Dear Readers, This story has been reworked to flow from a more recent story, "A Minor Problem." Every chapter has been revised, either a lot or a little, since this story was originally published in 2019. More chapters will be coming during July and August 2020 and I plan to finish up in early September.
Newkirk in this story is based on a concept by Valashu, who was interested in what it would be like if Newkirk signed up for the RAF when he was underage. So in this story, he is 18, and has been a POW for three years. He also a very bad stutter as he does on the German-dubbed version of Hogan's Heroes.
I know it's an unconventional take on the character, but I hope you will give it a try and please read and review. Your reviews help me get better. On AO3 there will be additional "missing scenes" and stories that aren't suitable for Fanfiction dot net. The broader story is organized as a series called "Coming of Age: Peter Newkirk's Journey," and there will also be a postwar sequel titled "Awakening" on AO3 only.
Thanks for reading this far!
~~ Grace.
PETER AND ANJA: PROLOGUE, Spring in the Air
March 20, 1944
On a late spring afternoon in the kitchen of his farmhouse, Oskar Schnitzer was on the phone with his single most irritating customer.
"Ja, Ja, Kommandant Klink, I understand it is inconvenient, but it has to be done once a year. Unless you want to risk having a kennel full of rabid dogs, I suppose. You don't? No, I didn't think so. Rabies and distemper shots. For all the dogs, yes. Twelve, Herr Kommandant. There are twelve there now, yes. Tomorrow would be ideal. The weather is expected to be fine. We'll be there in the morning. I'll have my assistant with me."
Oskar Schnitzer hung up the telephone and turned to his wife and niece. "He never makes it easy. I think he's afraid of the dogs himself," he sighed. "In any event, we're all set for our rendezvous at the Luft Stalag tomorrow. Anja can meet the team. Mathilde, my love, before Otto finished up work, could you ask him to be sure to radio Papa Bear tonight? Let him know Anja and I will be there mid-morning."
"Of course," his wife replied. "Do we have a code name for her yet?"
Schnitzer stroked his chin and smiled thoughtfully as he looked at the girl. Anja was his late sister's only surviving child, and she had a sweet, gentle nature. Though she grew up in Wiesbaden, she had spent every summer on the family farm near Hammelburg, tumbling through the meadows after her older cousins and never having a bit of difficulty keeping up with Oskar and Mathilde's unruly brood of boys. How could she possibly be twenty now, he wondered as he looked at her with obvious affection. And how could two of his four boys already have perished in this godforsaken war?
"Lämmchen," Schnitzer said decisively. "Lambkin in English, but we should use the German."
"Uncle!" Anja protested with a smile. "Are you intent on embarrassing me? I told you to stop calling me that when I was eight!"
"Six," Schnitzer corrected her. "You were eight before you finally wore me down."
"No one will know it was your uncle's pet name for you," Mathilde said with a sparkle in her eye. "I must catch Otto before he leaves," she said of the resident farmhand and jack-of-all-trades. "Lämmchen it is," she said as she headed out of the kitchen door.
Anja was shaking her head and laughing. "Like das Lämmchen und das Fischchen, that horrid story you used to read to me, Uncle Oskar!"
"That was awful, wasn't it? A little girl and boy, playing merrily together when they're turned into animals by a wicked stepmother," Schnitzer said. "The Brothers Grimm is a very accurate name for the authors of such grimmig stories." He suddenly looked serious. "You're certain you're prepared for this, Anja, dear? There are risks."
"Some risks are worth taking, Uncle," she said softly. "I can do my part."
"Very well. Tomorrow you will meet Papa Bear's team. All very good men, I assure you. There's one young man who I think would be ideal for our mission, which will take place the next night. The decision will be up to Papa Bear, but I suspect he will agree with my recommendation."
"A young man," Anja said, rolling her eyes. "Is he going to boss me around?"
"No, not this one. But he will play his part very well. His name is Peter, and there are a few things I should tell you about him."