"If there must be trouble, let it be in my days, that my child may have peace" – Thomas Paine

The next morning, after a breakfast that was mostly spent in silence, both wrapped up in their own thoughts, Lilian and Peter made their way to the recruiting office in town. Hand in hand they walked through the busy streets of London, watching how the people pursued their daily lives. It was then that Lilian fully realized what it would mean for her when Peter enlisted: she would need to live her life on her own, without him by her side if things went over her head. She had to learn again how to be alone, and she was not sure if she could do this after one year of marriage. And even if she could, did she want to live alone?

"When do you plan to tell your family and friends?" Lilian asked to stop the silence between them.

"I will tell me mates tonight when we meet in the pub. And I 'ad planned to tell me parents right after I enlisted."

"What's with your siblings?"

"I'm sure me parents will do the job for me durin' the Sunday lunch tomorrow." Peter looked at Lilian and saw her how usual soft features bore a harsh tenseness. He stopped walking and turned Lilian to face him, holding her small hands in his. "Luv, are ya really alright with me joinin' up?"

"I told you, I'm not thrilled but it's alright," Lilian said. "Why are you asking?"

"It just seems like ya are not as fine with it as ya say."

Lilian bid her bottom lip and sighed. "I just don't know if I'm okay with being alone. After one year of marriage, it's hard for me to imagine not having you by my side. To not fall asleep next to you. To not wake up next to you."

Peter let go of Lilian's hands and placed his right hand on her cheek. "I know 'at the next three years won't be the easiest ones, but it's in the best interest of our future. And our marriage will just be stronger, and our love will be deeper." He gave her grin. "Look at it from this perspective: the next three years, ya won't find dirty socks from me on the floor."

Lilian chuckled. "And don't forget underwear, pants, shirts. I basically find all of your clothing on the floor."

"Ya see, 'at's a pro." Peter leaned in and placed his pale lips on hers, driving with his tongue across her smooth lips. As he retreated from her sweet lips, Peter smiled and said, "Let's go and see what 'appens."


When the door opened, Flight Lieutenant Begum was surprised to see a woman entering the recruiting office. But when a familiar man entered right behind her, Begum couldn't help but grin.

"Good morning, Peter!" he called out as he rose to his feet. "I'm surprised to see you back so soon." Begum walked up to the couple and reached out to shake the woman's hand. "I presume you are Mrs. Newkirk?"

"I am," Lilian answered while he shook the unfamiliar man's hand.

"Lil, this is the recruitin' officer I told ya about."

"Flight Lieutenant Begum. A pleasure to meet you." Begum turned to Peter and said, "Since you're back, I assume you decided to enlist?"

" 'at's right. And I brought me wife with me in case questions come up."

Begum pointed to his desk. "Alright, let's sit down and make you a member of our fighting forces." He sat down behind his desk and Lilian and Peter sat down across from him. Then he retrieved a clip board from a file cabinet behind him and a pen from his breast pocket. "So, Peter, what kind of branch have you settled down for?"

"The Air Force," Peter replied.

"Good. First I need some basic information from you. Your name, birthday and birthplace, your blood type, your religion, and at last, your height and weight."

While Peter answered, Begum took notes in the provided columns. "Me name is Peter Newkirk, I was born on 29th April 1915 in Stepney, London. Me blood type is A positive and I'm part of the Church of England. As I 'ave told ya yesterday, I'm 5 foot 9 and weigh 166 pounds; and I don't think 'at 'as changed."

"Alright. Who are we to inform in case you are MIA or something similar?"

Peter glanced at Lilian and answered, "Of course me wife."

Begum looked up from his notes and asked with a smile on his face, "What's your name and address, Madam?"

"Lilian Newkirk. We live in 2 Musbury Street, Stepney, E1 0PG."

"So far so good." Begum directed his gaze at Peter. "I know I've told you that your job in the RAF will be decided after basic training, but is there something you are already interested in?"

Peter took Lilian's hand in his and squeezed it gently. "Fighter pilot sounds the most interestin' to me."

Begum nodded. "You definitely have the right measures for that." He went on to rummage through a pile of papers on the left side of his desk. When he finally found the right paper, he quickly scanned it before he looked up at the couple in front of him, a smile covering his face. "Seems like today is your lucky day, Peter. The training squadron in RAF Northolt has a free spot for a new recruit; by train, it's about one to one and a half hours from here."

" 'at sound marvellous!" Peter exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. "Ya think I could be stationed there?"

"Well, I don't know if you can be stationed there permanently, but definitely for the duration of your training, because I will place you there." Begum filled out the remaining space on the clipboard. Then he turned the clipboard around and held a pen out to Peter. "I need your signature on the bottom."

Peter looked at Lilian, who gave him one of her genuine smiles. He returned her smile and grabbed the pen from Begum, placing his signature on the paper in front of him. When he was finished, he handed the clipboard and pen back to Begum, who put his own signature next to Peter's.

"You are now an official member of His Majesty's Royal Air Force. You are expected to report at RAF Northolt on Saturday, 25th August, at exactly 1400 hours," Begum said. He took another piece of paper on which he filled out different blanks before putting his signature on the bottom. Then he folded the paper and put it in an envelope. Begum gave it to Peter with the words, "These are your orders. Show it to the guard at the gate; he will tell you anything else. At RAF Northolt, you will get your uniform and dog tags."

"Thank ya, Flight Lieutenant," Peter said.

Begum waved off. "No need to thank me. You are the one who signed up to serve king and country." He turned his attention to Lilian and asked, "Any questions on your mind, Madam?"

