Sam adjusted his duffle bag over his shoulder as he clenched his jaw and walked through the crowds of young people chanting. His buddy Puck clapped him on the shoulder and spoke by his ear, "Ignore them, they don't know the things we've seen man." Sam nodded and raked his hand through his short dirty blonde hair. These people didn't know who he was, these people with their flowers in their hair didn't have to fight in bug infested lands and watch their buddies explode right in front of their eyes as they stepped on hidden mines. The young smooth face that he had once had was now replaced by a darkened complexion and lines of age. He picked at a scab on his arm as he tried to drown out the noise surrounding him.

"Make love not war!"

"You're all bastards, evil bastards!"

"How could you do those things to those poor children?" Sam turned his head and stared at the man with glasses. "You burned them! You burned them with poison! What kind of world is this?"

Sam had to swallow the bile that was forming in his throat. He remembered the screaming kids as they ran towards the water as they tried to rid their bodies of the gas that had been dropped on them. He remembered watching their clothes burn off of their bodies. He rubbed the scruff on his face and scratched the mosquito bites on his neck. He didn't want to think anymore, he wanted to just sit down and relax underneath a tree, but he figured that this wouldn't be the place for it. He regretted going to the war, he regretted not running away with his brother Stevie to Canada. He regretted witnessing and taking part of the horror that had fallen on the Vietnamese. Every night Sam tried to sleep but only saw the burning huts of innocent people who wished to not be involved in the war. He saw the slaughtered family members and animals as vengeance against the Vietnamese people who tried to hide their brothers and fathers. And he always saw the cruelty that ravaged the lands at the hands of his own friends and other fellow Americans.

He continued to walk in this daze when he felt someone grab his arm. He looked over at the shorter woman who barely reached his shoulder and pulled his arm away from her. He stared at her thick afro which was adorned with bright flowers.

"Don't be afraid of me brother, I know you must've seen some real horrors over there." Sam eyed her dark skin and wondered what she wanted from him. Yes, he had fought alongside men of colour for the last few years and he had no problem with them overseas. But once they had come back home, the separation between the groups was strengthened once again. Only an hour ago, he had tried to get a milkshake with his buddy Matt Rutherford, to be told that no coloreds were allowed. Sam had protested saying that this was his friend and they had fought together to protect this country. The soda shop owner proceeded to threaten the pair by saying he would call the police if they didn't leave his establishment. Matt shook his head and walked off, Sam hadn't seen him since.

"You okay man? you look real uptight?" Sam blinked at her.

"I'm fine ma'am. Just wondering why you talking to me I guess?" The shorter woman smiled and handed him a flower.

"Because we're one in the same…you and I both have blood, we both bleed….ain't nothing going to change that my friend. There's no escaping how alike we are!" Sam grinned at her and wondered if she was on something. "We've been fighting a war against communism, but like Dr. King said, we should be fighting against the war on racism here, don't you think?"

"I don't have a problem with you." Sam said simply and the woman smiled.

"What's your name green eyes?"

"Sam…Sam Evans." She nodded and twirled around.

"Groovy name man, I'm Mercedes….Jones, but they call me wild flower!" Sam smiled and tried to shake her hand but she gave him a hug instead. "No need for formalities, you are you, and I am me."

Sam raised his eyebrow and chuckled. "You sure are something else uh…Wild flower."

"I'm the world man….I'm the world." Sam smiled down at her when he felt someone place their hand on his shoulder.

"We gotta go Evans, say peace to your hippy friend." Puck laughed and joined the rest of their friends.

Sam turned and looked down at her. "Nice meeting you Mercedes." He didn't want to have to leave her. She seemed so interesting and it was the first time in months that he hadn't thought about the war every single second. "Maybe we'll meet again."

"If the stars show it, it'll happen." She looked up at the bright sun. "Guess we're shit out of luck right now aren't we?" She laughed and Sam laughed with her. "Bye army man, pray for the souls of the lost before they find you." Sam's face grew serious as he watched her twirl back into the crowd of protesters. He sighed to himself as he walked over to the group of tired, thin men waiting by the tree.