakes in. Why?" I reply " Oh, no reason, I was just wondering, I had heard about it today…" I pause and I decide that the Lieutenant probably has no interest in knowing about my date. "I was just thought it would be interesting to attend." I say. "Well unfortunately it falls on a Tuesday this year, and outside of our leave date." he says while still gazing at the now disappearing sun. "Oh." I say disappointingly. I am about to walk off when he asks, "Is she nice?"I startled, I stammer, "How.. how did you know?" "Franz." He says, "No boy is interested in a festival about picking flowers. Also Obrenski already told me." 

I am not surprised that Obrenski would tell him, I'm more surprised at how he and the Lieutenant talk without my knowing. "Oh…Yeah she is really sweet." "That's good Franz keep it up. And don't turn into Obrenski." He says. I pause and ask, "Whats wrong with Obrenski, why is he like that?" " He is just a bitter man, Franz. He has had a lot taken from him." I ponder the answer before saying, "Well thank you sir." I am about to turn back when I decide to ask, "What are you looking at sir?" He answers longingly with a sigh, "The sunsets in Tunisia were always prettier." "Oh." I say. I walk back to the barracks and think of how I won't be able to go to the festival with Irina. But more Importantly how am I going to apologize to Kurtz. 

I enter the barracks and I see Obrenski eating out of a can of tined meat while Kurtz lays balled up on his cot. I make eye contact with Obrenski and he gives me a look like he knows my intention and is  giving me encouragement to proceed. I walk over to and sit at the end of Kurtz's cot and say gingerly "Kurtz…. I'm sorry I yelled at you. You didn't do anything wrong." He sits up and looks at me and says," Really?" "Yes Kurtz, I'm not mad at you." He gets excited," Really? Your not mad?" " No Kurtz I'm not mad." He suddenly jumps up jittery,"Yay!" He looks at me and asks, " Does this mean that I can see Irina again? She was really nice." I stammer and rub my hand through my hair, "Uh, uh, maybe, we will have to see." I look over and see Obrenski attempting not to chuckle. I decide to change the subject, "Come on Kurtz, let me fix you something to eat." "Ok" he says cheerfully following me into the small kitchen