the year was 1967, the high school was lit up with lights and decked with paper chains and slow music echoed through the halls, it wasn't every Saturday that you would find all the students in school, you wouldn't even on a regular weekday find so many towns' people in school.

but it wasn't a regular Saturday,

it was a little over a week before many young men would be sent overseas to a small place of nowhere called Vietnam, 17-year-old Lena Williams hadn't heard about this place until a few years ago, but now it was rearranging and shaping their whole life, her older brother Ryan had left last year, and now, many more followed. and so, they were giving them all a good hardy sendoff.


Lena sipped a glass of punch, her green satin dress falling pass her ankles, her auburn hair done up in the latest fashion trend, hoping that soon, she might leave and go home.


out of her notice, across the room, 18-year-old James jones watched her in awe. he had seen her around of course, always looking beautiful, but she was always reading a book or siting on her own away from everyone else, but now she looked absolutely captivating, and maybe it was the fact he was going overseas, and staring into the face of death, but this evening he was feeling rather bold. he might never get to have a girlfriend, he might never get to tell this young lady how he felt, it had to tonight, his friends saw his smitten gaze and laughed, "c'mon James, stop looking like a whooped puppy, go ask that girl to dance!

James gave a slight wince, his usual go lucky character ebbing away.

his friend slapped his back, "go on man! the worse she can say is no, hit her with a James special pickup line."

James finished his punch in one gulp and nodded defiantly, "Ok, I'm doing it!"

there were several hoots and hollers from his friends as he made his way across the room.


soon he was standing not but 3 feet from her, trying to sort out what he was going to say.


"Miss?"

she turned, her green eyes looking up in surprise that he was speaking to her.

"Yes?" she replied softly.

" I, uh... well, you seem to have taken something of mine." he said in a little bit of an awkward manner making her eyebrow raise

"Have I now? what might that be?"

he looked down and then back at her eyes and smiled " you seemed to have stolen my heart, and I'd like it back."

she gave a soft laugh that made his head spin, "well you'll have to come and take it, for I'm afraid I don't know how to return it seeing as how I haven't a clue as to how I stole it."


he smiled lovingly at her "that's easy Little Lady; you stole it by looking so darn breathtaking and by being such a rare and lovely jewel that sparkles like your eyes."

she blushed deeply, and he held out his hand, "I'd like to inquire as if you'd give me the stupendous honor of dancing this next dance with me?"

she smiled as the radio started playing ''the first time I ever saw your face"

it would be a pleasure Mr. Jones, thank you."

and so the song played and they danced, he lost himself in her eyes as she memorized his smile,

they danced that long dance and the next 2 after that, like they were the only 2 people in the world.


she didn't know, and never did learn, it was this moment that got him through the longest days in Vietnam, the long, cold, wet, hours of the night. the endless heat of living in that hell hole for what seemed like eternity. it was this moment that kept him Sain and living.


the next day James walked up onto her front porch to ask if he could call on her, but her father would not have it.

"You expect my little girl to fall for you, just as you prepare to leave and likely, never return? I don't think so, she will not spend what is left of her teenage years pining over some kid who she barely knew, just to learn he died and isn't coming back, and if you do, and what's to say you won't dump her for the first blonde who takes notice of a uniform?"


James looked down, "I assure you sir, that won't happen,"

Mr. Williams shook his head, "the answer is no"


however, as much as Lena loved and respected her father, she was sure that she could handle the relationship, and it would be her fault alone if she couldn't. so, when James took her out the night before he left, for a walk down the moon lit lane, and asked if he could write her, she agreed heartly.


James grabbed her hand, "I don't expect you to wait for me, I'll understand if you change your mind"

Lena shook her head, " I won't, I really, really like you, just come back to me."

James traced her cheek with his finger, "I could die, you know your father isn't wrong, he's quite right to protect you."

Lena gave him a small smile and squeezed his hand, "I'd rather love you for a short time, than to never have loved you at all."

he smiled, "I'll write you as much as I can"

she smiled sadly "and I'll pray for you and think of you every single moment."