The Reversal

1968 and the Vietnam War was raging.

Jesse from his bedroom window that overlooked the street in their cozy home on the West Coast of California at 7:00 AM on a bright clear Friday morning watched as his 17 year old older sister snuck out of the house and got in a dark red VW bug that had pulled up in front of the house. There was some guy with long hair that had picked her up. Obviously it was some friend of her boyfriend, Brad, because it wasn’t Brad and Jesse knew that because his sister had told him the night before.

She was going to San Francisco to a Peace Rally. Their parents had already told her, No, she couldn’t go.. That is why she snuck out and why she told her younger brother. She knew he would tell her parents and she really didn’t want them to worry. Jesse wanted to go but he was only 13 years old. The drive to San Francisco takes 6 hours from Santa Monica.

Jesse’s Father sat at the breakfast table reading the morning newspaper. As he held up the paper Jesse could see the bold letters that showed how many Americans died that day in Vietnam. The LA Times had those statistics on the front page each and every day.

Jesse didn’t say anything about his sister yet because he wanted to wait until the last second before his Father left to work. That way if his Father was mad at least he wouldn’t take it out on him.

Their Father put the paper down and briefly smiled at his teenage son.

“Do you have something to tell me?” The Father said in soft low voice.

Jesse quickly glanced at the faded yellow plastic clock that hung on the wall. He had 10 minutes to get ready and leave for school. “Uhm”

“You don’t have to answer. I already know your sister went to San Francisco to go to a peace rally.” His Father continued. “Listen Jesse. I am not mad at you or your sister. I told her I didn’t want her to go because there might be people handing out drugs there.”

“Ok, Dad. I was going to tell you anyway. I have to get ready for school.” Jesse replied as he pushed back his chair to stand up.”

“Sit back down, son. I will drive you to school today.” His Father replied. Jesse sat down. “Are you scared about being drafted and going to war someday?”

Jesse really didn’t want to answer mainly because his Father was pretty strict and Jesse always wanted to say the right thing because if he didn’t… well that would not be good. So he did what he usually did in these situations he played neutral. “No, I mean yes and no. I mean nobody wants to be killed but I am not really scared of being a soldier.” Jesse glanced down at the news paper on the table that his Father had set down and saw the bold type across the front page that showed the daily deaths in Vietnam once again. It seemed like those numbers on the page were there only for his eyed. He thought to himself, “If this war is still going on in 4 years and I get drafted I am going to Canada. There is no way I am going in the military”

As if his Father read Jesse’s mind he said with a wry smile, “Don’t worry son, by the time you turn 18 the war should be over. You know both my bother and I were in World War II. Your uncle Glen was in a lot of combat but I never faced any combat. Not everyone in the military faces combat situations. I don’t think I told you this yet, but I need to now. A lot of people want me to tun for Mayor. I am thinking about it. This city has always had a Democratic mayor and I have always contributed to the Democrats. I am a Democrat mainly because I was in the military and saw the horror of war. Democrats, in general, are against war. We want a strong and equitable homeland. Anyway, you should know I am not mad at your sister for wanting to protest but because I am not sure she is safe there. Go get ready and I’ll drive you to school.

Sure enough, when Jesse turned 18 years old the war in Vietnam was winding down and the draft had been replaced with a lottery. Fortunately for Jesse his name never came up.

In 1995 Vietnam finally released its official estimate of war dead: as many as 2 million civilians on both sides and some 1.1 million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters. The U.S. military has estimated that between 200,000 and 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers died in the war. 47,434 Americans died in the Vietnam war.

56 years later. March 2024.

