Author's note: Any characters you recognize are not mine, and no profit is being made from this story.
Anne groaned and stretched back in her chair. "When this blasted war is over, I solemnly swear that I will NEVER knit anything else in khaki." She glanced down at the pile of wool and needles in her lap. "C'mon, Annie. Three more inches, then it'll be ready for a toe." Ever since the Bundles for Britain campaign, she'd taken her knitting wherever she went. Ever since her baby brother had been shot down over Germany, she'd been churning out socks like a mad woman. She made a point to make "her" socks a little longer than the Red Cross pattern specified - after all, one size didn't necessarily fit all POW's, especially the flippers on the ends of her gangly brother's legs. Maybe the next batch of wool from the Red Cross will have a pattern for something other than socks! Balaclavas, mittens, vests, sweaters, nose cozies - anything would be better than the endless stream of "On three needles and with a double thread cast on loosely 60 sts., having 20 sts on each needle." Besides, she'd broken, dropped, or misplaced two of her five double-pointed knitting needles this month. Knitting socks with three needles wasn't exactly a picnic.
But these were for her baby brother - the one she'd nursed through the measles when their parents were out of town, the one who'd grin and clap his hands in excitement during thunderstorms while their other siblings hid under their covers. Anne had never been able to resist that grin of his. And unlike the tinfoil drives and blackouts, this was something that she knew would be immediately useful to him. The only thing she didn't understand was the sudden demand for socks, socks, and more socks. Looking down at his most recent letter, the only uncensored paragraph referring to the most recent (and largest) hole he'd worn in his woolens, she cast up her eyes and wondered aloud, "Andrew John Carter, what on EARTH are you doing in a prisoner of war camp to wear so many holes in your socks?!"
Author's other note: Anne's sock pattern can be found on the Red Cross website.
Constructive criticism is much appreciated, as I am very new to writing anything other than scientific papers!