Letters from Vietnam [Watty Awards 2012]

Chapter 3

Wednesday, March 12, 1975

            Angela spent the next couple days in auto pilot. She could hardly concentrate on her schoolwork and her mind was always on the other side of the world.

            “Earth to Angela,” Carly said waving her hand in front of her friend’s face. “Where have you been all day?”

            Angela shrugged. “Not here.”

            “Yea, we can see that.” Holly said sarcastically as they walked out of school.

            Carly sighed heavily. “At least tell us you’re going to the bon fire tonight.”

            “Yea,” Angela said still distant. “I’ll be there.”

            The girls walked out of school and Angela walked straight even though the girls turned to go back to Carly’s car.

            “Ang, my car’s this way!” Carly yelled to her friend.

            Angela turned around and yelled, “I’m walking home today!”

            The girls didn’t try and argue with her because at this point nothing they said would change her mind.

            Angela’s shoes clicked against the pavement as she walked up her street. It wasn’t as blistering hot as earlier that week which made it more forgiving for her trek home. As she walked up to her mailbox, she pulled the lid down and grabbed the pile of envelopes that rested within it. She quickly walked up the driveway and straight through the front door where she went straight to the kitchen.

            “Hey honey, how was your day?” Angela’s mom asked as she sipped some iced tea.

            Angela sorted through the envelopes before seeing the one envelope that she has waited days for. “Good,” She answered her mom before flyingout of the kitchen.

            “Dinner will be done at five!” Her mom called after her.

            “Yea, okay!”

            Angela ran into her room and flopped down on the bed. She opened the letter and smiled seeing a piece of paper folded up inside. She slidthe paper out of the envelope and unfolded it. Her eyes fell on the first line of words and her heart rate began to race.

            Angela –

            I’m glad you got my letter. It’s nice hearing from someone back home.

            Angela’s heart stopped beating as she readthe word “home.” “Oh my God,” She breathed.

            You know, over here the guys are talking about being taken out of here in a month. They say they hearall kinds of things on the radio and they read all these things in letters from home. I should be happy to hear some of these things, but it’s been over a decade since this war started. For it to end in a month seems too good to be true. I’ve been out here for a little over a month and I can tell you right now that I am one of the fortunate ones that escaped battles in the jungle with my life. That’s more than what I could say for guys I grew up playing football with and for my recently fallen captain.

            As of right now, I don’t think we are on the road to ending this war. If anything, we’re the cause of this crazy thing we call “war.” Every time we send in more troops it’s like throwing more gasoline on a forest fire. We’re not containing anything. We’re just letting it spread. I never thought I’d be saying any of these things. I never thought I’d understand the meaning of why we fight wars. I can honestly say that I thought I knew the reason for war, but after being here I don’t.

            You know, it’s funny how much a person’s life can change. I was supposed to go to college for football and make something of myself, but as of right now, I’d be lucky to make it home not in a body bag. I honestly don’t know how many lives we’re going to have to lose before people realize this war is just a bunch of bullshit.

            Angela felt her mood deflate slightly as she put the paper down on her bed spread. “It’s worse than I thought.” She said staring up at the ceiling. Reading this one letter changed her opinions that her teachers have been putting into her head since the start of the school year. This war has been going on for so long. After sending loads after loads of troops it was never enough. More lives were being lost and the war was just causing more destruction.

            Angela got off her bed and grabbed the notepad that was resting on the surface of her desk. She glanced at the clock that read four o’clock and sat back down on her bed.

            Dear Jason,

                    You must’ve been a part of the last batch of troops that we sent out. I wish I could put a face to your name because we do live in a small town. I’m sure I would’ve seen you around town. Granted, you were supposed to be in college that makes you a year older than me.

            She tapped her pencil on the pad of paper as she thought about something to say. She didn’t want to talk about war anymore. If anything, she wanted to get Jason’s mind off of the war.

            You know, this is my second letter to you. I feel obligated to know more about the person I’m paying postage to talk to. I’ll start. You know my name’s Angela so I’ll start with something else. I am an only child. My mom rarely works anymore and my dad spends more time down at the country club golfing than at home. I’m a senior and will be graduating this year. I take pride in not having many friends and I like long walks at night.

            - Angela

P.S. Please no more talk of war. I may not know a lot about you, but it breaks my heart reading about the things you have to endure for a lost cause.

P.P.S. I’m still praying for you.

            Angela folded the paper evenly into thirds and enclosed it in an envelope. Placing the envelope safely in her desk drawer she walked over to her closet and pulled out another outfit to wear for the bon fire. Tossing down a new top and some fresh pants she couldn’t help but feel like staying home and curling up with some of her records and some warm tea. She wanted to stay home, but if she didn’t start acting normal soon, Carly and Holly would be on her like bees to honey. Sliding out of her clothes and replacing them with the new ones, Angela couldn’t help but feel helpless. There was nothing she could do about this war. All she could do was hope and pray that she got a response to her letter. A response was the only thing telling her that Jason was still alive.