Victoria held Manfred's hand as they walked down the cooling sidewalk in the setting Hamburg sun. Manfred's head was down, staring at his feet. Victoria turned to her head to the right to look at her younger brother, and could clearly see his sadness. She decided not to beat around the bush. Von Karmas were known for always known for never avoiding an issue, especially with each other.

"Why do you let those boys pick on you?" she inquired with a soft yet stern tone. Manfred turned red and refused to look at his sister, sensing her disappointment. The only thing he could say was, "I don't know. They just do." Victoria didn't ask the question to get an answer, since she already figured it out. She just wanted to know how he would answer. She sighed in disappointment at her younger brother, closing her eyes and covering her eyes with her left hand. "Manfred, they pick on you because you are scared of diving. Bullies like Ronny get their kicks from picking on those weaker then them. That's why he made you dive." Manfred was flustered and turned even redder. He knew his big sister was right. The young von Karma yanked his hand away, and turned to look at Victoria's eyes. He tearfully cried, "Well, what am I supposed to do about it?! I'm terrified of the high dive, and Ronny will continue to pick on me forever!" He broke out into sobbing. Victoria shook her head. She didn't mean to make her younger brother cry. She always hated it when he cried.

Victoria placed her hand on her chin, and made an over-exaggerated "HMM" to get Manfred's attention. He stopped crying, to see Victoria rubbing her chin, and smiling. He was plenty confused by this. Victoria lit up, and snapped her left fingers loudly, which she followed with "I have an idea!" She kneeled down to her brother's level, and met him face-to-face. "You just have to show him up!" Manfred even more confused. " Show… him up?" he repeated. Victoria placed her hands on his shoulders, and said, "I'll teach you how do dive. If you can beat Ronny, then he won't pick on you any more!" In truth, Victoria really didn't know how to dive that well. She was just taught enough to pass swim class. But it was enough to teach Manfred. "Really, sis?! Would that work?" he said as he stopped crying and lit up as bright as his sister. Victoria winked, and said to Manfred, "Trust me, Manny. Just listen to me, and you'll be ok." Manfred hugged his big sister, glowing. Victoria smiled, and picked her little brother up. She put him on her back, and started walking home.

Ronny had piano practice on Thursday afternoons, and the two Von Karma siblings would practice then. They spent weeks perfecting Manfred's technique. It was rough work, tiring the two out every week. But, finally, after two months of training, Manfred figured out how to do a basic dive consistently. That would have to do. Finally, one afternoon, Manfred and Victoria met Ronny at the pool once more. Victoria whispered into Manfred's ear, "You can do it, Manny." With a nod, he younger Von Karma approached Ronny. He noticed his presence, and Ronny turned to meet Manfred eye-to-eye. "Well, if it isn't Chicken-Boy again!" Manfred was undeterred, and stood his ground. He looked as tough as a 12-year-old in dark blue swim trunks could look. Manfred said with a smirk, "Hey, Ronny, I'll bet I'm a better diver then you are, and I can prove it!" Yes, a slightly immature comment, but it was enough to get a stuck up thirteen-your-old flustered. "You? Better then me!? HA! Alright, one dive, Chicken-Boy!" Manfred continued to smirk, for he knew that it would push his buttons. Ronny's loud voice started to gather a group of other children, curious by his outburst. Ronny pointed his finger to the high dive, and shouted, "High dive! You first!" Manfred smirked wide, and nodded to agree.

Manfred was on top of the board again. He stood tall, but the jeers came back. Suddenly, his training flushed from his mind, and the insults flowed in again. He began to sweat bullets, hearing the cries from the other children. His knees began to wobble, and he looked down at the small crowd. Horrible laughter came from the crowd, and the sound was crushing. He was about ready to give up, when he saw his older sister, staring into his eyes. She smiled, and did not say a word. Suddenly, there was quiet. He closed his eyes, and just concentrated. Manfred ran forward, and sprung off the board. At the top of the jump, just as he was taught, he bent forward, and entered a dive formation. A little shaky, but he entered the water with nary a splash. Ronny was speechless, and he became even more infuriated. He shoved kids out of the way, shouting, "I'll show you how it's done! No one dives better then me!" Manfred had just exited the water as Ronny made it to the top of the board. He watched as Ronny ran forward to begin his dive. He tripped on his feet, and tumbled over into he water. The rest of the children were laughing at his dismay performance, and the laughter was roaring when he exited to pool, and found his swimsuit came off during the dive. He grabbed a nearby towel, and started running for the exit, crying in anger and sheer embarrassment. Manfred chuckled too, and didn't realize his sister was standing behind him. She put her hand on his shoulder, and smiled at him. He looked at her, and whispered, "Thanks, Victoria." She replied, "Don't sweat it, Manny." She pulled him to her side, rubbing his shoulder…

"Hey, buddy! Wake up!" Manfred's eye's shot open. He looked around, finding himself back in the ambulance. He had fallen asleep, and one glance at the driver's digital clock showed it was one in the morning. They had been driving for hours, and they were finally at Hope Hospital. The back doors swung open, and Manfred saw two nurses with a gurney, waiting for him. He got out the back, and was instructed to lie on the gurney. Manfred was tired, so he clutched his items, as he fell asleep once more as the nurses wheeled him to what would be his hospital room, where he would spend his final hours.