Jesse sat at the end of his local bar. He came in on a random basis to have a beer. He was retired now. There were only a few people in the bar because it was early afternoon. A tall lady with flowing grey hair came in and sat a few seats down from him. The two of them exchanged glances. They smiled at each other. Jesse thought she looked somewhat familiar and then the lady moved closer to Jesse and sat next to him. They talked about the weather then Jesse finished his beer. He looked at his watch. He needed to go because he had to stop by the market on the way home. He got up to leave and the grey haired lady put her hand on his arm. “Hold on a second. I want to give you this.” She reached in her overly large purse and handed him an old faded typewritten manuscript. Jesse took it and looked at the title, “The Reversal”

He looked into the lady’s emerald green eyes, “What is this?”

“It’s a story I wrote for you in 1968!”

She said as she stood up from the bar stool.

Jesse furrowed his brow. He was confused. 1968, what? He was only 13 years old back then he thought to himself. He sho a quizzical glance at the woman. Then he looked down at the manuscript on the bar in front of him and started to read it. He wondered how this lady knew him? When he looked up the lady was gone. He continued reading.

The Reversal

Protests against the wars were intensifying as the number of dead increased and the American youth feared a reinstatement of the draft and everyone feared an expanding world war.

The world was torn apart by conflicts and division, the United States found itself at a critical crossroads. The 2024 Presidential Election was a battleground of ideologies, with two starkly contrasting candidates vying for the nation's highest office.

Don, a seasoned leader known for his unorthodox approach and bold promises of peace, stood against Joe, a veteran politician advocating for a more aggressive foreign policy stance. The American people were faced with a choice that would shape the future of their nation and the world.

As the campaign unfolded, Don’s message of unity, diplomacy, and non-intervention resonated with a populace tired of endless wars and global strife. His vision for a world where dialogue triumphed over confrontation resonated with many who longed for a return to peace and stability.

The problem for many citizens was “The Reversal.” The political party with the reputation for jumping into conflicts had always been the more conservative one now it was the more liberal party that was promoting war!

This “Reversal” confused many people.

On election day, the results sent shockwaves across the country and the globe. Don emerged victorious, securing a landslide victory. His supporters celebrated the dawn of a new era. It would be a time where cooperation, understanding, and mutual respect would guide the nation's foreign policy decisions.

Don wasted no time in implementing his vision for peace. He reached out to world leaders to forge new alliances. He brokered agreements that defused tensions, fostered dialogue, and promoted peaceful relationships. One of the most significant achievements was a groundbreaking peace agreement that brought together nations in the Middle East.

Through tireless diplomacy and a commitment to dialogue, the new administration helped pave the way for a new era of peace and prosperity. People around the world watched with awe as old enemies set aside their differences, embracing a future built on understanding and collaboration.

As the flames of war were smothered and the winds of peace swept across the world, humanity stood at the edge of a new chapter in its history.

Thanks to the bold leadership and unwavering dedication of many common Americans that were able to grasp and understand, “The Reversal” peace was becoming a reality.

The End (of wars)

Jesse looked up when he finished reading and the bartender, Hank, was standing in front of him behind the bar holding a bottle of beer. “You want another one?” He said casually.

Jesse was sort of in a daze but he replied, “No, I have to get going.”

“Who was your lady friend?” The bartender asked.

“I don’t know who she was. She was a bit strange but I think she knew me or my older sister years ago. She didn’t explain too much though. She just left me this manuscript. Have you seen her around here before?” Jesse asked as he stood up feeling a bit overwhelmed.

The bartender said quickly as he moved down to wait on a couple that had sat down at the other end of the bar, “Nope, never seen her around here before.”

Jesse left the bar and sat in his car to read the manuscript again. His mind kept racing as he tried to understand what had just happened. Who was this lady? How did she know him? How did she know he was in the bar? How could she write a short script over 50 years ago and predict an election that was still months away? More importantly why him, why did she give him the fading paper manuscript that was obviously created on a typewriter? What was the purpose?

Just as Jesse began to put the key in the ignition it hit him like a ton of bricks. He hunched over the steering wheel and began to weep because it finally dawned on him that his only son had joined the Marines a month earlier.

The End

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