Hello there! So, here is chapter two. As of right now, this is what I've got. There is some German thrown in here and probably will be here and there for the remainder of the story. At the moment, it's fairly basic and sounds like English, but I'll put the translations at the end anyway. :) I'd love to get any feedback I can. Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoy. :)

September 1, 1939

Strasbourg, France

Dear Toye Boy,

I hope this letter finds you well, happy, and still missing me terribly, because I'm selfish that way. Hug your mom for me. I miss her cooking very much over here. I'm always full unlike at home, but they eat some highly questionable dishes here. Let your dad know I miss him, too. I know you won't hug him so I still won't ask. If you've acquired a girlfriend, tell her that before she can hope for a ring, she has to go through me. No exceptions.

I miss you so much it hurts sometimes. I know it sounds stupid, especially since I've been gone for over a year, but I don't know what to do without you. I've probably complained to you about this all before, but it's still true. The only time I really feel right is when I'm playing. People are kind but there's no Joe… It really doesn't matter how much I like it here. Everyday something happens that I instinctively turn to tell you and you're not there. The other students here tease me because they think I'm in love with you. They don't understand you're my best friend. If nothing else, that makes me laugh. I love you, but I can't imagine us ever being in love. It would be like marrying my brother, an action I always remind my classmates is illegal here, too.

It occurs to me that I've never really told you much about Strasbourg—I was too busy unloading my mountain of woes onto you. Well, everything anyone ever told you about the French is true. They hate anyone who doesn't speak French—i.e. me. Although, there aren't just French people here. Strasbourg is a mixture between French and German, being right on the border. Alsatian is the correct term. German is much easier to pick up than French, too. For as much as we were told to hate the Germans after the Great War, the ones here are really quite nice. It seems that Germany has been having a rough time of it the last ten years, too. The one thing everyone is talking about now, though, is how Hitler—the German dictator, although I'm sure you knew that—marched in and took over Austria. No one is quite sure what it means for the rest of the countries. They tell us not to worry about it so I try not to. I have the feeling that no good can come of any of this, though. Many of the more political-minded here are getting very antsy.

As much as I hate to admit it, I do actually like it here. I've adjusted that much. The city is beautiful. You wouldn't believe it if I showed you pictures. It feels like I'm living in one of my old fairy tale books with the castles and spires and medieval houses. Even after all this time, it awes me.

My teacher, Dr. Smith, is British so I do have someone else I can communicate with. He's been trying to help me with my languages but says I'll never be rid of my accent. I have to agree with him. Every time I go out and try out my German or French, people look straight at me and ask "Amerikanerin?" It appears I'm wearing a sign or something. Dr. Smith says I have too much of an accent for it not to be noticed. I don't know what he's talking about. He's the one that talks funny! It's odd to be so far away from everything and everyone I know… I don't think I'd make a very good gypsy. I miss my roots too much.

I love the music though. Dr. Smith is very talented and so are the other professors. Dr. Smith is my piano teacher. His one flaw is that he's in love with Mozart. I have nothing against the man, but can't he see that Ludwig is better? Oh, and don't worry, you don't need to hurt him. He'd about fifty, so nothing to worry about. My violin teacher is a French woman. I refer to her as Madame Bonior, but other than my name I never really understand a word she says. Everything she says sounds pretty but never makes any sense. She dislikes me. From what I can infer from her tone of voice and the few French expletives I've picked up, I'm too hardheaded and don't look at the music enough. I make up too much on my own. I'd prefer to call it being creative and feeling the music, but whatever she says. I've come to prefer the piano anyway.

You should be very proud of me. I've gotten through all the music in The Joe Toye Collection. I have to say that with all the fundamentals Dr. Smith has me doing for the last year that music was a godsend. It helps me feel like you're with me, I think. Given that, I hope you haven't given up piano completely. I know you don't love it as much as me, but I promise you really are very good. Your Rhapsody in Blue kills mine every time. You're jazzier than me, I guess.

