Soon we were at the diner,and as we opened the glass door,we heard the sound of vilolins playing and the air bathed in a lovely smell of turkey,meat that my family rarely bought.We found out that we had a table reserved just for us and the waiter led us to the table.We ordered our meal,turkey,sausages,saurkraut,and wine.We waited for the special person that would be sitting with us.Twenty minutes latter,there was an unusual amount of people gathering around.People got up and walked from their tables see what the comotion was.Frank and I stood up but stayed at our table.The people were shouting out something but couldn't make much of it.Thats when the crowed opened up and saw a figure appear out of it.My eyes widened to see that it was none other than,
Manfred Von Richthofen,the Baron himself.I couldn't believe it,this was the special person that me and Frank were supposed to have dinner with.He was walking towards my table and I stood at attention and saluted him and spouted,"Herr Rittmeister!".He then smiled and saluted back,and he sat down to which Frank and me did as well.I found it hard to believe that such a well known figure of our fatherland was sitting on our table.In the past,I had oppertunities to see him,only to be foiled by a large crowd blocking my view.Richthofen then said to me,"So your the young flier that rescued your Oblerleutnant from enemy lines,quite a noble act!".I then nodded and to my surprise Manfred said "Hello Frank!",which meant that he knew Frank some point in the past.Frank then said hello back and exclaimed,"So Manfred,how is your head wound?".And Richthofen responded,"Oh I've been getting headaches here and there,its no problem really,I just get a bit tired after sorties".Frank then responded,"Does that tamper with your concentration or your aiming abilities?".Richthofen replied,"A little bit but I try not letting it bother me during flight".He then continued,"I was surprised that I survived that round,a few more centimeters and I would have been done for".
I then spoke my first sentence to Manfred and said,"Tell me the details from that sortie and the wound,how did you do it?".Manfred then replied,"Well I was flying my crimson Albatros with a few other mates and were patroling the area.We spotted a group of F.E.2b's and attacked them.I was flying by an F.E. from a distance and the observer opened fire wildly at me,which wouldn't do much good for him.But in a one in a million chance,a bullet from from his wild firing slammed into my head,and passed out.My Albatros doved downward and when it was close to hitting the ground,I was conscious again and pulled out.I then landed on a field while two of my wingmen landed with me as well.I had immediate medical attention,bandaged my head,and spent a few months hospitalized".Frank then said,"You were lucky to have survived that Manfred".Manfred than nodded and placed his hand in his coat pocket that was wrapped on the back of his chair.He pulled out three postcards that had him on it,all signed.I was delighted,as I always wanted one of his cards,my brother did.Manfred than said,"A special gift from the rittmeister himself".He gave a postcard to Frank and according to Manfred,the third one was for Herman Strauss,as past member of my squadron.Frank sadly exclaimed,"Herman was shot down a month ago,unfortunetly".Manfred then said,dissapointmed,"Oh...I am terribly sorry for the loss,he was a good pilot".Manfred than gave me the third card,stating it is a double gift for rescuing Frank.I thanked him,and placed the postcard in my coat pocket.
Our diner finaly arrived fifthteen minutes later.The turkey look absolutely amazing,all crisped and brown.We gave Manfred the good bits of turkey.I had turkey before,but due to my family being in the lower class,we only had it on very special occasions.The turkey that my family made looked as if it wasn't cooked through.It would be slightly warm on the top but it would be noticably colder as you chewed through it.The Turkey I had was totally the opposite absolutely delicous.But,it made me feel a bit strange.The odd feeling was that I was here eating well prepared food and wine as if it was just handed over to me,and felt a bit guilty.My mother did all she could to make the best food for us in an old stove.She couldn't make turkey like this because she didn't have the sauce to put on it,and because of that old stove,the turkey wouldn't cook it well,thus,a bland turkey.The upper class people around me could care less of people like my family.Little did these upper class people know that we lower class people are the ones that washed their shoes,supplied them with fire wood for winter,lit the street lamps on their streets,repaired their clothing,but what do we get?Nothing really,all we get is a small sum of money and then they ignor us as if we didn't even exist,or matter.I would surely do all I can to give my family the money that they need.
After about twenty minutes of coversations with Manfred,an officer walked to our table and said to Manfred,"Herr Rittmeister,its time for the ball,we must be quick or you'll be late!".Manfred than stood up and said to us,"I am sorry to depart,but I must be off to a special ball,the Kaiser is expecting me.I wish you Frank and Jacob good luck!".We saluted and he put on his cap and jacket and walked with the officer.People watched him as he walked out of the diner.We then heard a loud noise,which made me look out of the window.It was a croud of people near the diner entrance,cheering and waving as he got into the back seat of a car.I was watching a legend driving off,which left me a good feeling of meeting a person of such notability.Frank and I soon walked out and headed towards our hotel to have a good nights rest.Tomorrow will be the day that I get to see my family.
To be continued...
9 November 2008, 04:55 PM
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