" What's wrong Mols?" I closed the kitchen door and looked at my sister, who was sitting alone at the kitchen table.
" Turnips," she sighed, looking at me.
" They can't be that bad. Is there anything left for me?" I asked. Molly nodded and I took my plate from the warmer. I got a glass of water and sat opposite my youngest sister.
" I don't like them. They're mouldy brains," Molly said, pushing the vegetable around her plate. I ate quickly, watching Molly glare at the rest of her dinner.
" They aren't that bad. Just try to eat them. Imagine they're something else. That's what I do," I said, standing up and taking my plate to the sink. I washed it and put it away.
" Can you help me with my Math homework?" Molly asked.
" Sure, but not now," I replied.
" Why not?" She asked.
" Andy's brother is missing. I said I'd go over," I said. Molly nodded and I kissed her head. " Now eat those turnips. The longer you leave them the worse they'll taste. I won't be long." She smiled and I walked outside.
The Murphys lived two streets away from us, so the walk only took ten minutes. Drew was sitting on the front steps and he looked up when I opened the gate.
" Any news?" He shook his head. " He'll be alright. There's hope with missing." I sat on the steps beside him.
" This came in the last mail," he said. He was holding a half opened envelope that was addressed to him.
" Is it..." I trailed off. I knew the answer.
" I haven't looked at it yet," he said, opening the envelope fully. I looked away as he read it.
" I have to report to the base outside Jefferson next Tuesday," he said. He looked towards the door and shook his head. " I can't tell them today."
" Then don't. Leave it for a few days. You've got a week," I replied, taking his hand.
" Charlotte. I thought I heard Andy talking to someone." Mrs Murphy walked on to the porch and tried to smile at me. Her eyes were red and her face was stained with tear marks. I stood up and looked at her.
" I want to see how you were. It's such a shock. Tommy has been part of the war for so long. I was sure he'd be fine," I said.
" Thank you," she said.
" There's nothing I can say or do to make it easier. But we'll be praying for Tommy," I said. I felt like I should have given her something but there was no time. I had only heard this afternoon before work.
" Thank you," she said again.
" Let's go for a walk," Drew suggested. I nodded.
" I'll see you soon Mrs Murphy," I said, and he led me away from the house.
" She's been crying all day. And I can't do anything to help," he said, he almost sounded guilty.
" It's hard to know what to do. Your mom isn't the type to let you do anything for her. I think you need to just be there, and listen to her. You need to give her hope," I said.
" One problem Doctor McIntire. I've been drafted. If anything happened to me.. If I was wounded or missing.. If I died. It would kill her," he said.
" You haven't even passed the medical yet, so stop thinking ahead. And try to be a little more optimistic," I said.
" I can see why they call you Pollyanna," he said, smiling a little.
" My Dad's in London. Is it better thinking about how he could be dead in the bombing or how he's helping other people survive the bombings?" I asked, as we stopped at my house.
" I suppose you're right," he said.
" As always," I laughed. He rolled his eyes and kissed my cheek. " Night Lottie."
" Good night." I walked up the front path and went inside. I watched from the window as he walked away.
" Charlotte." Molly was standing on the stairs in her pyjamas, holding her Math books.
" Come on then. What is it tonight?" I asked, following her up the stairs.
" Long division."