She sat down at the table, unable to shake the uneasiness in her stomach. Now was as good of a time as ever to say it. She'd have to do it sooner rather than later.

"You know, Erin, all you need is a mustache and you'll look just like me," BJ joked.

Peg sat her dish down in front of her and smiled. "I think you look very nice with short hair."

"Thanks, mom."

Erin poked at her steaming green beans, not quite sure if she had the appetite.

"What's the special occasion?"

She looked up to her dad, not having paid attention to what he said.

"For getting your hair done short?"

Erin nodded, "I thought longer hair might get in the way at work... so I just thought short hair would be a nice change."

"You got a job?! Honey, that's great!" BJ said, a huge smile spreading across his face.

Erin smiled back. Her dad was simply ecstatic to hear she got a job. She only wondered how glad he'd be when he learned his baby girl was going to be working at a Vietnam MASH unit two miles from the front.

"Erin! We're so proud of you! I'm sure you'll make a fine nurse," Peg stated, glad that Erin's studying had paid off.

"You going to be working in town? Or are we going to have to come visit you every weekend?" BJ asked while reaching for his glass of water.

"Well actually, dad, I..." Erin mumbled, looking down at her plate. She really didn't want to spring the news on them, especially since she only had two weeks left in Mill Valley. But with two weeks, she really didn't have a choice.

"Erin?"

She sighed and looked up to her dad. "I'm going to be shipped out to a MASH unit in Vietnam."

Just one look at BJ and she could tell his heart broke in a million pieces.

He sat his glass back down on the table. "I'm sorry, sweetheart, could you repeat that? I think my hearing is going."

Erin bit her lip and lowered her gaze back to her still-full dinner platter.

"Erin, why didn't you ask us first?" Peg asked. "Don't you think your father and I would have liked to talk about it first?"

"If I had asked you first you two would have said no."

"And that's exactly why you should have told us first! So I could say it loud and clear; no!" BJ sunk his head into his hands, "Vietnam's been going for years, Erin, it's just a death trap for naive kids who think they're doing their country a favor," he said, starting to raise his voice. "Well let me tell you this! I don't want my girl going off to some war just because she thinks she's doing the right thing!!"

"I'm sorry, but all the war is doing is killing people, I though I could at least do something to stop soldiers being sent home in coffins. The world deserves a little compassion."

Erin watched as BJ removed his hands from his face. She could see the red on his face from fighting back the tears. She hated seeing her dad cry.

"When do you leave?" He asked, in a quieter, not as harsh tone.

"Two weeks."

BJ nodded. "Alright... if being an army nurse is what you want to do than do it," BJ glanced back at Erin and gave her a solemn smile, "just promise me you won't get into too much trouble, okay?"

Erin could feel herself on the verge of crying now. She quickly rose from her seat and ran to the other side of the table so she could give him a tight embrace.

"I promise."