After Tom Miller secretly enter an abandoned building, he took a carton from his pocket. He quietly glance his surroundings, making sure no one notices him. If his friends noticed him, his buddies would ask him for a piece of precious cigarette he excruciatingly rationed. He leaned against a coarse wall and took a piece of cartridge from the carton, light it and suck the lovely warmth down to his throat which warms his body, making his mind at ease. He then puffed a dense smoke from his nostrils which evaporated out of his sight in an instant.
He dazzled at the reddish afternoon sky approaching night. Stars are becoming much more visible, blinking in the distance. Bird silhouette appear flying to God knows where. A female voice shouting in German mixed with a distinct sound of children crying, probably a mother scolding her naughty child. For a moment his mind was upon the clouds, thinking what he would do sometime later when he returned home to Bronx. Then reality struck him. He knew that he is going home after his job is done, which is most likely impossible within a year. He too was unsure if his job would be done two years later.
Tom was a German speaking American soldier currently the rank of Sergeant. He was born in Bronx with a loving mother and father. He studied German language therefore recruited by the military. He grew up with his 2 older brothers, both of from the U.S air force. Mitch, the older was a fighter pilot fighting in Europe, who got wounded and sent back home in '45 nearing the end of the war. While the younger, Michael, was a bomber pilot for the U.S air force. His last mission was in Hamburg also in '45 which ended in his death. And now Tom, who still went in service managing the administration in Germany from the end of the war till now, which is 1948.
His job was to administer German civilians and prisoners of war. Vigilance is essence in his job. The allies simply do not want to let ex-Schutzstaffel personnel to slip from their hands and hinder justice. Their barbaric actions would permanently imprint on world history. They simply couldn't escape the wrath of the allied powers. Some of the ex-Schutzstaffel personnel are still on the run, waiting to be hunt down.
After night falls, Tom went to his headquarters. He there chat with his fellow sergeant colleagues.
"Oi, Tommy, you've been on a bad mood for the past week. Is there any girl you miss at Bronx?"
Johnson laughed.
"Oi, oi, you never told us that you have a sweatheart at home! is she hot? Tell us, tell us!"
Dicky who also among the bunch were poking Tom who is currently quiet. A cold look appeared in Tom's face.
"Don't be mad! We all do have someone we miss at home. I miss my darling Carmen too." John boasted while taking a photograph from his breast pocket.
Ol'Langley who looked at the photograph whistled loudly and praised John.
"God Damn she's hot, hotter then my daughter! Look at those beautiful chunks, and those bossom!" He chuckled.
"Mind your own wife you old man! You're married and already had a daughter. Why bother looking at John's girl?" Dicky laughed.
Ol'Langley's face reddened. He can only pray to God these boys won't tell his wife later if they return home. Tom, who also laughed seems he has cheered up a little. Tom then opened his mouth and explained.
"No, it's because exactly a week ago, the 27th of June, was my brother's 3rd anniversary after his death. It's funny that I am stationed here in Hamburg, helping rebuilding this city which at one point my brother died while trying to destroy this city."
The others become quiet. They personally reflect on themselves, thankful that they haven't lost their relatives nor their close friends from the war. They were on the winning side, not feeling as once these people felt. Losing a house, a father, a daughter, a mother, the pride as a country.
"Cheer up pal, the war is over, you better try yo get some rest, you all should also try to get some rest, it's late. Tomorrow is the 4th of July. They say they're giving us some presents and mails from the U.S." Lieutenant George suddenly spoke which surprised the bunch.
"Alright chief, I'll be going." Tom replied.
He went to his quarters, unbuttoning his uniform, changing his pants, and sat for a while at the edge of his bed. He started praying, he prayed for a long damn time. His roommate, Sergeant Nickels was waiting for him to finish praying, he wanted to talk to him while not disturbing his prayers. After waiting a while and seeing that Tom haven't finish yet, he frowned. "Ah forget it." In a low voice and went to sleep. Before fully asleep, Nickels peeked with one eye at Tom, finding that he is still praying. He though to his self. "Damn what made you pray this long?" Then went to sleep. At the exact moment Tom just finished praying. Tears dripped from Tom's face. He prayed to much for his brother that it made him emotional.