"What's about weekend leaves?" Lilian questioned. "When my brother had joined the army, he was stationed in Scotland; therefore, we couldn't see him during training."

"The first two to three weeks, there will be only weekend passes that require your husband to stay in the town. After that, it's the decision of his CO whether he grants Peter a weekend pass that allows him to travel to London."

Lilian nodded. "Okay."

"Any more questions, Madam?"

"No, that was all," Lilian replied.

"Alright." Begum rose to his feet, and Lilian and Peter followed him suit. Begum reached out and shook Peter's. "I'm happy to welcome you to the Royal Air Force. Our gallant motto is, "Per Ardua ad Astra", which means so much like, "Through Adversity to the Stars". But I hope for you it's not so much adversity and more stars."

Peter returned the handshake. "I 'ope 'at too! Thank ya once again, Flight Lieutenant Begum."

"You're welcome." Begum turned to Lilian and reached out for her hand. "And I wish you all the best for your future, Mrs. Newkirk."

"Thank you. I wish you all the best too."

Peter stuffed his orders in the inner pocket of his jacket and held the door open for Lilian. "Goodbye, Flight Lieutenant!" he called before leaving the recruiting office.

Outside the office, Peter offered Lilian his arm, and she tucked hers in. As they made their way back to Stepney to tell Peter's parents the news, he said, "What do ya say, luv? Yer 'usband's an airman now."

"I say you will give your parents the shock of their lives, Aircraftman Newkirk," Lilian said. She gave him a kiss on his cheek and added, "I'm proud of you, Peter."

"Why 'at?"

"It's brave to join the military; no matter the reason. And even though I will kill Samuel the next time I see him for talking you into this, I'm super proud of you."

Peter stared into Lilian's green eyes, a smirk slowly creeping on his face. " 'ave I told ya 'ow much I love ya?"

"On one or two occasions," Lilian answered. She shot Peter a playful grin and said, "But I don't mind you telling me again."

"I love ya, Lilian Newkirk. More than words can describe," Peter said as he let go of Lilian's arm and slipped his own around her waist, continuing their walk to his parents.


"Peter, me boy! What brings ya to us?" Mr. Newkirk asked while he led his son and daughter-in-law to the living room. "Do ya two want to inform us 'at ya won't be comin' tomorrow?"

"Na," Peter said as he sat down on his parents' couch with Lilian right beside him. "We wanted to tell ya and Ma somethin' else."

"Well, then it would be best if I get yer mother." Mr. Newkirk left the living room to fetch his wife, who was cleaning the kitchen.

In the meantime, Lilian whispered to Peter, "How do you plan to tell them? I'm sure that especially your mother will be shocked."

"To be 'onest, I 'ave absolutely no idea," Peter admitted. "I'm sure she won't be thrilled by the news; though not for the worst, but Da did change after 'e came back from the Great War. And I'm certain the situation with Germany won't make 'er like me decision one bit more."

Lilian stroked across Peter's back. "I think it's best if you are plain honest with them. No beating around the bush."

Peter nodded. "I think ya're right."

"I'm your wife, darling." Lilian smirked. "I'm always right."

Peter had to chuckle and leant in for a kiss. Lilian gave him a peck on his pale lips the moment her parents-in-law stepped into their living room.

"Peter!" Mrs. Newkirk exclaimed. She moved closer to them and gave Newkirk and Lilian a hug. "Yer father said ya wanted to tell us somethin'?" she asked while everyone settled down.

Peter grabbed Lilian's hand and gazed at his parents who sat across from his, his father in his easy chair and his mother on the armrest. He took a deep breath and announced, "I've joined the Air Force; I leave on Saturday for trainin' in Northolt."

After dropping the bomb, Peter was greeted with a stunned silence from his parents. They stared at him, a blank expression on their faces; both too shocked from the news their son had brought them.

The first one to react was Mrs. Newkirk. "Ya 'ave done what? Are ya crazy?"

"I enlisted," Peter repeated. "And I'm not barmy, Ma. I'm actin' rational and responsible."

"Ya call 'at "rational and responsible"? The whole country is preparin' for yet another war against Germany, and ya decide 'at's the best time to join up?" Mrs. Newkirk raged. However, it was not anger that spoke out of her; it was fear for her youngest son. Fear of losing him, fear of getting him back wounded, or worst, getting him back changed. Just like she got a different husband back after the Great War had ended.

"Now, Dorothy, don't be so 'arsh on the boy," Mr. Newkirk interrupted. He turned to Peter and said, "I'm proud of ya, son. It's very brave of ya to fight for yer country; especially in such troubled times."

"Thanks Da."

" 'ow are ya feelin', Lilian?" Mr. Newkirk wanted to know.

"I'm okay with it, William. Like you, I think Peter's incredible brave and I'm unbelievable proud of him. Of course, I'm already worried about him, just like I'm constantly worried about my brother. But that's just something I have to get used to," Lilian explained, squeezing Newkirk's hand slightly. "And I mean, we don't even know if there will be a war against Germany. Maybe we are all just over-reacting."


Peter and Lilian stayed for a while longer, the four of them talking further about Peter's enlistment. Around lunchtime, Peter and Lilian left for their own home to enjoy one of the remaining meals together alone.

As Mr. Newkirk showed his son and daughter-in-law, he smiled at them and assured them that his wife would be alright with the idea of Peter enlisting by tomorrow. He again assured his son how proud he was of him; then he watched them head for their home. As he looked after them, a thought raced through his mind.

Oh, Peter, me boy! Why does it 'ave to 'appen again? I thought me and me friends 'ave fought in the "war to end all wars", so 'at yer generation did not 'ave to endure the same.