My Dear Sister,
English is very hard. To learn. I made a list of English words and phrases I know: the, a, and, it, hello, hi, how are you, what is your name, my name is Lorraine, I like, I don't like, please, thank you, good day, slave, boat, house, girl, boy, run, ship, stupid, and chicken.
That is 23. How can I live in a country where I only can say 23 things? Father isn't much help. He is gone most of the time. He makes money selling people to other people. I never go with him, so I just walk around by myself.
Today I was sitting on the fence that sections off the crops. It was very early, but I wanted to see the sun rise. The sun is much more beautiful here than in France. The sun rose. As I took my glare away from it, I could see a boy coming toward me. As he got closer I could tell it was Jack. Up until today, Jack had paid no attention to me at all. Then, as I sat there, he came up and sat beside me.
I look at him funny. "Hello," he said in English.
"Hello," I said. Then he said something back to me I couldn't understand. Then he said something about France. My ears perked up.
"Do you speak only French?" Jack asks me in French.
"Yes," I said. "Can you speak French?"
"I study French in school," Jack says.
"I don't know any English," I say.
"How old are you?" He asks.
"Seventeen," I say.
"So am I," He says. His French is choppy and a little off but I don't care. I am grateful that someone here can speak my language. I am especially grateful that someone my age knows my language. "What are you doing here?" Jack asks.
"Watching the sun rise," I told him. "It is very beautiful from here. I love all the colors."
"I don't understand," Jack says. "Can you talk slower?"
I had never been told I talk fast before. It made me mad in a way. "Watching the sun come up," I say slowly.
Jack nods. "My French is bad. I can't speak fast."
I nod at him. I didn't know what to say.
"So where in France are you from?" Jack asks.
"Paris," I say.
"I heard it is beautiful in Paris. Did you like it there?"
"No," I say.
"Do you like it here?" He asks.
"No," I say.
"Why?" He asks.
"I can't understand anyone," I say.
"You can understand me," Jack says. I frown at him. "I can teach you English if you'd like. And you can help me with my French in return."
"Alright," I say. He smiles at me and I smile back at him.
"I'll meet you here tomorrow afternoon," Jack says.
"Okay," I say.
"Goodbye Lorraine" he calls.
That's not my name, I say in my head. I just wave.
He runs back to the house. I begin to think English lessons were a bad idea. Jack seems nice, and he is very handsome. He seems like the type of boy it is easy to fall in love with. The day you died for Marius, I promised myself that I would never fall in love. I told myself that I would only get hurt.
I don't want to be hurt again,
Your sister, Azelma