Chapter 3:

(Dusseldorf, Germany - October 1909)

15-year-old Wilhelm concentrated heavily on his music piece for orchestra class: Beethoven's 5th Symphony in D minor. He did as best as he could to block out everything around him and focused on nothing but the music and the instrument he loved with all his heart. Had it not been for severe stage-fright, though, he would have considered being a famous violinist for one of Germany's finest symphony orchestras. That did not steer his attention away from playing the violin, however. He was determined to find a way he could play his violin for a career, yet keep him from being psychologically traumatized.

Watching quietly from the threshold of his study, General Klink smiled at his youngest, pleased to see how serious he took his music lessons. Wilhelm had grown to really embrace his aristocratic upbringing and took that upbringing incredibly seriously. Then there was his oldest, who was constantly blowing off his piano lessons to go hang out with girls at underaged parties or busy business streets with a group of his wild friends.

The general was brought out of his thoughts when the front door opened, and 18-year-old Wolfgang entered with a girl at each arm, all three of them laughing and talking boisterously. Something that earned them a harsh shush from General Klink. He glared at Wolfgang and especially the two girls that were clinging to his son.

"Get those two out of here, and keep your voice down," he ordered. "Your brother is practicing for his orchestra class. Quite frankly, you should be practicing your piano skills instead of hanging out with those crazy girls of yours."

As the two girls frowned and walked out of the Klink residence, Wolfgang turned to his father and let out a frustrated groan. "Come on, Pa; you know I hate playing the piano. I'm more interested in being a famous singer one day instead of an ordinary piano player," Wolfgang stated arrogantly.

"Yet you can't carry a tune," General Klink said, crossing his arms against his chest.

"I can, too," Wolfgang remarked defensively. He straightened his black framed glasses and cleared his throat. "Listen to this little number I've been working on." He proceeded to poorly sing 'Ode to Joy', causing the general to cringe and cover his ears with his hands.

The noise became less painful to listen to as General Klink heard another voice slowly join in, but this one was melodic and soft, yet graceful and beautiful. He looked into his study and saw Wilhelm had finished practicing his violin and was singing Beethoven's 9th Symphony, too. A wide grin came to the general's face as he stepped inside the smaller room and listened to his youngest finish the chorus.

"Wilhelm, my boy, you are beyond gifted in music. I just wish you weren't so terrified of performing in front of a large audience; you could be a tremendous violinist," General Klink said, with pride.

Wilhelm hung his head and blushed bashfully at the comment. "Actually, Papa, I think I found another way to use my violin for a career." His expression brightened, the excitement basically emanating off of his body. "I want to be a music teacher for children."

General Klink's eyes widened in what looked more like horror than surprise. "A music teacher!" He exclaimed.

"I want to share my passion for music with little kids, Papa. I want them to learn the magic of music and teach them that they can do anything if they really set their minds to it. I love kids, and I love music. What better way than to have a job where I get to enjoy both?" Wilhelm replied, joy blatantly heard in his tone.

"A music teacher," Wolfgang remarked, with amusement, and began to bust his sides laughing. "How lame is that. A teacher." He was laughing hysterically by now, tears streaming down his face from how hard he was cackling. It caused Wilhelm to give a long frown and hung his head in embarrassment. What was wrong with him being a teacher? Was he not supposed to find a career that brought him joy and excitement? Had that not been what his parents had taught him since he was a little boy? Why was everyone so appalled by his idea? Not only was it embarrassing, but also extremely hurtful to him.

"Wolfgang Klink, you quit laughing at your brother and go start practicing your piano lessons!" Adala Klink, Wolfgang and Wilhelm's mother, could be heard shouting from the kitchen.

The eldest Klink immediately quit laughing at the sound of his mother scolding him, then groaned and hung his head. "Jawohl, Mama. I'm going, I'm going," he answered, as he sulked off to the music room, leaving General Klink alone with a heartbroken Wilhelm.

"Is my idea really that stupid, Papa?" Wilhelm asked softly.

"It isn't stupid, Wilhelm, it's a woman's job," General Klink remarked roughly. "You can't be a teacher; you would be ridiculed by the entire family. We Klinks have to keep our name and respect. You becoming a teacher would make you a complete laughing stock to non-immediate relatives."

"But Papa, I love children. I want a job where I can work with them and play with them. How can I do that if I'm not a teacher?"

"There are plenty of other ways you can work with children and not be a teacher, Wilhelm...Have you ever looked into practicing medicine?"

Wilhelm furrowed his eyebrows together in confusion as he continued to gaze at his father. "Medicine, what does that have to do with any of this?" He questioned.

"You always want to help people in any way you can, Wilhelm. And if you love children as much as your mother and I know you do, then why not become a children's doctor? You'd be helping people feel better, and you'd still get to talk to and play with children. Distract them from what's making them feel sick or from a vaccination you're about to give them."

