//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 Recovery and on leave // Story: A war to close to home // by Bronycommander //------------------------------// Chapter 4: Recovery and on leave We were both lucky. Directly from the train into an evangelical hospital attended by nuns. Those were known for their good treatment and good food, just like the Catholic hospitals. While I slept well, Babs had difficulty sleeping. She and I had a room for ourselves. Bergmann had kept his word. Regularly, Nuns and the doctor looked after us. “Herbert, how does the hospital look like?” She asked before coughing. “Like every other hospital. White beds, white walls and a cross on the wall as this is an evangelical hospital. Do you have a Religion in Equestria?” She smiled. “Not directly. We pray too but our prayers go to Princess Celestia not god. While she’s the Ruler, president, or whatever you want to call her, she’s a god in some way. She raises the sun, unlike here, where the sun lowers on her own.” Again she coughed. “History class payed off after all.” She added with a smile. Despite this, I pray she survives. I will never forgive myself if she dies a slow and painful death. I made a quiet prayer. Oh Lord, I hope this prayer reaches you. Let Babs survive this. She yet has her life ahead of her. I pray she gets well soon. Thank you that we get treated well. Amen. Even though I am Evangelical, I did the catholic cross. Out of Respect. The last time I was in the church was… 1914 shortly before the war started. My father is a farmer, my mother a nurse but both were Evangelical. A week passed. As I had only a leg injury, I recovered well, but was worried about Babs as she was still coughing. Right now, I took a walk outside in the backyard of the hospital. I had to use a cane. “You are doing so well, Herbert. Soon, we will have to throw away the cane.” The nun that accompanied me said. I had other thoughts however. “Sister.” “Yes?” “I’m worried about my friend.” “I think she is making a very good recovery. Today, she should be able to see again.” “Thank you, sister.” I walked back to our room. As I entered, I saw how the doctor removed the bandage. “How many fingers am I holding up?” He asked holding 3 fingers up. “3.” She replied. Her eyes were still operational. “Correct. Herbert, I heard you’re on leave. Have a nice trip home.” “I will, doc. Ready to see my home?” “Of course!” She exclaimed full of happiness. We took the next train to Munich. The town was busy as always. Everyone who saw thought it was a costume and commented how cute it was. “Reminds me of Ponyville.” Babs enjoyed the tour as I showed her the town and the sights. Then, I walked home with her. “Reminds me of Apple Bloom’s home,” Babs commented as she saw the farm in the distance. It was brick red. Next to it was the house we lived in. I knocked on the door. Mother opened it. She had black hair and brown eyes. “Herbert? Is that you?” She asked surprised. “Yes. I’m on leave for 14 days.” She hugged me. “We missed you, How’s your brother?” “Doing well. Where’s father?” "In the living room, reading the newspaper. Come in.” “I have also a guest with me.” I stepped aside to reveal Babs. She was nervous. “You brought a filly with you? Why?” “I found her caught in barbed wire.” Mother looked at Babs with a sad expression. “Oh you poor foal. Don’t worry, we have plenty of room for you on the farm.” “Thanks, Mrs. Baumer.” Mother was shocked. “Did she just talk?!” “Yes? Can I tell you this inside?” I scratched my back. Mother nodded. Father had black hair and green eyes. “My son! So nice to see you again! How’s the front?” He hugged me too. “No, all quiet. May I introduce Babs Seed to you?” I told him how I found her, where she came from and such. He also had sympathy for her. “Your poor child. You can stay here as long as you like. Herbert, we’re proud of you. Not only because you got the Iron Cross from our Kaiser, but also because you helped her.” “Thanks, father. Should I show you our house, Babs?” “Yes.” I showed her our house. We had horses in our stable before the war, but now we had none as they were all needed in the war. I don’t think we will see them ever again. But now we have Babs. After our tour, Babs offered to help out on the farm. She did everything with greatest pleasure. As reward, I tickled her until she was lying on the ground, trying to catch her breath. In the evening, we had dinner and I brought her into the guest bed. She let out a yawn. “It sounds silly, but you’re like a father for me.” “I know, Babs. Goodnight.” “Night, Daddy.” She drifted off to sleep. For some reason she was like a daughter for me. Mother and father stood in the doorway and smiled. “You make a good father for her, Herbert. We just know