I remember the day it all started… It was December 15th 1969, I was 20 years old, I had just finished all of my chores and I had promised that I would take my sister to get ice cream. I walked into the house and her arms had already flung around my waist. I looked down to see my nine year old little sister hugging me.

“Can we go get ice cream now… can we please?” She pleaded as she looked at me with her light blue eyes, there was no way I could ever say no to her.
“I don’t see why not, as long as you have finished your chores.” I told her in a caring and gentle tone.
“Yeah, I finished my chores. I even gave the dog a bath.” She said with her sweet calming voice.

Her name was Mary, she was all the family I had left. It never mattered how hard I tried, I just couldn’t say no to her. I was always like that from the day she could speak. I never even knew why. Maybe it was the fact she was my little sister and I thought she should be spoiled. Maybe it was the blue eyes that would grow wide and melt your heart when she wanted something. My sister was probably the most important thing in the world to me at the time. Her smile could make any sad, mad, shy, even fear go away. She was just as much and influence on me as I was her.

“Why don’t you get your jacket it’s a little chilly outside today. We wouldn't want you to get a cold now would we?” I told her because I wish I had mine when I was feeding the horse.
“Okay I will be right back.” Her voice was filled with joy as she skipped off to her room to get her jacket.

She had just disappeared into the doorway of her room when suddenly there was a knock at the door. I opened the door to see Tom our mailman.
“Hey Tom, how are you today?” I tried to make conversation while I waited.
“Better than you George.” He said as he handed me an envelope that stamped with the United States Army. They were draft papers, my heart sank into my stomach. I would be going to Vietnam, leaving my sister.

Tom left as my sister came out of her room, I was standing there shocked.
“Is everything okay George?” Mary asked snapping me back into reality.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I responded trying to sound convincing as I lied to her through my teeth. I expected her to see right through it... but she just smiled at me, her big blue eyes widened up again and that was the end of it.

“Can we go get ice cream now?” Mary questioned again excitement trembling through each words.
“As long as you’re ready to go.” I told her knowing full well this could be the last time I get to do anything with her.
“Yeah I’m ready.” Mary’s replied as her eyes grew wider. My heart sank again I knew I had to make sure this was a good day, just incase I didn’t come home.

We walked outside and she started to go to the truck.
“Why don’t we walk Mary. It’s a nice day and town isn’t too far.” I told her in a gentle fake tone.
“It is a nice day for a walk, I'd love to walk.” Mary sounded excited and she gladly ran to the side of the street and waited for me.

We hadn’t gone for a walk since before our parents died. Since that day, we lived on our own just Mary and I. Chances are if it wasn’t for her, my life would be a mess. Mary taught me more about life than I ever could have taught her.

We started to walk down the street, Mary gripped my hand as tightly as she could as she tried to match her footsteps to mine.
“So you’re going over to Vietnam?” Mary very suddenly asked sadness faintly disturbing her voice.
“Yes, draft papers came in the mail today. I wasn’t going to tell you until tonight when you would be in a good mood.” I answered her question my voice sounded flat as if there was no emotion. I wanted to be strong hoping that she would follow my example and stay strong.

She stopped walking, her big blue eyes turned grey and her joyful attitude was crushed by a boulder.
“But you could die… I don’t want you to die.  Mom and Dad died leaving you to care for me, and you’ve raised me since. If you leave there won’t be anyone left in this family for me to look up too. I won’t have anybody whose hand I can hold when I’m scared, or anybody who will help me braid my hair.” Mary was fighting back tears, as she spoke, she continued on though. “If they take you away from me, I will be alone. I won’t be able to eat ice cream with you anymore, you won’t be there to take me fishing, and I won’t get to go see all the hot air balloons with you on my birthday.” Mary started to cry, she cried so much I thought that the street might flood.

I placed my hand on her shoulder and began to cry myself, eventually I managed to crouch down in front of her.
“I am not going to die, I promise. I am going to come back, and then we will go up in a hot air balloon. How does that sound?” I tried to comfort her even though I was having trouble not breaking down emotionally as well.
“Promise?” Mary asked through faint sobs.
“I promise.” I answered as I hugged her tightly. “If it were up to me I wouldn’t go, I would stay here with you. I don’t even know who is going to take care of you while I’m gone, but let’s not worry about this til tomorrow and go get that ice cream.” I was crying as I spoke my tears were falling onto her shoulders.  She threw her arms around me and hugged me even tighter than I was hugging her, it actually hurt a little bit.

“I’ll write you a letter every chance I get, but you will have to make sure to mail one back.” I told her once I managed to stop crying. She was still clinging to me tightly, my shoulder had a wet spot where she buried her face.
“I will, I promise. Can we just go home I don’t really feel like ice cream anymore?” She was still crying when she managed to speak.
“Sure, but you have to put a smile on your face.” I told her trying to get a laugh or something out of her.  She tried to stop and smile but the joyful little sister I knew wasn’t in there. “Let’s go Mary.” I realized that there wouldn’t be any cheering her up today. 

We were walking home when Mary spontaneously took the bright yellow bow out of her hair and placed it in my hand.
“Hold on to that until you get back, that way you can’t forget about me no matter what.” She was trying to be happy, but she couldn’t bring herself to smile.
“I wouldn’t be able to forget you anyway.” I told her as I held the ribbon tightly. “However I can’t promise you I will be the same person when I come back, war changes people.” I was very blunt with her, I lost my composure completely and I began to cry. Mary looked at me with those big blue eyes and held my hand.
“You won’t change, you never have. You took care of me even before Mom and Dad died. You have always been nice, and I don’t think some little war could change that.” Mary spoke in that innocent little girl voice as she hugged my waist and took all of the sadness completely from my heart.
That was the last time I would ever see my little sister… While I was gone she would write letters, and I would always respond, but those letters made me wish I had spent more time with her.
Dear George,

I have taken ill, and the doctors don’t think I am going to make it… If you aren’t back in time I want you to know how much I love you… I hope you haven’t lost that ribbon. I don’t want you to cry for me though, you have to be strong I will always be with you even in your darkest times. You always made me smile when I was sad, you made my life a good one. My only regret is not getting that Ice Cream with you the day we learned you were being drafted. In case we never see each other again… This will be my final goodbye.

Love, Mary

As I read this letter I pictured her face, and in the bottom left corner she attached her other ribbon and a picture of her the day she won the spelling bee, she was so happy… She never even got  the letter I sent back for her that day. When I got home it was still there in the mail box.