Part Three: Lucy

Why? I do not understand. He has always been there, watching over me, protecting me. Mum says he will be back for autumn break, but that is so long, he has never been away for that long.

"Goodbye Lucy-Goosie." I cannot help but laugh at his nick name for me.

"When will you be back Peter?" He is pulling on his coat now, tears begin to well up in my eyes.

"I'll be home for autumn break Lucy."

"But that's so far away." The tears began to fall as Peter pulled on his muffler.

"I'll talk to you on the telephone." I feel Peter's arms as he wraps me in a hug, "don't worry, I'll see you soon."

"Goodbye Peter." I cannot make any more noise than a whisper.

"Goodbye Lucy," he I can feel him kiss the top of my head and gave her one last hug.

"Goodbye."

I don't know what to do. Just last year we were six and now we are only five, and to make matters worse, Susan is leaving as well.

"Where are you going?" The question had been pressing to my mind, I remember Peter saying that where he was going there were only boys.

"I am going to boarding school, same as Peter." Susan's reply was more of a snap, but I understood because she was in a great hurry to pack.

"But there are only boys there." Susan's impatient sigh made me take a step back and toward my bed, she was not in a patient mood.

"I am not going to go to the same school, I'm going to another boarding school which is for girls."

"But Peter won't be there to look after you." How on earth was Susan going to survive? Peter looked after us; that was what he did. "What will you do?" I repeated when Susan did not reply.

"I will look after myself." Susan's voice became more commanding, she was talking in her shut up now or I will kill you voice. "Hand me that scarf will you?" Susan's absentminded voice made me wonder if she even knew what tone she was using. I was about to question again when we were interrupted.

"Susan!" Peter's voice rose up the stairs. "Susan, it's time to go!"

"Coming Peter!" Susan gave me a quick hug and kiss, I had not expected much, but more than that. But she was gone before I could say anything.

"Goodbye Lucy."

I walked over to the window and watched as Susan climbed into the car with Peter and my parents. My hand rose almost as if by its own will, there was no reason for me to wave; I knew Susan would never look back. "Goodbye Susan." The car pulled away from the curb and quickly disappeared from view. My mind snapped back to the present as a clatter echoed up the stairs. I rushed to shut the door before Edmund came in. Without either of my eldest siblings, I knew my life was about to get bad.

I do not know if I was saying goodbye to my sister or life as I knew it. "Goodbye."

I had no idea what to do. Mum was leaving. It would be the first time ever that mum was not there to look after me, which meant no mum to run to when Ed was mean. I wandered into my parent's bedroom; Mum was still packing, just as I had known she would be.

"Can I please come?" I already knew the answer to the question, but there was no harm in begging a little while longer.

"I'm sorry Lucy," I knew that was what she would say, I had asked her every day since I found out they were going. "There is not enough room at the inn we are staying at. The Conference would only pay for a certain size." She had been telling me that for almost a week now and I was getting sick of it.

"I don't take up much room." I pushed my lip into a pout and let it quiver for effect. Then I thought of an argument that I had not tried, which was a feet in and of itself since I had been arguing for almost a week straight. "Please don't leave me here alone with Edmund." I could see her hesitation in the way she paused the packing of fathers extra shirts.

"Susan will look after you." If only mother knew how wrong she was. Susan does nothing but talk to her friends and argue with Edmund when I asked for her help.

"Mummy please?" I was the first time I had used the fullest level of begging I had in my system in a long time and I could tell Mum noticed. "Please take me with you?"

"Lucy, you are going to have to be a big girl." That was not the answer I was looking for.

"But mummy, Ed is being so horrible!" I knew that this argument was my best bet.

"I know darling, but Susan will look after you." I followed her all the way down stairs, sure to drag my feet and look sad, neither of which was hard to do.

I did not have a moment alone with Mum again, they left that afternoon. I could hear their hurried goodbyes as they rushed out the door. I ran to the door, calling my goodbyes as I went.

"Goodbye dad!" I waved quickly as they got in the car. "Goodbye mum." I could hear Edmund coming up behind me and began counting down the hours until Mum and Dad returned. I raised my hand in a silent farewell before whispering one last "goodbye."

She is gone. That is all I knew. The train station had been such a mess. Now here I am riding a train to who knows where. It was also the first time I had been on a trip without Mum to look after me. At least Peter is here, if I had been alone with Edmund and Susan I probably could not have survived.

I thought back to our parting on the platform, Mum had been trying so hard not to cry, so was Susan. I could not have cried even if I wanted too; I was too bewildered to cry. So much was happening at the same time, so many people crowding around, so many weeping mothers, Peter was the only solid rock and I was glad to have his presence beside her during the fight to get on the train.

With another glance out the window I got a last glimpse of the retreating city of London. I pressed her face up against the glass, waving farewell to someone who I thought might never see again.

"Goodbye Mum." I whispered, I could feel Peter wrap his arms around me in a comforting hug. "Goodbye."

I am not sure if Lucy is too manipulative. I tried writing it without and she seemed a bit Mary Sue. Please let me know. Review!