Beautiful People--June

Hey all! So I have a little bit different of a post going on today. :) I've been seeing all the other posts going up as a part of the June Beautiful People link up, so I decided that I would join in! I mean, why not? It looked like so much fun! (And it is. ;))

This month's questions were about childhood, and I decided to chose a Gilbert Wilson, a  character from A Question of Honor, my WWII WIP. 
Now, before we go any further, I should probably inform you that he is never referred to as Gilbert. Just Gil. ;) The only person who calls him Gilbert is David, and only when he's upset. And since David Sullivan is mentioned quite a bit throughout this post, I should probably tell you that he's Gil's very best friend. They did pretty much everything together, from the time they were kids, all the way up through adulthood. Including leaving the states to join the RAF. 
Gil is one of my very favorite characters in this book. We have a lot in common, and...yeah. He puts up with a lot from me. Thankfully, he's too much of a gentleman to do anything except shake his head and come along for the ride. ;) 

What is their first childhood memory?
Well, other then the farm that he grew up on, his earliest memory is tumbling off the barn roof trying to fly. David never let him live it down. 

What were their best and worst childhood experiences?
Best childhood experience would probably be the first time he was allowed to fly with his dad in the crop duster. Although after that he always thought that crop dusters were horribly slow and much too safe. 
Worst would be the time David's sister, Anne, was thrown from a horse. Because he was an only child, Gil almost grew up at the Sullivan household, and loved all seven of the siblings as his own. The thought that one of them might die scared him to death. 

What’s something that scared them as child?
The thought of being grounded and having to stay away from the Sullivans. Gil was extremely mischievous, and it happened a time or two. Since both Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Wilson owned and worked the same 500 acre plot of land, their families were together a lot. Being separated from them was torture to Gil. 

Who did they look up to most?
Gil looked up to his dad and also Mr. Sullivan. :) 

Favorite and least favorite childhood foods?
His least favorite was corn. Because on the farm, it seemed it was the one thing they always had, even if they were out of everything else. 
His favorite was cold, fresh vanilla ice cream. Which was a rare treat!

If they had their childhood again, would they change anything?
No. Well, perhaps he would have made a more conscious effort to stay out of trouble. Not that it would have helped... ;)

What was their childhood home like?
It was a two-story white house. Directly to the right was the well, clothesline, and red barn. A couple hundred feet down the road was David's house. 

What kind of child were they? Curious? Wild? Quiet? Devious?
Definitely curious! Not devious... mischievous would be a better word. He always had the best plans and ideas in mind, but for some reason they never turned out quite like they were supposed to.  Like he said later, he was the troublesome one, and David was his conscience.

What was their relationship to their parents and siblings like?
Good! While there were times he thought his dad was a bit to strict, Gil always respected and looked up to him. (And he was glad for the "strictness" later on. ;)) And he was always close to his mom. She was always encouraging him to use his curiosity for good, and he loved her for it!

What did they want to be when they grew up, and what did they actually become?
When he was young he dreamed of soaring above the clouds. Getting so high that the blue and sparkling white of the sun was the only thing in front of him, and the clouds all he could see behind. He never had a specific career in mind, he only knew he didn't want to be stuck on the farm. 
And...he ended up flying for the U.S army air corps, and then in Britain with the RAF in the year of 1940. It's safe to say that what he wished for came true. And he loved every minute of it!  Flying to him was like breathing; it was necessary to life. 

Well...those were all the questions! Did Gil sound interesting? (Hopefully? ;)) 
I hope you are having a wonderful week!!!