THE LETTER
Xander Harris opened his mailbox expecting to see the normal everyday things, bills and junk mail. Well, there was plenty of that, but an manila colored envelope near the bottom caught his eye. When he saw who the letter was from, he went pale.
Xander hurried back into his apartment. The TV was on the news, showing the war effort in Iraq. Things had not been as short and sweet as many had hoped. The war had raged for nearly six months now. Congress had passed a special bill, re-instating the draft. Young men from all the country had been drafted.
Xander watched the footage of young men in the deserts of the Middle East. The reporter talked to many of the young men, and they all said the same thing. They were ready, ready to fight and die for their country. Some were regular army, but a majority were drafted, and still they were committed to serving their country.
Xander looked down at the envelope in his hand. He knew what it was, yet, he opened it. As expected, the letter was telling him he had been drafted and was to report for duty in one week.
Xander's legs gave out and he sat down on his couch.
For a moment, he considered running, but then he thought back to the young men in the field. He also thought back to the terrorist attack in LA only four weeks ago. Two hundred men, women, and children had died when a suicide bomber exploded a bomb on the subway in LA. It was one of many acts of terrorism that had occurred since the war began, but it was the one that hit closest to home.
Xander never understood how humans could do that to each other. He was used to fighting demons and vampires. They had no conscience, no soul and them, he could understand. But, it was beyond his comprehension how a human being could that.
He sat there for a few minutes, and his mind was made up. He would go. He would defend his country in this war, just as he defended the hellmouth for the last seven years. The goal was the same, eliminate the threat so others could live. The only difference would be the enemy.
He thought about his friends. He didn't know how he was going to tell them. Willow had lost so much, she was going to take this hard. Anya was still around and Xander didn't know how she would react. Buffy was a warrior. She would understand and support him.
Buffy was in the kitchen, cleaning up the breakfast dishes when Xander arrived. She noticed something was wrong. Xander looked stressed and worried.
"Xander, what's wrong?" She asked.
"I got a letter in the mail this morning. I've been drafted. I report in one week."
He said it so calmly that Buffy began to think it was some sort of joke, but she looked at him hard and saw fear in his eyes. She knew he was serious.
Buffy took a seat at the bar. She didn't know what to say.
"Buffy," Xander began. "I know this is hard, but I also know I won't run from this. This is my duty as an American."
"Xander, I don't want you to go. I need you here."
"Buffy, you were chosen to be the slayer. You didn't want it, didn't ask for it, but you got it anyway. Now, you're the best slayer ever. You were called and accepted the call. You've saved the world many times over. I'm not a slayer, yet I have been chosen. I have to do this. This is my duty. Do you understand?"
Buffy considered his words for a moment. He was right and she knew it. If they didn't win this war, it was possible there would be nothing left for her to fight for. Evil comes in many shapes and forms. Right now the biggest evil lay in Iraq. Saddam must be defeated, or the world would suffer.
Buffy gave Xander a small, shaky smile, "Yes, Xander. I understand."
This story is dedicated to all the men and women in the armed services. Thank you for all you do for our country. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Just know, we support you and appreciate the sacrifice you are making.
Xander Harris opened his mailbox expecting to see the normal everyday things, bills and junk mail. Well, there was plenty of that, but an manila colored envelope near the bottom caught his eye. When he saw who the letter was from, he went pale.
Xander hurried back into his apartment. The TV was on the news, showing the war effort in Iraq. Things had not been as short and sweet as many had hoped. The war had raged for nearly six months now. Congress had passed a special bill, re-instating the draft. Young men from all the country had been drafted.
Xander watched the footage of young men in the deserts of the Middle East. The reporter talked to many of the young men, and they all said the same thing. They were ready, ready to fight and die for their country. Some were regular army, but a majority were drafted, and still they were committed to serving their country.
Xander looked down at the envelope in his hand. He knew what it was, yet, he opened it. As expected, the letter was telling him he had been drafted and was to report for duty in one week.
Xander's legs gave out and he sat down on his couch.
For a moment, he considered running, but then he thought back to the young men in the field. He also thought back to the terrorist attack in LA only four weeks ago. Two hundred men, women, and children had died when a suicide bomber exploded a bomb on the subway in LA. It was one of many acts of terrorism that had occurred since the war began, but it was the one that hit closest to home.
Xander never understood how humans could do that to each other. He was used to fighting demons and vampires. They had no conscience, no soul and them, he could understand. But, it was beyond his comprehension how a human being could that.
He sat there for a few minutes, and his mind was made up. He would go. He would defend his country in this war, just as he defended the hellmouth for the last seven years. The goal was the same, eliminate the threat so others could live. The only difference would be the enemy.
He thought about his friends. He didn't know how he was going to tell them. Willow had lost so much, she was going to take this hard. Anya was still around and Xander didn't know how she would react. Buffy was a warrior. She would understand and support him.
Buffy was in the kitchen, cleaning up the breakfast dishes when Xander arrived. She noticed something was wrong. Xander looked stressed and worried.
"Xander, what's wrong?" She asked.
"I got a letter in the mail this morning. I've been drafted. I report in one week."
He said it so calmly that Buffy began to think it was some sort of joke, but she looked at him hard and saw fear in his eyes. She knew he was serious.
Buffy took a seat at the bar. She didn't know what to say.
"Buffy," Xander began. "I know this is hard, but I also know I won't run from this. This is my duty as an American."
"Xander, I don't want you to go. I need you here."
"Buffy, you were chosen to be the slayer. You didn't want it, didn't ask for it, but you got it anyway. Now, you're the best slayer ever. You were called and accepted the call. You've saved the world many times over. I'm not a slayer, yet I have been chosen. I have to do this. This is my duty. Do you understand?"
Buffy considered his words for a moment. He was right and she knew it. If they didn't win this war, it was possible there would be nothing left for her to fight for. Evil comes in many shapes and forms. Right now the biggest evil lay in Iraq. Saddam must be defeated, or the world would suffer.
Buffy gave Xander a small, shaky smile, "Yes, Xander. I understand."
This story is dedicated to all the men and women in the armed services. Thank you for all you do for our country. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Just know, we support you and appreciate the sacrifice you are making.