"A children's doctor?" Wilhelm thought about it for the longest while and felt a bright smile come to his face. One that made his blue eyes glisten like sunlight in pool water. He imagined seeing his little patients every day at a clinic or hospital, kneeling beside them in the waiting room and talking about their day, or giving them a lollipop or piece of candy for being such a good sport about getting a shot or taking bad tasting medicine. Maybe even a few hugs here and there as he visited with his patients in the hospital, bringing them stickers to brighten their mood or tell them a funny joke or two.

The career path was perfect for him. He would get to spend his days around little kids, and he would be helping people feel better and making a brighter impact on their day. He knew deep down, though, that his father wanted him to carry on the Klink military tradition, but he had inherited his mother's gentleness and heart instead of his father's thick skin and sense of duty to the armed forces. But making people feel better. Saving lives from horrible illnesses, it practically screamed Wilhelm's name. He knew this was his road to take. This was his calling.

Wilhelm looked back at his father and nodded. "I'd like that, Papa," he answered. "Saving lives, bringing a smile to little kids' faces as they walk into my office, maybe I could even bring in my violin once and a while to the hospital or sing to them so they don't feel so scared anymore...That's it, Papa. This is how I'm supposed to serve my Germany; by helping others."

General Klink grinned at his son and was about to respond, when the sound of Wolfgang's poor piano skills reached his ears and caused him to again shudder in misery. He covered his ears and shook his head. "And your brother's will be to serve in the army, if I have anything to do with it." He growled, as he turned on his heels and went towards the music room. "Maybe he'll learn some sense of responsibility and stop hanging out with these trampy girls of his."

Wilhelm fought back from laughing as he watched his father's figure disappear, then he made his eyes back to his music, picked up his violin, and again practiced his orchestra piece.

(Present day)

"Dr. Wilhelm Klink," Hogan said, out loud. He grinned. "Has a nice ring to it, don't you agree, Sir?"

Klink gave a bittersweet smile. "It does, doesn't it." He then frowned and sighed. "Unfortunately, it was never meant to be. Hopefully for Kalina, but it wasn't what I was supposed to do...That was the second blow I suffered during my teenage years."

"The second blow," Hogan answered, puzzled. "What do you mean your second? If that was your second, then what was your first?"

Klink looked at him blankly for a long moment, turned his eyes upwards towards the top of his head, then back to Hogan again. "I think you can guess what my first blow was," he deadpanned.

Hogan's eyes widened to the size of saucers as his jaw slightly fell from its hinges. "You lost your hair as a teenager?" He gasped, immediate sympathy growing for his German counterpart.

Klink shook his head. "I was 16. We called it the Klink's Men Curse. Somehow it skipped over my father and grandfather, but my Uncle Rudolf had it. My grandfather's brothers had it, their father had it, so on and so on."

Hogan frowned and gave Klink an apologetic look. "How did you deal with it?" He asked. "Losing your hair as a teenager...that had to be horrifying to you."

Klink nodded. "It was, Hogan. Immensely. Fortunately, I had Mama's comfort and Papa's support during that time. He actually gave me his old military cap to wear so I could finish school without any fear of being laughed at." The kommandant drifted back to that awful night over thirty years ago, the nightmare of it still haunting him to that day.

(Dusseldorf, Germany - March 1911)

It was a big night for the Klink household. They were to attend a fancy German opera in Downtown Dusseldorf, and General Klink had scored front row seats thanks to an old military colleague of his. And while the general and his wife got ready downstairs, Wilhelm used the upstairs washroom to brush his hair and straighten his tie, humming a little tune as he looked at himself in the mirror and made sure his hair was in place. He continued to brush through it, when he felt something fuzzy fall on the back of his neck. Wilhelm took his hand and blindingly moved it around until he found the culprit. His eyes widened in horror as he pulled the fuzzy object off his neck and into view. His hair. A large chunk of his slick black hair lay in between his fingers as lifeless as a corpse.

He swallowed a large lump forming in his throat as he clutched the lock of hair in one hand, while he felt the back of his head with his other. The air was immediately sucked out of his lungs as he touched a bit of bare skin on the top of his head. The beginning of a bald spot. Wilhelm began to hyperventilate, snapped his attention to the door, and sprinted out into the hall and down the stairs while screaming for his mother.

"MAMA!" He screeched. "MAMA! MAMA, HELP!" He bolted into the living room and nearly knocked his mother over, who was staring at him with wide eyes, deep concern written all over her face.

"Wilhelm, what's gotten into you?" Mrs. Klink asked, taking her youngest's face into her hands.

"Mama, look at this!" Wilhelm cried, showing her the chunk of hair in his hand. "My hair's falling out, what's happening to me, Mama?! What's wrong with me?!"

Mrs. Klink, a woman with a slim figure and fluffy brown hair that went past her shoulders, took the hair and visually analyzed it before shaking her head. She made her gaze back to her son. "Turn around, Wilhelm. Let me see the back of your head," she said.

