Hello Again! I want to give a big thank you to all those that voted for LtCM at the Lemonade Stand for Fic of the Week. You guys truly are the best readers and I am in awe of your dedication and support. MWAH!
So this is just a reminder that some of these dates may look off, because they are documented as the dates that Edward wrote them and not necessarily when Bella gets them... Just to help you out here. She received his April 2nd letter on May 5th...
April 6th
Dear Bella,
I feel the need to apologize for my letter I sent a few days ago. I have no idea how you might take it, but Jasper says you may feel hurt by my insensitive words. It is just further proof at why I fail at anything involving other people's feelings, and perhaps why I thought enlisting as I did would serve a better purpose.
I did not mean to devalue our friendship by alluding that you were simply someone to which I would correspond with and that it did not mean more to me. Your letters mean more to me than anything I have known. I cannot explain it. When the afternoon arrives when I am on base, and I hear the announcement of mail call, I feel an adrenaline rush at the possibility of hearing my name called.
Your letters are the singular thing that enables me to work harder, strive to succeed in our assignments, if only to get back to see if there is a new letter from you, telling me about your day or what you are doing. I cherish every word, and am selfish to want more from you.
I dread going out on assignment now, whereas before it was what I knew.
Now, I feel that every moment we drill is meant for something greater. And it keeps me close to the mail service, so that I can receive your letters that much sooner. Today I received your March 13th letters. It feels spectacular to receive more than one, and you made me smile today when you admitted in this latest volley that you separated them out so that I could be the envy of my unit. You have no idea how that makes me feel.
You make me feel important, and I have missed that. I have not felt that way in a long while.
Jasper has insisted that I correct my statement about not wanting a girl of my own to pine away while I am at war. He is ever the romantic. But I meant some of what I said. I could not bear to leave a girl behind should I die here. I distance myself for a purpose, to which he says I am insensitive, and some other words that I will not share with you because you are a lady and shouldn't be subjected to his foul language.
But if I were to have a girl to love, and love me back, I would want one like you. Your kindness has made me hope for a reason to come home. I would be the luckiest man alive to find a girl such as you. The man who captures your heart will be a very lucky man indeed. Do not offer it lightly. Make sure the man you give your heart to is worth it. Don't squander it away only to be left starving for the attention and care you deserve.
I hope I don't offend you by saying that. I apologize if I do and hope that it does not interfere with your intent to continue to write. I think it was important to let you know that you have made an impact on my life, and I appreciate all that you do and give.
Jasper and Emmett of course would like me to transition this awkward letter with a request that if you choose to stop writing to me, they would be happy to receive your letters, and promise not to put a foot in their mouth as I have. I have such great friends here, that they would gladly take up where I have failed. It's what we do here.
Pick up and stand in for one another.
I would of course still read those letters, as Jasper has done with mine with every one of your letters. So I suppose I would still benefit from it, only I would lose your friendship that I hope you feel you can reciprocate. I suppose that is my attempt at pleading for you to keep writing to me, and that your friendship means more to me than I can put into words.
I should just throw this letter away rather than send it to you. But then, I know I would regret that, knowing all that you have told me. You have been nothing but honest and willing to offer me again and again a kindness I have rarely seen.
Please forgive my wandering mind. Please, if you can, write to me again.
Your words are special to me. And I won't embarrass you or myself with talk about love, or relationships or the like if that makes it easier. No matter what Jasper says. He's the romantic, and a true southern gentleman. I am just a soldier with a new outlook on my future.
I do not have a death wish anymore. I want to come home.
You make me want to come home.
Please don't give up on me for my careless and insensitive words.
Yours truly,
Edward
AN: Poor Edward. Feeling guilty for a few days after his no relationships letter, only to get it from Jasper too.
So how did Bella get news about the war? This lesson is about the movies (radio and newpapers were important too, but this AN is long enough,lol)
Back in the 40's many people went to the movies not just to see the newest Hollywood movie, but to see real news from the front. With Hollywood jumping into the war effort (many popular actors served during the war, including Frank Capra, Clark Gable and James Stewart) with producing war documentaries and training films, the Office of War Information coordinated providing footage and news for Americans at home. And those at home had money to use to go to the movies. With rationing and good paying jobs, more people went to the movies than ever before for their entertainment. Costing about 34 cents, one could see a film(often double features), the news reels before the main feature and a cartoon in between the movie(often made as a statement to the war effort like buying war bonds- Warner Brothers and Disney supported the war effort with cartoon shorts and training videos)
Newsreels brought a picture to the war, something that had never been done before. The precursor to our CNN and Breaking News Twitter time line started as newsreels before the movie (no previews of the next blockbuster, no.)
You can find vintage newsreels and Propaganda cartoons on You Tube if you'd like to see what Bella and the girls might have seen when they went to the movies to go see Casablanca, National Velvet or perhaps a Tarzan movie- or a new movie style called Film Noir that began in the early 40's. Hollywood worked hard to provide entertainment in a time of war- filming approximately 270 films a year (as opposed to the average 140 a year we do today). it was about providing an escape from our daily worries more than ever.
whew... that was long, and very generalized. It's a topic that you could write a textbook about, just for the wartime news media...
We'll see some more Bella next time. See how she deals with Edward and his newest letter. Thanks so much for all the reviews and stories of your own! I love how much this little story is bring back history!
More soon!
MWAH!
steph
