Dear Journal, September 13, 2011

The thought had been going around in my head for a while now. After I saw the commercial on TV, I realized how much more my country needed me, than my little hometown.

I figured since the Guys in White had established a base in Amity Park, and that Valerie was also around, I would be leaving the town in semi-capable hands.

Now that my decision was made though, it all came down to the hard part, telling my friends and family. It did not go over smoothly. My dad had not said a single word during my whole explanation; he just stared at me somberly. I think it was one of the first times I had ever seen him so serious. My mom on the other hand, she had a fit. Screaming and yelling at me saying that, she needed me more than the country ever would, I couldn't leave her because I was her baby. And finally Jazz. She cried and it broke my heart, but it also fueled me with determination, I couldn't let these people the ones I love, get hurt. I explained to them, that it was people like me, ordinary people (I couldn't hide a smirk here) who would save our country, I told them that I felt the need to go, for my home, for my country, and most of all for My family. After my little monologue, my mom simmered down and Jazz stopped crying. My Dad got up and patted me on the back, telling me he was so proud of the young man I had become.

Now that I had told my Family it came time to tell Sam, and Tucker. That was hard. Sam, she didn't want me to go. She was in such a fit. Calling me a coward, and telling me I was running away from her, and everyone in Amity Park. She insisted that they needed me more, and that the country had so many other people to protect it, they could do without me. She told me straight out that I was not going. She told me I was trust overreacting, and given a few days' time I would calm down and see how dumb I was for thinking to go off to the Marines. This is right around the time Tucker jumped into the conversation. He told Sam that she had to stop being so selfish, that she needed to look at things from my Point of view, he said I was doing this to protect her, and him, and my family. That they didn't need me around, that they only wanted me around. Tucker told me he was proud of me for doing this, but if I died in the war, he would bring me back to life just so he could kick my ass for being so dumb.

I left after that. Going to the recruitment officer, I signed up for the marines.

Boot Camp. Fun. Note the sarcasm in my voice.

It was horrible; we had to get up so early, before the stars had even gone down. Running laps around the track, and climbing over obstacles. Rain, snow or shine, we were doing drills. We had two meals a day, if what they served us could be considered meals, and had ten minutes to eat them.

We could only have a two minute shower, in cold water. It was barely enough time to strip soap up and rinse off. The first time I took a shower I hadn't even touched my bar of soap before the water turned off.

One day I overslept. That had not been a happy day for me. My drill sergeant came into my room, and literally dragged me off of my bed and onto the floor. Collapsing in a heap I woke up to hear him yelling at. Telling me I was a no-good-lazy-ass-baby-mam's boy-prick-cock-eating-maggot. He had a very good imagination when it came to insults. After calling me a few other choice insults he strapped my mattress to my back and had me run laps all day, no breaks for dinner or the bathroom. Suffice to say I never overslept after that.

By the time I got out of boot camp, (three months later) I was a stronger and more durable person. Also my vocabulary had stretched amazingly during that time, thanks to the drill sergeant. I was allowed a two week rest at my home in Amity Park, and then I was to be shipped off to Afghanistan.

A welcoming home party was thrown for me. I was so happy to finally be home and relax. After the party I went out to stretch my ghost side, which hadn't had a lot of use in the boot camp. Flying around for what seemed like forever, I finally decided to go home and actually sleep. But of course before I could get to my bed I ran into Vlad.

He told me he was not here for a fight, but to congratulate me on going into the marines. He too said he was proud of me, and I hate to admit it but those words coming from him, meant a lot to me. He said he had a going away present for me. When I asked him what it was he told me that he was going to teach me any ability that I wanted to learn.

Eagerly I told him I wanted to learn to teleport. So the rest of the night he taught me. Teleporting back to my room, I crashed into my mattress.

The two weeks went by awfully quick, and soon it was time for me to leave again, a going away party was held for me and everyone came. Mom, Dad, Vlad, Jazz, Sam, Tucker, Valerie, all of their parents. Everyone told me that they would write whenever they got the chance and to be safe and be careful. When the bus came to grab me I said good bye to everyone. Many people cried and hugged me. Before I made it out the door, a hand grabbed my shoulder, turning around I saw that it was Vlad. Be careful, and be smart, Little Badger, he told me. I told him to stop worrying like an old woman. We both laughed and he let me go.

The bus ride and the plane ride to Afghanistan were uneventful. But I'm here now and I'm trying to get into the swings of things. It is a lot easier than boot camp, but still very strict. I am at the bottom of the totem pole, but I'm hoping to change that soon, with some of my more, un-ordinary skills. I want to become an espionage agent; I think I might do well. But until next time.

A/N: This is I think one of my best Stories so far. I am not sure if I'm going to keep this a one-shot, or maybe make it into a Journal log for Danny. But thank you for reading, I hope you Review.