“I’d go in a heartbeat if they’d let me. Instead, I’m 4-F’ed and sitting on the sidelines, watching the other guys get all the glory.”

“Stop feeling sorry for yourself. I doubt there’s a lot of glory in getting sick from slogging through cold mud day after day. That’s mostly all Daddy talks about.”

“That’s probably because he doesn’t want to worry you and your mother. I bet he’s seen things that would curl your toes.” Sam talked around a mouthful of burger. “He isn’t telling you, is all.”

Mary shuddered. “I hope you’re wrong. I hope he hasn’t had to hurt anyone, or watch anyone else be harmed.”

“Don’t you want us to win the war?”

“Of course I do! That doesn’t mean I have to like that the world is at war or that my father is part of it. I worry for him. Every night I pray that he comes home safe. Is it wrong that I wish he didn’t have to be over there and that nobody had to be killed?” Mary blinked back tears.

If Sam noticed, it wasn’t obvious. He bit into his last French fry. “Nah. But I bet if your father was here, he’d tell you he’s happy to be hunting Nazis. Besides, they started it. They’re shooting at him. Don’t you want him to shoot back?”

“Of course, if someone’s trying to hurt you, you should defend yourself. But what about innocent people minding their own business who get caught in the crossfire? What about them?”

“What about them?”

She crossed her arms. “Let’s talk about something else.”

Sam threw some bills on the table. “How about if we go for a drive?”

“At this hour?”

“It’s a clear night. We could go up to the lookout and see the stars. What do you say?”

It was a beautiful night—the moon was full and the stars shone brightly. Some of her fondest childhood memories were of picking out the constellations with her dad. Maybe this would be another way to feel closer to him. Who knew? He might be looking at the very same stars at the same time. “Okay.”

Mary’s hair whipped around her face as they wound their way up to the lookout, a popular hangout for couples. Conversation was impossible with the convertible top down. Between the wind and the radio blaring, she could barely hear herself think.

Sam found a place to park near the end of the strip and cut the engine. “You warm enough?” He pulled Mary to him on the bench seat and wrapped an arm around her.

“I’m fine.” She pulled her sweater tighter around her and looked up at the sky. “It’s so pretty up there.”

“I suppose.”

“Do you think there’s anything out there?”

“You mean, like aliens?”