Dear Simon:
I want you to give the enclosed letters to Sam and David when they're old enough. I can't do anything else for them so.
Dear Sam:
I have no idea how old you are or who you'll be when you read this letter. You probably don't remember me in any case. I'm your older sister, Lucy. Just before you turned four I had to leave. If you're reading this, Simon's probably told you some of the story.
I love you. And I want you to know that no matter where I am or what's happened, if you need help, you can come to me, or call me and I'll come to you. Simon will always know where I am, and if you answer this letter, so will you.
Love, Lucy.
Dear David:
Though you may not remember me, I hope you remember that I love you. I'm your sister, Lucy. I'm older than Simon and younger than Mary and before you were four I had to leave.
I've no doubts that by now you've noticed something strange about our family. Don't worry: it's not you. It's something out of our control. Now I pray that you have no idea what I'm talking about, but in case you do, I want you to know that if you ever need help, you can come to me or call on me. Simone will always know how to get in touch with me, and so will you if you answer this letter.
I realize that you might not want to get in touch with me after growing up around Ruthie and Mary. And I can't say I blame you. But I'm your sister, so I'll make the offer anyway.
I love you, Lucy
Dear Lucy: I think it's really cool what you're doing for Sam and David. Are you doing okay? You don't need food or anything, do you? Dad's worried about you. He doesn't say much anymore. Mom wants you back. She thinks everything will be good again if you come back. Matt thinks you're on drugs, Marry thinks it's a boy. Ruthie says it's a secret, and the twins seem to miss you. Can I tell Dad you're okay?
Simon
Simon:
You can tell Dad I'm more than okay: I'm going to college! Don't tell him how you know, though, I'm worried enough about Ruthie finding me as it is. Don't worry, I'm fine. I've enough food, shelter, freedom, and a dream. What more could anyone need?
I'm afraid, though, that I made things worse for all of you by leaving. I hope you understand that I really had no other choice.
Lucy
Lucy:
Oh, I understand. I saw your face after Mom hit you. I was afraid you were going to die. You've haven't really made things worse. Now that Matt's back in New York (did that friend of yours really beat him up?) and Marry stays there, sometimes seems to pretend you're in New York. For awhile, the Colonel was threatening to come straighten you out, but I think Dad convinced him otherwise.
Hey, I'm proud of you! I take it that this means you'll be leaving Glen Oak? Mom's trying to set Sgt. Michaels on you again, but he won't do it for some reason. Why by the way?
Simon
Simon:
The first time I talked to Sgt. Michaels after I left, I dared him with the truth, the law and silence. This unusual combination seems to have stumped him. While I don't want the twins left by themselves with Mom and Ruthie, but I don't know if I can really do anything to stop it that won't make it worse.
Sophie didn't really beat up Matt; she just bruised him a bit. If he hadn't been my brother, I think he would have gotten it in the groin-or perhaps the throat. I will be leaving Glen Oak in the fall-for good this time. The path I've picked for myself really won't be easy but it's mine all the same, and I think I'll be happy with it.
I'm glad the Colonel isn't coming. I would like to see how he'd fit Sophie into her rather rigid worldview-but I think she gets tired of dealing with me idiot (sorry!) relatives.
Lucy
Lucy:
We are idiots. You leaving really made me think about my own behavior. I guess it's a good (but rather uncomfortable) thing. I raided your room for books after you left. I wanted to see what made you leave. No-I wanted to see what made you strong enough to leave. I never really looked at poetry before, but there's some pretty powerful stuff there. "The world is too much with us." That's what Dad says from the pulpit-but easier to swallow. And "though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light/I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night."
I guess I was really lucky Sophie didn't hurt me when I talked to her the night she came to our house. I have a strange feeling she wanted to. I also know I couldn't blame her if she had. I'm sorry for rooting around in your stuff.and I'd pretend it was because I just a good guy-but I've got some Camden genes whatever I do, and spying was my first thought.
But I can change, right? Can't everyone?
