"Gee, do I hope, do I hope, do I hope!" Dave breathed and pressed his two clenched fists together. "Do I hope he has fixed it for us to get into the R.A.F., even though we are a bit under age. He said he'd do everything he could. And, Dad?"
Dave turned and looked into his father's face.
"Yes, Dave?"
"I sure hope it really is okay with you," Dave said. "I mean getting into the R.A.F., if I possibly can. It's.... Well, it's just that nothing else seems important now, except trimming the pants off the Nazis. And I want to help, no matter what kind of help it is."
"I understand, perfectly, Dave," his father said with a smile. "I know exactly how you feel, because I feel the same way. I'm staying over here to help, too. In the government end of things."
Dave's exclamation of surprise was cut short by the ringing of the door bell. Freddy's father answered it and came back into the room with General Caldwell. The Chief of Staff greeted them all and then handed Dave and Freddy each a small package.
"And with life-long gratitude from the bottom of my heart," he said gravely.
They opened the packages to find an expensive wrist watch in each. And on the back of each watch was the inscription:
To One Of The Two Finest And Bravest
Boys I Ever Met
General H. V. K. Caldwell
"And, now, the real reason I came here," the General said before they could even begin to blurt out their thanks and appreciation. "Their Majesties, King George and Queen Elizabeth, are waiting to receive you at Buckingham Palace. And your fathers, of course."