Ringing could still be heard in his ears, despite it being hours since the land mine had gone off. He leant his head back onto the cold mud as he tried to re-adjust to his surroundings. He had been taken from the trenches for a few hours rest in preparation for the next mission. Tommy had not intended to volunteer for the tunnels but when he saw no one raise there hand he knew he must. Someone had to do it, so why not him?
"Letters!" Bellowed a loud voice from behind him, every man on the field perked there heads up to listen. "Brigger, one for you!" The man chucked a letter in the direction of a small man, well you could hardly call him a man. He could not have been any older than 18. He was thin and weak, but that's what they all looked like nowadays. War was a cruel mistress and it took no prisoners, even those that where barley adults. "John two for you." Tommy looked across at his brother, his face lighting up. They would be from his children, they had probably drawn him another picture. Tommy smiled at the though and laid his head back down on the mud, there would be no letters for him today.
If his family had anything to send they would send it to John with letters from the kids. The man continued around the men until he had only one letter left. "Freddie Elliot!" Tommy opened his eyes at the name, John looked over to him with his eyebrows raised.
"Give it here." Tommy shouted, the man turning to face him. "Freddie's dead." The man did not ask any questions as he threw the letter towards Tommy, it landed face down in the mud.
"You have twenty minutes to write your replies before the truck leaves again!" The man stared directly at Tommy, nodding his head. Tommy knew it would be from the beautiful girl that Freddie had not stopped speaking about, his future wife he had said whilst he boasted. The same girl that would receive a letter from the crown advising that he had gone missing in action and there was no body to be found.
Tommy picked up the letter and stood up, if he was going to do this then he would need space and quite to write. Sitting down away from the group Tommy opens the letter carefully, he can still smell the soft flowery perfume that has been sprayed upon it.
To my dearest Freddie,
I hope that this letter reaches you well, I do not believe that my last two letters reached you as I have had no reply. Martha says that I should not worry because if you had died that I would have received a letter by now telling me this. I want to believe her but every day that we are apart feels like a year, I need you to come home. I need to see the words on a letter in your terrible writing telling me that you are alive.
I do not want to dwell on this, I try not too. I try to focus on my work at the factory and looking after your sister. She gave birth to a healthy baby boy Freddie! They named him John after your father. He has the most beautiful brown eyes, just like yours. You would be proud my love, she is coping fantastically under the circumstances. He is 4 months next Tuesday and your Mother wants to plan a small party. I have told her that its ridiculous, who has a party when its not even the child's birthday? Your Mother that's who, of coarse the rest of your family agree with her. I need you home so that I am not the only one with any common sense.
I have been looking at churches for our wedding, your Mother wants it to be by the green however I disagree. Would you expect anything else? I think you should have the final say, that way she wont argue.
Your mother recommended that I send you pictures of the baby and of me, she said that the one you have will be torn and dirty by now. Please write to me soon my love.
All my love,
Anna.
Tommy's eyes begin to water as her lights another cigarette. He places the letter on the ground next to him before opening up the envelope, inside he finds two photographs, one of a small child in the arms a woman who could have been the double of Freddie, a large nose and a small smile as she looks down at the baby. The second photo is of a young woman, no more than twenty, She has long dark hair and delicate features, there is no smile on her lips as she looks of into the distance. Tommy tucks the photographs into his chest pocket and pulls out his pen, he only has a few minutes before the truck leaves.
Dear Anna,
I regret to inform you that Frederick Elliot is no longer with us, during an altercation within the trenches Freddie bravely saved a mans life, due to this he was hit in the chest with a bullet. He did not suffer and we made sure that his body was buried with the dignity he disserved.
Frederick spoke highly of you and could not wait to call you his wife. I am sorry that you have to find out this way but I know he would not want you to know by a letter from the crown. He was a brave man who fought for his country and he passed with honour.
Kind regards,
Thomas Shelby.
Tommy licked the envelope and scrawled the return address on the front, running from his spot he places the letter onto a bag already half full before turning back to his brothers, not giving Freddie or his pretty girl Anna another thought.
