March 7, 1936. Ottawa, Canada.
The entire family sat around the dinner table. Mother, father, Willie, Sarah, Joyce and myself, Charlie. I was oldest amongst the siblings, followed by Sarah and Joyce, who were one year younger than me. Willie had only turned five last week. My father, Thomas, joined the Great war 1917, when at the age of eighteen. I was eating as fast as I could as usual, father read the newspaper, Sarah and Joyce argued about something and mother forced William to eat. Suddenly, father began speaking.
"The Germans has re-occupied the Rhineland."
"They've done what where?" I asked, still chewing my fish.
"Charlie, don't speak with your mouth full of food, for christ sake. What will your parents-in-law think?" He answered.
"Oh, it's a while till I get married, I hope... but come on, tell me what the Gerries did." Father sighed.
"You are a disgrace, Charlie... very well. When the peace were signed after the great war, the Germans weren't allowed to have armed forces in the Rhineland. Now they've sent in troops there nonetheless."
"Oh... thanks for the food, mum." I said while I rose and removed my plates from the table.
"Where are you going?" Mother asked.
"I'm gonna see some friends, mum." I answered.
"Don't be out too late!"
"I won't, mum. Bye!" I said, while thinking that I had very modern and understanding parents.
The entire family sat around the dinner table. Mother, father, Willie, Sarah, Joyce and myself, Charlie. I was oldest amongst the siblings, followed by Sarah and Joyce, who were one year younger than me. Willie had only turned five last week. My father, Thomas, joined the Great war 1917, when at the age of eighteen. I was eating as fast as I could as usual, father read the newspaper, Sarah and Joyce argued about something and mother forced William to eat. Suddenly, father began speaking.
"The Germans has re-occupied the Rhineland."
"They've done what where?" I asked, still chewing my fish.
"Charlie, don't speak with your mouth full of food, for christ sake. What will your parents-in-law think?" He answered.
"Oh, it's a while till I get married, I hope... but come on, tell me what the Gerries did." Father sighed.
"You are a disgrace, Charlie... very well. When the peace were signed after the great war, the Germans weren't allowed to have armed forces in the Rhineland. Now they've sent in troops there nonetheless."
"Oh... thanks for the food, mum." I said while I rose and removed my plates from the table.
"Where are you going?" Mother asked.
"I'm gonna see some friends, mum." I answered.
"Don't be out too late!"
"I won't, mum. Bye!" I said, while thinking that I had very modern and understanding parents.