Simon
I want you to give the enclosed letters to Sam and David when they're old enough. I can't do anything else for them so.
Dear Sam:
I have no idea how old you are or who you'll be when you read this letter. You probably don't remember me in any case. I'm your older sister, Lucy. Just before you turned four I had to leave. If you're reading this, Simon's probably told you some of the story.
I love you. And I want you to know that no matter where I am or what's happened, if you need help, you can come to me, or call me and I'll come to you. Simon will always know where I am, and if you answer this letter, so will you.
Love, Lucy.
Dear David:
Though you may not remember me, I hope you remember that I love you. I'm your sister, Lucy. I'm older than Simon and younger than Mary and before you were four I had to leave.
I've no doubts that by now you've noticed something strange about our family. Don't worry: it's not you. It's something out of our control. Now I pray that you have no idea what I'm talking about, but in case you do, I want you to know that if you ever need help, you can come to me or call on me. Simone will always know how to get in touch with me, and so will you if you answer this letter.
I realize that you might not want to get in touch with me after growing up around Ruthie and Mary. And I can't say I blame you. But I'm your sister, so I'll make the offer anyway.
I love you, Lucy
Dear Lucy: I think it's really cool what you're doing for Sam and David. Are you doing okay? You don't need food or anything, do you? Dad's worried about you. He doesn't say much anymore. Mom wants you back. She thinks everything will be good again if you come back. Matt thinks you're on drugs, Marry thinks it's a boy. Ruthie says it's a secret, and the twins seem to miss you. Can I tell Dad you're okay?
Simon
Simon:
You can tell Dad I'm more than okay: I'm going to college! Don't tell him how you know, though, I'm worried enough about Ruthie finding me as it is. Don't worry, I'm fine. I've enough food, shelter, freedom, and a dream. What more could anyone need?
I'm afraid, though, that I made things worse for all of you by leaving. I hope you understand that I really had no other choice.
Lucy
Lucy:
Oh, I understand. I saw your face after Mom hit you. I was afraid you were going to die. You've haven't really made things worse. Now that Matt's back in New York (did that friend of yours really beat him up?) and Marry stays there, sometimes seems to pretend you're in New York. For awhile, the Colonel was threatening to come straighten you out, but I think Dad convinced him otherwise.
Hey, I'm proud of you! I take it that this means you'll be leaving Glen Oak? Mom's trying to set Sgt. Michaels on you again, but he won't do it for some reason. Why by the way?
Simon
Simon:
The first time I talked to Sgt. Michaels after I left, I dared him with the truth, the law and silence. This unusual combination seems to have stumped him. While I don't want the twins left by themselves with Mom and Ruthie, but I don't know if I can really do anything to stop it that won't make it worse.
Sophie didn't really beat up Matt; she just bruised him a bit. If he hadn't been my brother, I think he would have gotten it in the groin-or perhaps the throat. I will be leaving Glen Oak in the fall-for good this time. The path I've picked for myself really won't be easy but it's mine all the same, and I think I'll be happy with it.
I'm glad the Colonel isn't coming. I would like to see how he'd fit Sophie into her rather rigid worldview-but I think she gets tired of dealing with me idiot (sorry!) relatives.
Lucy
Lucy:
We are idiots. You leaving really made me think about my own behavior. I guess it's a good (but rather uncomfortable) thing. I raided your room for books after you left. I wanted to see what made you leave. No-I wanted to see what made you strong enough to leave. I never really looked at poetry before, but there's some pretty powerful stuff there. "The world is too much with us." That's what Dad says from the pulpit-but easier to swallow. And "though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light/I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night."
I guess I was really lucky Sophie didn't hurt me when I talked to her the night she came to our house. I have a strange feeling she wanted to. I also know I couldn't blame her if she had. I'm sorry for rooting around in your stuff.and I'd pretend it was because I just a good guy-but I've got some Camden genes whatever I do, and spying was my first thought.
But I can change, right? Can't everyone?
Simon