The next morning, everyone went to the cafeteria. Surprisingly it's roast chicken. A damn cuisine that is. They also noticed a lot of flags are raised, stick, nailed or hanged around the headquarters. Why wouldn't they? It's the 4th of July!
Tom sat with his pals while eating the juicy, brown, roasted chicken. It had a mouthwatering rosemary smell. It was also served with garlic bread, mac and cheese, sausages, chocolate bars and steamed corn. People who looked at the wondrous food become ecstatic but then they realized something. They are eating this delight while others, most civilians of Hamburg, had no privilege on such feast. They eat on a limited basis because their crops and stocks are very limited. All of the men intuitively saved most of the food and share it with Hamburg citizens. They gave chocolate bars to children they find and food for the hungry. They still have some humanity in them.
After this incident, most citizens of Hamburg have some feeling of respect towards these men. While back at the U.S, most higher ups who heard this news gritted their teeth. Why such gaudy food be waste on the people? It was made for the administration team of the allied occupied Germany!
-
While on the eastern side of Germany, Vasily Sokolovsky sat relaxed on his chair. Both his foot lay on his desk. He looked at the noon sky. It was bright and dazzling, the clouds floating around with various shapes. It almost look like cotton. It's so beautiful that it reminded him of Samarskand. Vasily Sokolovsky is very loyal to the Soviet Union and Stalin. He once took part on the offensive of Kursk and Berlin. He was a really experienced commander now promoted as the Marshal of the Soviet Army. It's just a weird feeling in his heart that the city he once destroyed became his office now.
A knock sounded.
"Come in."
"Excuse me sir, I have a report to tell you. The Americans seems to be enjoying their independence day."
"And so?"
"I suggest we report back to the Union. I hope we can arrange a surprise attack."
Sokolovsky's eyes widened.
"Where did you get this idea from general?" he asked.
"Why of course it's my idea entirely sir." Replied General Aleksei Petrov full of boast.
"Idiot. First we don't have many soldiers at our disposal. Secondly, are you going to start another war with America and it's allies?!" Sokolovsky was furious.
The stunned Aleksei didn't mutter a word. He was simply stunned like a rock. He already organized a master plan to attack the allied occupation of Germany, and he hoped he could show his plan to Sokolovsky or even the great Stalin himself if the idea of going on a surprise attack was approved. He had planned on conquering the world under the Soviet Union flag, mostly under his leadership. But Sokolovsky was burden to his plans. He then left the room.
"Wait until I become the Glorious Leader of the Soviet Union, I will definitely conquer the world." He muttered silently. A wide smile suddenly appeared on his face.
-
Upon the citizens of Frankfurt which was still in ruble. Stood a man which was nearing his 30s. He went on a tedious job of shoveling and disposing ruble outside a certain building. This building was once his proud, comfortable home. He and his sweetheart lived here from 1940. But it was destroyed from air raids. At least his wife is still safe, he thought. No one knew but his sweetheart that he once was an ace fighter pilot. His sweetheart now lay pregnant. They live in an underground train station.
"Mister, why are you cleaning the ruble in such a rush?" a little girl approaches him.
"Oh hello there, yes, This was once my old home. I used to live here, I want to repair my house as soon as possible." Replied Heinz Schmidt
"I see, well then where do you currently live mister?" With a cute voice, the little girl asked again.
"I live underground, at the train station."
"Wow, momma said that that place is very crowded now, no wonder you want to leave that place."
"It sure is." Heinz couldn't help but smile at the little girl.
Before the girl could speak, suddenly the ground trembled hard, buildings started collapsing around him. This sudden phenomenon activates his instinct. He grabbed the girl ran away as fast as he could to an open area. He was running for his life. He could see rubble flying everywhere.
"Damn it! Hold tight little girl!"
At exactly 3 o'clock in the afternoon, 4th of July. A sudden trembling can be felt all across Germany. As the ground shook, buildings became shaky. Most cities in Germany are still full of ruble, even 3 years after the war, they remained untouched because no one knows how to dispose them. Yet such earthquake happened, and the ruble started flying everywhere. Some ruins that remained untouched that stood like a thread collapsed easily. People who lived under the rubble cannot help themselves as they got crushed upon. It's an earthquake with such gargantuous scale.