The Forbidden Six

December 1st, 1938

Werner hadn't talked to Liese at all since November 25th. Werner took his half day of leave on November 30th. He didn't go over to Liese's and instead, went out to lunch with Jakob.

"You can't ignore her all this time," Otto said to him as they polished their shoes. His glasses kept slipping off of his nose as he looked down. They clattered to the ground and Otto forced them back onto his nose. "I hate glasses."

"I can and I will. I have my opinion and I will stick to it. You can't convince me otherwise," Werner said with a serious look on his face, ignoring Otto's comments about the glasses. His vision was fine; he didn't understand the struggles of glasses-wearers.

"Even though she doesn't fancy you, that doesn't mean you can't be friends with her." Otto looked at Werner who was deeply frowning at him. "I'm tired of being sad. Do you remember that story Liese was writing and one of the characters was based off of you? Well, I talked to Mena and apparently Liese has scrapped that story because of that character and it makes her sad when she writes about it." Werner cast him a sidelong glance. "She's your friend. I think you're overreacting."

"I am not overreacting. You're distracting me from my shoes."

Otto let out a frustrated sigh and started to make his bed.

"When do you want to take our first day of leave?" the curly haired boy asked his blond friend.

"Maybe tomorrow?"

Otto agreed, a plan already forming in his brain.

The next day, the two boys took their day of leave. Werner was at his house and hanging out with Jakob. Otto rang Mena's doorbell as he stood on her porch, listening to the drizzling rain. It was oddly calming. Mena ruined the calm, her hair in a messy bun and her outfit smeared with flour and what looked like the remnants of an egg. A small plume of smoke came out of her house, causing Otto to cough.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm making some cookies. I don't have a recipe and I don't have any sugar." Mena grinned, hair falling into her eyes. "Oh, and I can't put milk in it because that hurts my stomach."

Otto slowly nodded his head with a disturbed look on his face. Mena invited him in and he coughed. They opened all the windows and Mena pulled out the pan of cookies that was baking. The black cookies sizzled and did not resemble cookies in the slightest. She grimaced and went to dispose of them.

Otto sat down at the kitchen table and ran his hands through his hair. Mena looked at him, confusion on her face. She set the pan down and took a seat at the table with him.

"What's wrong?" she asked him after a moment.

"I don't want us to be sad anymore. I want everyone to be friends again." Mena gave him an understanding nod. "Including Leyna. We should give her a second chance."

She gaped at him. "Just wait until she tries to kiss you."

"I just think that everyone deserves a second chance."

She responded with a frown. "What are you going to do about it? What is your magical solution to make us all friends again?" Her sarcasm weighed on his ears as he thought.

Otto's eyes lit up and a smile played at his lips. "I've worked it all out. You are going to invite Liese and Leyna to our tree and I'll bring Pieter and Werner."

"When?"

"Today."

Mena hesitated. "I don't think inviting Leyna is a good idea."

"Please?" Otto looked at her with begging eyes. He batted his eyelashes and Mena resisted the urge to laugh.

She finally relented and put her apron away. She begrudgingly put on her shoes and beckoned for him to come with her.