Elizabeth was clearing away the dinner dishes when she heard the telephone ring. She picked the receiver up and heard her older son's voice.

"Hi, Mom."

"Hi, sweetheart. How are you?" asked Elizabeth. It had been two years since Max had graduated high school, and he and Stephen Bishop had moved into a small duplex together.

"Not so good," Max replied. "I've been drafted. I just got the notice in the mail today to report for my physical exam."

Elizabeth sighed. She remembered how worried her own mother had been when her brothers had been drafted and sent to fight in World War II.

"Well, I suppose you'll have to go, then," she told Max. "What else is there to do?"

"I've heard some talk of running away to Canada, but I'd never do that," he replied. "This is my country, and if it wants me to go to Vietnam, that's what I should do."

"But it's so hard to let you go!" Images of her son at different ages filled her mind: his sweet baby smell as she'd rocked him to sleep at night, watching him take his first step, his first day of school, his gap-toothed grin as a seven-year-old, his adolescent awkwardness. And now he may be about to be sent halfway around the world.

"I know." His voice was soft, and she heard him clear his throat. "Right now, I can't even imagine how hard it will be to go."

"We'll just have to make the most of the time we have left together," said Elizabeth. "That's all we can do. Would you like to speak to your father?"

"Yes, please."

She handed the receiver to Paul, who stood waiting for it.

That night, she lay staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. She found it very difficult to accept the fact her son may soon be sent into harm's way. The news reported daily as the death toll in Vietnam continued to rise - battles, skirmishes, jungle diseases. Would her son, her baby, ultimately become just another casualty?

She felt the bed dip slightly as Paul got in beside her. He reached for her, and she gratefully went into his arms, drawing comfort from the warmth she found there.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"No, not really," she replied. "I know he has to go, but I just can't stand the thought of him being sent so far away! And what if he never comes back?"

"It must have been the same way for my parents when I was drafted," Paul observed.

"I only just now realized what a terrible thing war is," said Elizabeth.

"It's hard," Paul agreed. "Believe me, it hurts me just as much as it does you to see him go, but when duty calls, it won't take 'no' for an answer."

He pulled his wife close and kissed the top of her head, and they cuddled together, basking in their mutual love and concern.


"I don't believe it!" Laura jumped up from the porch swing and stared at Stephen. "First Max, and now you?"

In the two years since they'd met, Stephen and Laura had spent a lot of time together and grown very close. Paul had even relaxed his rule and allowed Stephen to take Laura out to dinner or a movie now and then.

"I'm sorry, but it's true," Stephen replied. "I have to leave for Vietnam in just a few days."

"But what will I do?" Laura cried helplessly. "I can't stand it!"

"You'll start eleventh grade soon," he reminded her. "Then you'll be busy with classes, football games, and other things."

"But it won't be the same without you!" she whined.

"Oh, you'll get used to my being gone," he assured her. "Who knows, maybe you'll even find a guy you like better than me."

"Never!" She was near tears.

"It'll be all right, sweetheart." He stood and embraced her, letting her cry on his shoulder. "It's only for a couple of years, and then I'll come right back, and never leave you again."


The day before Max and Stephen were to leave for Vietnam, the Bishops had the Brimmers over for a farewell meal. Although the food was delicious, Laura could hardly eat. Elizabeth, Martha, Sarah, and Susan all shed tears, and Laura felt like crying herself. She simply couldn't imagine not seeing her brother or boyfriend again for two whole years.

Why, I'll be finished with school by then, she thought to herself.

The ride to the airport to see Max off was the saddest one of her life. She accompanied her parents, Amon, and Jakob as far as they were allowed to go, and then Max gave each of them a hug and kiss on the cheek before departing.

"Goodbye, Sis," he told Laura as he held her close. "Make sure Amon and Jakob behave, all right?"

"I will," she whispered. There was a huge lump in her throat, and it was all she could say without bursting into tears.