"You can't do this," my father shouted, raising his voice to a level that I rarely ever heard.

"Why not," keeping my voice as calm as possible as I set up my argument inside my mind, "because I'm a woman? How does that make any sense? Because I'm a female that makes me work less?"

"No! It makes you worth more!" Dad swung his fist, knocking over a vase. I barely flinched as I heard it shatter. "Roxanna, you need to think. What would your mother say? I already know, damn it! She would tell you that you should stay home instead of going off to fight in some bloody war halfway across the world!"

"You and I remember Mom completely different." I gave a dry laugh before continuing. "As I remember, she told me to strive to greatness, and I could do anything that I set my mind to. And besides, Dad! They already sent the letter and I'm accepted!" I pulled out a carefully folded paper and threw it at him. "So I don't give a damn what you think! I was just telling you because I thought that there was still such a thing as supporting your family. Apparently... I was wrong." I turned away and started walking up the stairs.

"I just don't want to lose you." I turned to look at my Dad. His face no longer angry, just dejected. My acceptance letter held unfolded in his hands. I sighed, my father looking older then ever.

"You won't." My simple statement making his eyes pierce into mine. "If you remember, I'm tougher then most of the men in this town, hell, in Colorado. I've done more work then stable boys. I've ran up mountains as a pastime!" I laughed and almost sprinted down the stairs to him. I wrapped my arms around him and leaned my head on his chest. "It's gonna be alright Dad." I smiles, looking into his eyes. "I'm gonna be alright."

He heaved a heavy sigh and his chest bowed. "Then get some rest, lovely. You'll need to get up early tomorrow. The truck'll be here at seven." He nodded to the letter, handing it to me.

"Yes sir," I smiled and gave him a quick salute. He turned away and walked over to clean up the broken vase laying in pieces on the kitchen floor.

I made my way back up the stairs to my bedroom, but stopped to see a small figure leaning sleepily against the door frame.

"Hey sweetheart," I whispered, kneeling and grabbing my younger sisters hands, "why are you still up?"

"I could ask you the same thing," the ten year old growled, "I heard shouting."

"It was nothing, doll. Now go rest your little head, or it might fall off." She giggled and broke into a wide yawn that made me smile.

"Okay, But Roxie, I'm gonna miss you when ya leave." I could feel her rubbing her eyes with my hands.

"Oh Polly. I'm going to miss you as well. I'll write to you whenever I can and you'll be the talk of all the men." I held in a laugh as she made a face.

"I still don't like boys, Roxie, and God help me when I do. If they're talking then leave me out of it." I kissed her nose and let go of her hands. She shoves her hands on her hips.

"That's my sassy little girl." I laughed and waved her hands away from her hips. "Now get some sleep, Polly. You gotta see me off at seven tomorrow morning."

"Seven?!" Polly through her hands in the air as she stormed to bed. "What moron chose that time? I mean, who wakes up then?!"

"Normal human beings, something that you're not," I teased, "now, get in bed. Sleep." Hearing a huff, I stepped to her bed, kissing her forehead and tucking her in.

"'Night Polly. See ya in the morning." Trying not to make a noise, I closed the door and tiptoed to my room.

The next morning I awoke to a startling sight. Most of my belongings were packed away. The rest was coming with me. As I gazed at the clock-the only piece not packed away- I realized I had over two hours before the bus would come to pick me up.

I strode to my pack, in it all my necessities. The contents spilled onto my bed as I upturned the pack. Double checking everything making sure nothing was missing, I settled down and started repacking.

Glancing at the clock again, I noticed that a half-hour had gone by. I sighed to myself as I picked up the pack, heaving my body out of my room and down the stairs. Dumping my pack on one of the dining room chairs, I pulled myself into the kitchen to make something to eat.

As an egg started frying, I heard a snore come from near the fireplace. It was my father sitting in a chair facing the small embers and coal where a fire once had been. I sighed seeing a book that I recognized far too well, wrapped in his arms. It was a collection of letters and items that my mother and him had given to each other over the passing years.

I trudged back to the kitchen and finished cooking. While eating, I glanced at the clock to see that I had less then a hour left. Looking around, I tried to take in everything before I left. The picture frame in the corner cause my eye. I never really paid attention to until now, realizing it's true beauty. The frame looked to be silver, a flower pattern encrusting it. The picture was simple, my family smiling. It was one of the last times I had seen my father smile. Polly was being held in between Mother and Father. Each had an arm wrapped around her tiny body. She couldn't have been more then a year old. Then there was me, maybe ten or eleven, smiling in front of them all, a couple of bruises on my arms and two teeth becoming adults, leaving gaps in my overly wide smile.

"You should take it," a voice came from behind me. My father had made his way to my side, picking up the frame and examining the picture closely. I could almost see the color in my mothers favorite baby blue dress. Her beautiful bouncing, dark brown hair falling just below her shoulders. Her green eyes staring at me, the crinkles at the edge of her eyes from laughing so much. I was nothing compared to her beauty. My long hair almost black that hung to the small of my back, straight with nothing in it. My brown eyes dull with stress. Pale skin covered me, and sure, I had curves, but I rarely showed them. My mother was gorgeous, and my father knew it, loving her more then anyone else. Even as I watched him stare at her picturesque body through the glass of the frame, I grew envious. Nobody had ever looked at me with so much adoration, and I craved it.

My mind was shook out of thought as my father held out the picture for me to take. I took it, tucking it into a pocket of my pack. I was pulled into a tight hug until we both sat down, waiting out the remainder of time. My stomach seemed to have a whole zoo inside it trying to escape.

The clock reached seven and I lifted my pack, walking outside as my father woke up my sister. The olive green truck pulled up in front of my house and I turned for my father and sister, who came rushing outside.

I lifted my sister into the hug, twirling slightly. Putting her down, she smiled at me with those big green eyes she had inherited from Mother. She looked like a miniature version of Mother as her bright smile played down my nervousness. Turning to my Father, I hugged him quickly before turning back to Polly.

"You be good, and don't give your Father any trouble. Stay in school and if I hear anything about alcohol in your system, I swear to the Lord above, I will walk back here if I have to and I will kick you into the next century." She giggled and just smiled.

"Be careful, Roxie," she whispered. I pursed my lips and nodded. Walking into the truck, I waved as it started.

"You be good, ya little alien!" I shouted and we took off, Polly stomped her foot and shouted in protest before running to catch up to the truck. Breathing heavily, she gave up, her pale green dress spinning to catch up with her momentum, and waved to me until they were out of sight.

I faced forward, leaning back into my seat. This is the start of something new- a new chance. I was going to become a different person after going through training. I would be a soldier. I would be a paratrooper.