"The three of you need to stay together, nurture each other, and protect one another." I tell them. "It's a shallow world out there you all will have to grow up as of right now. No one is going to take pity on you because you're children, in fact that'll make it easier for people to try and pick on you. But, I know the content of your characters; intelligent, brave, and abled. You can do this. When I come home, we're going to celebrate together as a family. Eren and Mikasa, thank you from the bottom of my heart for becoming family and allowing me to be the best grandpa I could be for you two. I only wish I could do more." I pat Mikasa and Eren's heads at the same time, ruffling their hair. I turn to my biological grandchild saying, "Armin, I want to have a word with you alone." We group hug, then Armin follows me. When we're away from everyone we sit down and breathe.
"By morning, I'll be gone. There is so much to say for a life time and I can't think of anything." Armin clutches his hands into fists. "Brush your hair and take a bath as often as you can. You can use the same pair of underwear for four days, doesn't mean you should. Never forget to tell people you love them. Crying doesn't make you weak." I scratch my beard and try to think of more life lessons to live by. "Oh! Two in the pink and one in the stink, if that is the only thing you remember I'd be so proud."
"But Grandpa what does that even mean?" Armin looks up at me with his innocent blue eyes. Oh brother, chicks are gonna chew him up and spit him out.
"If you ever get lucky enough my boy, you'll know exactly what that means." I shake my head and laugh internally because he probably won't ever understand. "In all seriousness Armin, you have been the single greatest gift an old man could ask for. I'll carry you with me in my heart forever. Don't be bitter, you have your entire life ahead of you, honor me by living it to your best potential, love living, and live with hope." I give him my only worldly possession, an old hat. "Keep it for me until I return." I let him cry unto my shoulders.
"I'm going to do my best! For you!" He finally says hiccuping after several minutes. When he's dried up his tears and snot, I take Armin back to the refugee camp. It's bed time when we arrive and most are readying themselves for bed. I give the kids more tips such as where I stash the extra food and which guards they can or can't trust. They listen intently until the military eventually comes to round up the drafted. We hug one last time and part of me is breaking while we walk away. The atmosphere is tragic as men and women, old and young, are being pulled from the scraps of their families. Children clinging to their parents begging them not to leave, sons and daughters sending their elderly parents to war, siblings being separated, people missing limbs hobbling to the drafted lines, the list goes on and on. We, who have lost the most without asking for any of it, are put on a glorified death row for no other reason except that there's too many of us.
If my sacrifice ensures Armin's safety behind that stupid wall, I'd do it ten times over again without question. I've only been able to hold my composure together because of this fact but my heartache cannot bear much more of the human suffering happening before me. With my stiff creaky joints I walk on until I'm told to sit in a wagon with about a dozen other people and we are whisked away into the night.
By morning we arrive at what I think is going to be the "Home Base." It's got a large log cabin that we are assembled in front of and many more smaller cabins scattered around. The forest marks the edges of Home Base in a large semi circle. When the wagons open we are guided to stand in lines. I'm in the front row and pretty soon there is a hoard of people assembled. By my estimation there are probably a few hundred rounded up. A man marches out of the log cabin and immediately I know who he is. He's the MP that was with Gregory and Elsa two nights ago. He stands center on the wooden porch and commands attention with ease. His stature is big and unwavering, he has slightly curled chestnut brown hair billowing in the wind and fearsome gold eyes that cut through your soul. He oozes glory and conviction when he addresses our lifeless mass.
"Citizens, you have been selected to serve your country as honorary soldiers to reclaim our lost territory!" He stands with his arms behind his back and paces forward and stops where everyone could see him. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Joel Heim. You may refer to me as Sir. Starting today and for the rest of the week you will be trained in various fields such as combat and strategic analysis. By the end of this you will either have gained some survival skills or died trying." He is not kidding, nothing about this man suggests any humor and the crowd knows it As well. "Any questions? No? Good! I like this group already. Now, the log cabins are organized by platoon leaders. The platoon leaders," he gestures to a few more MP's on the side, "will call your names. Once called you'll file into the cabin and await further instruction."
And so it ensues. I get huddled along into a group of 20 men and women and the cabins are not divided by gender. The women created their own corner and by the looks of it they've rallied together. Among them, a silver fox; a well built older woman. She has strong hands, wide hips, heavy set, her hair is in a tight bun, but the look in her eyes said she was a fighter. Her presence struck me like lightning. We make eye contact and she sneers at me with a look that says "don't even think about it."
But I'm already thinking about it.