13: Sunburn

"I didn't think this would hurt that bad," Kielholz grunted.

"Right, because laying out on the roof of the barracks was a wonderful idea," Langenscheidt muttered, squeezing ointment onto his hand. "You know, sometimes, you are a complete idiot, Erich. You really thought taking your uniform off and laying on the roof of the barracks on the hottest day of the summer was a brilliant idea."

"It is the closest I will get to a beach all war."

"You were in North Africa, for crying out loud! You should know how bad a sunburn can be."

"Yes. That's why I didn't think it would be a bad idea here in Germany."

Langenscheidt sighed and shook his head, then began rubbing the ointment on Kielholz's back. "I don't understand how you can be really smart one minute and an idiot the next."

"I wanted some sun."

"Well, you got 'some sun' alright! It's all over your back! You are as red as an apple."

"Did you see my chest and belly?"

"No. Did you—" Langenscheidt groaned out loud when Kielholz turned around. "How did you manage this?"

"Good question."

"Will this teach you not to do that again?"

"Maybe. Maybe not."

"I am not helping you out of your bunk tomorrow morning if you still hurt by then."

"Fine. I will roll out, fall, hit my head, die, and then you have to live with that."

"Honestly, I'm not concerned with that because right now, there is nothing in your head to damage!"

"You sound like Corporal Fleischer when he's mad at me."

"I am starting to understand why he takes aspirin from the Red Cross packages."


Author's Note: Corporal Fleischer belongs to GrrraceUnderFire.