Wilhelm did as told and felt his mother run her fingers through his hair until she gently rubbed over the small bald spot he had found. "Oh, my baby," she whimpered. "You've got the Curse."

"Curse!" Wilhelm exclaimed. "What curse? What's happening to me, Mama?"

"The Klink's Men Curse, mein süßer," she answered, gently rubbing the back of her son's neck. "It comes from your father's side of the family. It skipped over your father and grandfather, but it's affected Klink men for generations now. Your Uncle Rudolf has it, your Uncle Hans has it a bit, your great-grandfather had it, it goes back all the way to your ancestors in the Renaissance and maybe even earlier." (1)

"You mean I'm going to lose all of my hair?! But I'm just 16! I'm finishing gymnasium next year." Tears began to flood Wilhelm's eyes as he thought of his brother, who had moved out a few months prior to try and pursue law at a nearby university. His thick black hair, the suave he carried that had women clinging to him whenever he walked into a room. His dark brown eyes screamed womanizer. He could have whatever girl he dreamed of, and Wilhelm had only had one so far in his life. One that ended in her dumping him once she had gained the popularity in school she had desired to have. Now his chance at finding love again may never come if he lost his hair. What kind of girl would date a bald man who was not even 20 yet? He broke down in his mother's arms and began to cry. "I'll never find a girl to marry now." Wilhelm sobbed.

As Mrs. Klink hugged her son tight and tried to ease his crying, General Klink came out from his study all dressed in his service uniform, saw the sight before him, and felt his jaw drop to the floor. "Was zur Hölle ist hier los?" He asked, baffled. (2)

Mrs. Klink looked up to her husband and shook her head. "Wilhelm has the Curse, liebe," she answered softly, gently caressing Wilhelm's head. (3)

General Klink closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose as he shook his head. "Oh Wilhelm, my boy," he said softly. He ran a hand down his face. "I was hoping you and your brother had been spared of that horror."

"Why do these bad things never happen to Wolfgang?" Wilhelm wept. "He gets the good looks and charisma girls dream of...and I get shyness and a bald head. I'll never find love if I go bald."

"No, Wilhelm, no," Mrs. Klink cooed, hushing him again. "You will find love and get married someday. Married to someone who loves you for your heart and not just for looks. That's how you will know it's true."

"It's kind of a blessing, Wilhelm," General Klink said, placing a firm hand on his son's shoulder. "Your brother will walk the rest of his life dating girl after girl, never knowing if they're in love with him or his looks. You will know she loves you for both."

Wilhelm's crying had calmed a bit as he lifted his eyes and looked at his father. "Really, Papa?" He croaked, needing reassurance from the man whose opinions mattered most to him.

"Yes, Wilhelm. I promise you that. Are you going to find that girl tomorrow, most likely not. But she's out there. She's waiting to find you. You just need to be patient, my boy. As the saying goes, 'Good things come to those who wait'."

"But, but gymnasium. I'll be the laughing stock of my graduating class when they see me losing hair. How can I face my classmates as I'm going bald, Papa?"

As Mrs. Klink rubbed the top of her son's head for comfort, General Klink pursed his lips and tried to think of an idea. He was constantly reminding his youngest that it did not matter what the other kids at school said to him. Rudi would be there with him, too, and he knew the young man would go to Earth's ends for his son. But Wilhelm was his sensitive one. He was much more shy than Wolfgang and got embarrassed far too easily.

The general scanned his living room for something to ease his son's nerves, when he spotted the answer hanging on the coat rack. He snapped his fingers and walked over to the left side of the front door where his military cap hung almost majestically. He grabbed it, walked over to Wilhelm, and placed it on his head. "There," he said. "Now those kids won't know a damn thing about it."

Wilhelm stared up at the cap he wore, then back at his father in awe. "You're giving me your hat, Papa?" He asked. "Are you sure?"

"I wouldn't want anyone else to wear it," General Klink answered sincerely. "You can wear it for the rest of gymnasium, then when you get ready to go off to medical school, you can give it back and start fresh and new at a place where no one will know you."

It was then a small smile came to Wilhelm's face as he straightened the cap out and fixed it to his liking. He then looked up at his father again, his blue eyes full of gratitude, and nodded. "Danke, Papa."

General Klink patted his son's shoulder, then made his eyes to the clock, and his military side again emerged to the surface. "Let's get going now. Chop chop, or we'll miss the opening song to 'Lohengrin'," he ordered, gesturing with his hand towards the door.

Making sure once more his new cap was in place, Wilhelm followed his parents out the door and into the streets of Dusseldorf, blissfully unaware of the hardships that were about to come his way for the next several years of his life.

(1) mein süßer - My sweet

(2) Was zur Hölle ist hier los - What the hell is going on in here?

(3) liebe - Love