--six o'clock that evening--
As I crossed the bridge that led to Serena's house, I felt nervous. Besides the fact that I still had the HJ uniform on, complete with swatstika armband, people were giving me looks and crossing to the other side of the street.
"That's right, cross the street," I muttered to myself, "Consider me scum, because that's how I feel. I don't like me being a damned Nazi anymore than you like it."
Maybe I'd get lucky and Serena's family would be the forever-loyal to Hitler type. Then she'd be proud to be an HJ's girlfriend. Creepy. And yet, there really *were* people like that.
"No one who likes swing can be a Nazi..." As much as I despised Arvid, those words were immortal and absolutely true.
"Yeah, but you're a Nazi." my conscience reminded me.
"NO!" I screamed out in my mind, "Not a true Nazi. It's just a cover, I sware. I'm not a Nazi."
"No," I thought, "Not yet..." I shivered. Serena stood up and walked over to hug me. But she stopped dead in her tracks.
"Oh man..." I could just see the look on her face.
"Hi Serena."
She stepped back, warily.
"Thomas...you...you're a--"
"No, I know what you're thinking but it's not like that. You see--" I sighed heavily and sat down on her front step. Serena joined me. "Peter and I--we had to join. As a cover. You know, HJ by day, and Swing kid by night. I promise. And I'd never lie to you Serena." I looked deep into her eyes. I still remember that single instant, when I got lost in her eyes, right there on the door step."
She too got lost in my eyes, then slowly smiled. "I believe you." Serena collapsed into my arms.
I didn't want that moment to end. But it did.
All good things eventually do.
