A/N: So this is what I thought was going through Paul's head during the first part of the original "All Quiet On The Western Front." This was originally a history class assignment.


I joined the army. I'm not sure what I was thinking. I guess I was just caught up in the moment. After our teacher told us about the war with that huge parade going on outside, who could say no? I knew my mother would be upset. She doesn't want me to go. It wasn't a pretty sight when I told her. She begged me not to go. Father was pretty proud. He clapped me on the shoulder and told me to watch my back out there.

Training is awful. What happened to that pretty picture they painted for me about the war? I'll bet its coming. When I get to the actual battles, it'll come true, won't it?

My group and I are having a bit of fun on our last night here. Our training captain went into town tonight. And when he goes into town he gets drunk, very drunk! We tripped him, wrapped him up in old blankets and dropped him in the mud. He was heavier than he looks.

We're finally here! The battle lines! It's not quite as I anticipated it to be but it'll get better in time…I hope. I'm having a few more doubts. No, I'm just imagining them, I am awfully hungry! That must be it. I haven't eaten since breakfast, since those bombs crashed over our heads by the medical trains. Why would the bomb the wounded like that? It doesn't make sense, they already hurt them once.

I'll be back later. Some guy named Cap just came back with a pig. He's teasing us with it. Are you kidding me? He'll give us food if we give him a cigarette. Right now it's sounding like the best deal I'll ever make.

Okay, the pig was disgusting. We had to prepare it ourselves. Skinning it, gutting it, everything. I'm still shivering as I remember the smell of the blood. How am I ever going to fight if I can't stand the smell of blood?

Right now we're off to the trenches. Why don't I feel as excited as I once did?


A/N: So? Do I deserve in A or an F in my history class? More to come if anybody likes it...