"For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good feelllowwww! Which nobody can deny!" Gilbert opened his eyes. His mother and father were around his bed with a newspaper package, his mother singing. "Happy Birthday!" She screamed. With them both running into the kitchen, Gilbert got out of bed and followed. The package was now on the table.
"Go ahead and open it, son." His father stated. Pulling the bow and tearing apart the newspaper, inside was a gun. Dropping the box to the ground, Gilbert was in shock.
"Careful! Are you trying to kill us?" his mother screamed,
"Relax dear, there are no bullets in it." his father explained to her, "Son, you and I will go to town to buy some bullets after I listen to the radio announcements." Gilbert's father picked up the box and sat down at the wooden oak table adjusting the radio. All sorts of crackling came out.
" There— be— war — today-Germ—pola—you." The radio was cutting in and out. It was now over.
"This is great! You can even skip school today." Gilbert's mother exclaimed and his father looked as happy as she did. Gilbert ran outside, not knowing what this meant. He had never experienced a war before. A man in blue came walking to the house whistling and gave an envelope to Gilbert. 'Clearly he didn't hear the news.' He thought. Running back inside to his room, he looked at the front:

To Matthew Williams

A letter addressed to his father. Ripping it open, Gilbert didn't even stop to think about the consequences and was already reading it.

Dear Papa,

Gilbert is ok. If you send him here, he would not be happy. I personally believe there is absolutely nothing wrong with him. Please trust me daddy. Hope you have a nice day and say Happy Birthday to Gilbert from me and tell him that he should, once he has realised, be that person.

Love from Diana Xxx

Picking up his blue book, he thought
'How did she know before me?' but before he could think more, somebody was calling him from the kitchen.
"Gilbert! Let's go!" He quickly put the letter on his desk and ran back to the kitchen.
"All ready."
"Great, let's go." Walking together outside, Gilbert's father started whistling a tune and then suddenly started talking.
"So, Gilbert. You are a man now. Men have responsibilities. Now that you are fifteen, you need to get ready for the next step in your life"
"What do you mean?" Gilbert asked,
"Well, as you heard on the radio, there will be a World War Two. I did buy you that gun for hunting but maybe you could use it for shooting... you know. They probably need soldiers... So, what would you think about joining?"
"Joining what? I do not understand"
"Well, becoming a soldier and fighting for your country!" His father was smiling so much and seemed already proud. "What do you say?"
"No!" He screamed and then ran off.
"Gilbert! Come back!"