I do hope my letters are reaching you. I've written four already this year and received none in return, so perhaps the mail across the ocean is slower than it was last year. All this tension probably has something to do with it. People look for Nazi spies in their sleep here. I'm still not entirely sure what a Nazi is, but Dr. Smith speaks of them often. He's very political. As far as I can tell, a Nazi is one of the political parties in Germany and is currently in charge. Hitler is a Nazi. Many people in England do not agree with their viewpoint on things, especially foreign relations. They have something against the Jews, though. I really don't understand their problem, but many around here seem to agree. I never really cared what religion a person was as long as they were kind to me. Every Jew I've met is just like every other person. They blame them for the depression here, but that can't be right. How can a religion cause a depression? I think people are just scared and need someone to blame. It's really rather stupid. There's a gorgeous synagogue here that I went to see one weekend. The French here in Strasbourg appear not to care about Hitler. I think that the town is so close to Germany, they feel that nothing bad can really happen. I'll pray for that. Sometimes it feels like I'm learning more about politics than music here…

Oh! Also, I went on a visit to Switzerland with a few of my friends here. They are both German so they speak the language. Karl and Else are very kind and don't laugh at my horrible pronunciations too much. She is a vocal student. She's been insisting I learn with her. Apparently, she feels better when she's working with someone. She learns better when she has to teach. So, I can actually sing on key a little now. You'll be very surprised when you hear it! She insists I'd make a better singer than musician, but I don't believe her. I'm far better than I was, but I'm no Billie Holiday. Else is just too nice. Karl is a nice guy, a bit loud, but nice. He's going to go home and join the German army soon, though.

Anyway, we went to Switzerland and while we were there I remembered that I'm not going to be around for Christmas again. Seeing that I don't know how long the post takes anymore, I'm sending it to you now. Do NOT open it before Christmas or I will find out and make your life as miserable as possible as I can from across an ocean... I figured you could use them on your many adventures. I know how long you've wanted a pair.

As always, I miss you and still refuse to let you get married without me.

Much Love,

Audrey

After a short moment, she shook her head and crossed out her name, replacing it with the one he'd dubbed her with almost ten years earlier:

Patches

After proofreading for a few more moments, she folded up the letter she'd written the day prior and placed it carefully in its envelope before attaching it to the box containing Joe's presents. Slipping on her shoes and coat, Audrey made her way out of the dormitories so she could reach the post before the first buses began to leave. The streets were unsurprisingly already crowded, but being one of the few without all her belongings stuffed in a suitcase of some kind, Audrey maneuvered her way speedily. She always tried her best to get there early so the post was sure to go out that day. It was even more imperative that day than most.

Whether it would make a difference or not, she had no idea but she felt better for trying. It had been so long since she'd seen Joe, she did everything she possibly could to be the slightest bit closer to him. She missed him more than any word she knew could really express. Most of what she'd written him was a load of crock. Everything about missing him was heartfelt but woefully inaccurate. Her friends were real. Else was waiting for her back at her room, suitcase likely in hand so they could leave. But, Audrey knew exactly what was going on with Germany and France and all the tension. She knew that something bad was going to happen and she had the horrible feeling it was going to be soon. She also had the sinking feeling that bad thing was going to be another war…

She just didn't have the heart to tell Joe about her fears. Perhaps if he were still just a few feet away, just an arm's reach in the darkness when she woke up alone at night, just moments away from the looks they shared in which they conversed, but he wasn't. Joe wasn't there. She'd left him.

She was pushed, prodded, and jostled all the way to the post where the postman stared at her with wide, disbelieving eyes. He demanded in German when he saw the address, "Was denken Sie?"

Frowning, she demanded in her growing but still limited vocabulary, "Was?" Just because they were evacuating didn't mean France was going to be shut off from England where the letter would cross over to a boat for America.

Rolling his eyes, "Die Stadt ist evakuiert! Gehen Sie nach Haus!"

"Ich weiss! Ich gehe!" Sighing against the foul mood that was beginning to creep up on her, she tightened her coat about her and walked from the office. She had to do something. She couldn't evacuate the city without at least trying to send something to Joe.

Shaking his head again, the harried postman put her letter in his bag, already filled with hurried notes to loved ones around France.

As she hurried back towards the half empty school, she prayed her little letter would reach England and then be put on the boat for America to her friend. If the entire city was evacuating then it needed all the help the little thing could get.

Translation Time:

Was denken Sie? - What are you thinking?

Was? - What?

Die Stadt ist evakuiert! Gehen Sie nach Haus! - The city is evacuating. Go home.

Ich weiss! Ich gehe! - I know. I'm going.