So this chapter is just made up of letters between Maggie and her brother, Ollie. It just gives you a little bit of insight into how her life as an evacuee is playing out and what her relationship is like with her brother, with yet another tragedy later on. I'm going to keep updating this chapter rather than posting new chapters for new letters. Then, afterwards, I'll move onto her return to London.
Chapter 7- Keeping Me Sane
5th February 1940
Dear Ollie,
You have no idea how many times I have tried to write this letter, and how many times I have failed. It's news that you shouldn't read in a letter, you should be told it in person instead. But, with how far away you are, that isn't possible.
Tommy's dead, Ollie. I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. He died in my arms and I can't seem to grasp that he's gone.
I've been evacuated now but it was late because I had to attend his funeral. He should be here with me. I keep expecting him to come springing from somewhere to surprise me.
It's stupid, I know it is. Mother and I argued before I left. She told me that I was an idiot for not accepting his death but I just can't, not yet anyway. It should have been me, I should have been the one to go back inside the house when the bomb hit.
He would have loved it here in the country. There are so many animals, you know how he loved animals. There's cows, actual living beef! Have you ever seen one of them before? Now I'm not so sure I'll be able to eat meat ever again. All of the animals here seem to be for eating and I feel like throwing up every-time I sit down at the dinner table.
At least there's more food here than in the city. Tommy would have loved Jane's warm current buns. They're even better than the ones from the Stone Oven.
Jane and Frank are my 'parents' while I'm staying here. I call them Auntie and Uncle because that's what they asked me to call them. They're really nice but they live really far away from anywhere. We have to use horses to get to places because fuel costs too much.
Frank says that they use horses in the war too so you probably will know what one of them is. Do you? I don't want to waste a load of paper explaining what they are unless you don't.
I've attached the address of my new home on a separate piece of paper for you so you can reply.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Lots of love,
Maggie
xx
7th February 1940
Dear Ollie,
I know it's only been a couple of days since I last wrote and I haven't yet received a letter back from you but I couldn't resist to write to you again. I feel like writing to you like this is the only thing keeping me sane in the insane world I live in right now. You have no idea how different it is here compared to London.
It feels like a whole other world. There are so many trees and plants and it's just so green! The roads don't smell of fumes and the air is clear. I feel like Alice, as though I have fallen down the rabbit hole and found myself in Wonderland.
Jane gave me her copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It's such an amazing book and I just can't seem to put it down. Tommy would have adored the White Rabbit and the Mad Hatter.
I'm starting school in five days, the next Monday. I'm nervous because I haven't been to school in a few months, not since it was bombed. Plus I don't think I'll know anyone there, I'll be an outsider.
Jane and Frank said I should be just fine, that there isn't anything to worry about but I can't help it. I always worry, you of all people know that.
Anyways, I have to go help Jane with the dishes. I'll ask Frank to post this, along with the letter from Monday, next time he goes into town.
Lots of love,
Maggie
xx
23rd February 1940
Dear Maggie,
You have no idea the grief I felt when reading your letter with the news of Tommy. I wish I was there with you to help you through what you are going through and I am so sorry that I can't be. It's been almost five months since I left England and I know I have missed a lot of both your life and Tommy's.
I'm sure whatever happened, it wasn't your fault. It couldn't have been, Maggie. Stop blaming yourself from something I'm sure couldn't have been stopped. Don't let it eat at you or you'll just end up destroying yourself.
You'll move on in your own time, I know you will. You know Mother is just being... Mother. She hasn't even replied to the letters I sent her two months ago. I think she just wants to distance herself from me in case the worse comes to pass.
I can't wait until this war is over and I can come home to see you both again.
Yes, I do know what a horse is- you don't have to explain it. They use them to help pull machinery out here. We also use them as mounts in battle. Horses are very useful things and also very beautiful.
Jane and Frank sound like very kind people, it sounds like they are taking very good care of you. What is the house like? Is it big or small? Are there chickens? I remember how much you wanted to see living chickens when you were small.
I know that you've probably already started school considering how long this took to arrive. I want you to tell me all about it in your next letter. Tell me the subjects you're learning, what the teachers are like and what the other students are like.
I hope I'm home soon and this war is over quickly. I very much understand what you said about writing keeping you sane, I feel exactly the same way.
Love you lots,
Oliver
19th March 1940
Dear Ollie,
The first day of school was a lot better than I had imagined. The school building is tiny compared to what it was in London. But, with all of us evacuees around, we're all really cramped.
The teachers are nice enough, but probably only because I'm not one to talk out in class. The teachers in London were a lot more strict but these ones hardly ever resort to the cane.
I've had all sorts of subjects taught so far. We're learning all about geometry and in science we're learning about crop growing. Even though I probably won't need any of these skills later in life, it's still really interesting.
The other children are alright, most of them anyway. There's this one boy that I can't stand. His name is Jimmy Dalton and he's an utter pig. He's so stuck up his own arse that he probably doesn't even realize that he just sounds like a snot-nosed whiny brat every-time he opens his mouth.
I have made a friend though. Her name is Lilian Davis and she's really nice. She has long, silvery hair and bright blue eyes. She'll be coming over after school tomorrow.
The farm house I'm staying in is really nice. It's a little bigger than our house but it's got a lot more stuff so it seems smaller. There's a huge barn outside too with lots and lots of chickens in the coop inside.
I could really get used to living out here. We still have to black out the windows but there's hardly any air raids compared to London. It's really peaceful.
Missing you lots,
Maggie
