Chapter I
25 before Officer Hopps
A small group of young animals walked together with their teacher through "The Museum of Historic Items." Right before the students stood the larger than life M4 Sherman. A small sign indicated statistics, production period, and etc. The youngsters looked at the machine with interest. A mural behind the war machine depicted it firing its main guns into an empty field. "Mrs. Armadillo!" Asked a young wolf pup.
"Yes Oscar?"
"What is it shooting at?"
"Oh nothing." Replied the teacher almost too quickly
"But if it is shooting at nothing then what were they for?"
"There was just a bit of a scurry across the sea. That's all, nothing major."
"Oh." Replied the pup in a disappointed tone.
"Come on class" Mrs. Armadillo said. "Let's see the pottery!"
Peter Wilde, turned a corner in his wheelchair with his great-great grandson, who he felt lucky enough to even see him, let alone tell him the truth and possibly remember. He would make sure that if his little Nicky wouldn't, that his father would. He would be who he looked up to when Peter passed.
"Hey Papi?" Asked Nick
"What Nick?"
"Is it true that they were hardly used? Like only in emergencies?"
Peter looked at the tank with a gleam in his eye. Those damn things saved his life on more than one occasion. "No! Take it from me son. I marched along side at least 10 of those at a time!"
"Wow really?" Exclaimed Nick
"Yeah, don't listen to your teachers about these things, when I'm gone, it'll be up to your dad or your grandpa to tell you."
"I like it more from you."
"Ha I know you do Nick." Peter sighed. He knew it was only a matter of time. Better pass the family motto directly one more time.
"Hey Nicky."
"Ya?"
"Remember whenever you feel down, just repeat this, 'Gib nicht auf, es kann besser werden'."
"I don't know"
"Write it down. It means 'Don't give up, things can get better.'."
"Will you do it for me Papi?"
Peter pulled out Nick's notebook he had with him and wrote down the message.
"Thanks! I mean Danke!"
"Just remember that your Papi fought really hard for all of this." Peter extended his arms to gesture the museum and the surrounding buildings. "Without me and many other mammals, none of this would be possible."
"Wow." Said Nick in astonishment.
"Happy Sieben Nick."
"Thanks Papi, sieben is seven right?"
"Haha yes it is." Peter hugged Nick tightly, then let go and they moved on.