it.” Mother said with proud in her voice. I went into my own bed. Much better and comfortable then the cots on the front Stay safe, brother. I don’t want to lose you. I thought before closing my eyes, allowing sleep to take over. I woke up in the middle of the night as someone tugged me. Babs was trembling. “I had a nightmare, can I sleep with you?” “Of course.” I helped her into my bed and she fell asleep with a sigh. I slept well. Babs was not in the bed anymore. Before I could get up, I heard how she trotted in with a breakfast board with a glass of juice and bread. “Good morning, I made you breakfast.” She putted it down. It was delicious. “Delicious.” Babs blushed. “Glad to hear it.” I decided to take a walk and switched to my blue suit and bonnet. “Why don’t you wear your uniform?” “It just more comfortable this way, father.” I putted my cap on and looked into the mirror. “Can I come with you?” Babs asked me with hope. “Of course.” I knew a beer garden not far from here. On the way to it, I bought Babs a pretzel at a bakery which she enjoyed. At the beer garden, I ordered a beer for me and lemonade for Babs. The Waiter was an old friend of my father, I could trust him. Plus everyone believed me that she was my daughter in her costume. I was nice to get a break from the war. No gas, no artillery. Enjoying the silence, I let out a sigh. Then I visited my old teacher. “Herbert! I see you earned the Iron Cross! I’m proud of you. Proud of the entire class!” “I’m afraid, there is no class anymore. Fritz, Holger and I are the only ones left of the class.” The teacher showed sorrow. “I’m sorry to hear that. Repay them with service. They died for their fatherland. Fight for your daughter, for Germany!” He gave me a wink. “Bergmann told me.” We were interrupted by a cry for help. Some boys surrounded her. “Watch where you going!” “I told already, I’m sorry!” She replied scared as one boy was about to punch her but I blocked it and shoved him away. Yep, training and all the close-combat in the trenches pays off today! “Leave her alone!” I defended her. The boys had no time to react as my former teacher already called the police. “Are you hurt?” I helped her up. “No, I’m fine.” We said goodbye and went home. In the evening after Dinner, I helped my parents in the kitchen while Babs was in the living room. What I saw melted my heart. She was asleep on the floor with a drawn picture in her hoofs. On it was her sister. She had also green eyes, a pink coat and a blond mane. As her name suggested, her Cutie Mark was a Sunflower. Under her was written, “I miss you.” Touched by that, mother hung the picture up, while I carried her into bed. I couldn’t help but give her a kiss on the forehead. “Goodnight, my little Babs.” 14 days passed in a blink of an eye and I had to return to the Front. Babs said goodbye and hugged me while I stroked her mane. “Be careful.” “I will, Babs.” I got onboard the train as the train whistle sounded and the Steam locomotive started to move. Perspective: Babs Seed Here he goes. Back to the front. I hope he survives. I could stay with his parents. I was about to go as someone said, “Look who we got here!” I knew that voice. It was the boy that tried to punch me two weeks ago. “Get her! You won’t get out away this time!” I had other plans however and bucked one boy as hard as I could. He stumbled, which gave me time to run. I came into what looked to be a Freight depot. One wagon was open. I jumped in, closed the door and held my breath as I heard them running by. Phew! Now let- The train started to move. Oh no! Where is this train heading? I inspected the cargo. Ammo and medical supplies. The Front. Can get this any worse? Perspective: Herbert After getting off the train, a truck brought me and other recruits to the rally point at Freight deport. Bergmann, Holger and Fritz greeted me. “Brother, you’re back!" “Yeah, I’m back.” “We’re so glad to see you.” “Glad to see you too, Fritz.” “They’re getting younger and younger,” Bergmann commented as she saw the new recruits. No older than 16. As we walked past the freight wagons, I heard crying. It came out of one of the wagons. My comrades took notice of it too. We opened the wagon and saw Babs crying. “Babs? What are you doing here?” She looked up with tear filled eyes and jumped towards me for a tight hug. “Shh…calm down. What are you doing here?” I wiped a tear out of her eye. “After you left, the boys you that tried to hurt me found me. I tried to lose them and hid myself in this wagon, not knowing that heading for the Front.” She explained. “This is bad. I heard the Brits want to launch a massive attack today.” Bergmann was worried about her safety. She, Holger and I said the same sentence. “I got a bad feeling about this.”