Letters from Home
Jul 8, 2010 19:02:41 GMT -5
Post by Eleanor McArthur on Jul 8, 2010 19:02:41 GMT -5
A leather journal lives underneath Elle's mattress. It's stuffed with papers folded as if they were taken from a business envelope.
Letter dated July 5th
Dearest Eleanor,
The Fourth passed by quickly for us here on the farm. On Saturday your sisters and I went out dress shopping for your cousin Amelia's wedding. You are coming home for that, right? It's in September. The 19th, if I'm not mistaken. Anyways, of course, Brittany was the most picky, but your sister Jolene Marie found a very flattering purple number. She has a boyfriend now, well apparently they've went out three times, but I'm sure they will be official within two weeks!
Which reminds me, your brother Steven is quite serious with his girlfriend Veronica. Well anyway, I am happy to announce that he bought a ring! He came home to borrow some money last week, and just yesterday showed it to me!! My baby Steven is all grown up and taking a wife! Luke, on the other hand, as you know broke up with Erica, but she was a grade A snob, anyway. He has a new girlfriend, Ivette, and she seems delightful! Mikey still goes with Hannah, whom if you remember he took to the prom this past spring, but he insists she is not his girlfriend.
Brittany is very busy with school things, and cheerleading takes up much of her time. Do you know they practice every Friday night?! Talk about dedication! She is so tired from it, I let her sleep in on Saturdays now. And Jesse Aaron, well, his only love is that God-Forsaken guitar. He takes lessons in town, and thankfully, he plays better. Nothing I recognize, though. Maybe you will when you come home. Finally, Anna Lynne is doing excellently in school!
The only thing that could make me prouder would be to report that you, too, have good things going on? Is there any boys out there that catch your eye? Maybe if you put yourself out there more, they would reciprocate. Maybe bake one a pan of brownies or something? They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach! Don't smirk! I know Mikey says something else, but he's a naughty boy!
Old Mrs. Hutchinson died last week Tuesday. She was 83. I brought a pie to the funeral, it was a sad affair, but now she's on to a better place. She used to watch you as a toddler, you know, when I had to be in the barn with your father.
Speaking of him, he says hello and hopes you will hurry home after term this year. He could use an extra hand at milking.
Love,
Mom and the family
A second letter folded around the first, and undated:
Dear Elle,
Hope your last year is going as well as mine. Mom probably told you about Hannah. We're just friends, trust me.
Dad broke something on the tractor, as you know, so our hay is slightly late. The John Deere is perfect now, though, and on Saturday that's what we boys had to do-bale hay. Exciting, huh? Don't you wish you were home? Haha, I don't think so. Though Mama might brought you to town with her and the girls. I bet you can find a better dress out East, anyways.
Hey, your favorite cow from your last visit, 193, had her first calf. It's a bull calf, so he'll probably be sold off before you get home. And maybe not.
Ma's pretty pissed about Steven shackin' up with Veronica. That's all she talks about, is how scandalous it looks. She says Steven better propose to the girl before it's a shotgun wedding. She probably mentioned Luke's new girlfriend. Omg, Elle, the woman is like 40!! And she has 3 kids, one of them is my age. Ma pretends to like her, but she thinks it's terrible that Luke's going out with her. There is only one reason, Elle, and it's easy sex. Brit could get away with murder if it happens Friday nights. She goes out drinking with her popular friends in the Eldens' field. Ma believes every word that comes out of her mouth, even lets her sleep off her hangover! She never lets the boys sleep in. We have to milk at 5 am. Stupid! Good thing Mom can't read this.
-Mikey
Written on the page:
July 7th, 2010
Dear Diary,
I got a letter from Mom and Mikey today. Of course, Mom didn't write about much except the marital status of all my siblings. She's eager to see me settled down, but I'm not so sure. I shouldn't let her bother me, it's my life, after all. I'm not going to date just anyone or just because. I gotta like him. It seems like all the guys I know are one of two ways - jocky airheads or depressing emos. I don't know. He's gotta be like, into the world, philosophical, like the same music as me, love the environment, I don't know... I just know I haven't met him yet and I wish she wouldn't care so much. She measures success by spousal reputation, children's behavior, and the state of your house. That's just not me, is it? It's not that I don't want marriage and family... it's not just everything I think about. Dear god, I think my mother is Mrs. Bennet!!
Letter dated July 5th
Dearest Eleanor,
The Fourth passed by quickly for us here on the farm. On Saturday your sisters and I went out dress shopping for your cousin Amelia's wedding. You are coming home for that, right? It's in September. The 19th, if I'm not mistaken. Anyways, of course, Brittany was the most picky, but your sister Jolene Marie found a very flattering purple number. She has a boyfriend now, well apparently they've went out three times, but I'm sure they will be official within two weeks!
Which reminds me, your brother Steven is quite serious with his girlfriend Veronica. Well anyway, I am happy to announce that he bought a ring! He came home to borrow some money last week, and just yesterday showed it to me!! My baby Steven is all grown up and taking a wife! Luke, on the other hand, as you know broke up with Erica, but she was a grade A snob, anyway. He has a new girlfriend, Ivette, and she seems delightful! Mikey still goes with Hannah, whom if you remember he took to the prom this past spring, but he insists she is not his girlfriend.
Brittany is very busy with school things, and cheerleading takes up much of her time. Do you know they practice every Friday night?! Talk about dedication! She is so tired from it, I let her sleep in on Saturdays now. And Jesse Aaron, well, his only love is that God-Forsaken guitar. He takes lessons in town, and thankfully, he plays better. Nothing I recognize, though. Maybe you will when you come home. Finally, Anna Lynne is doing excellently in school!
The only thing that could make me prouder would be to report that you, too, have good things going on? Is there any boys out there that catch your eye? Maybe if you put yourself out there more, they would reciprocate. Maybe bake one a pan of brownies or something? They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach! Don't smirk! I know Mikey says something else, but he's a naughty boy!
Old Mrs. Hutchinson died last week Tuesday. She was 83. I brought a pie to the funeral, it was a sad affair, but now she's on to a better place. She used to watch you as a toddler, you know, when I had to be in the barn with your father.
Speaking of him, he says hello and hopes you will hurry home after term this year. He could use an extra hand at milking.
Love,
Mom and the family
A second letter folded around the first, and undated:
Dear Elle,
Hope your last year is going as well as mine. Mom probably told you about Hannah. We're just friends, trust me.
Dad broke something on the tractor, as you know, so our hay is slightly late. The John Deere is perfect now, though, and on Saturday that's what we boys had to do-bale hay. Exciting, huh? Don't you wish you were home? Haha, I don't think so. Though Mama might brought you to town with her and the girls. I bet you can find a better dress out East, anyways.
Hey, your favorite cow from your last visit, 193, had her first calf. It's a bull calf, so he'll probably be sold off before you get home. And maybe not.
Ma's pretty pissed about Steven shackin' up with Veronica. That's all she talks about, is how scandalous it looks. She says Steven better propose to the girl before it's a shotgun wedding. She probably mentioned Luke's new girlfriend. Omg, Elle, the woman is like 40!! And she has 3 kids, one of them is my age. Ma pretends to like her, but she thinks it's terrible that Luke's going out with her. There is only one reason, Elle, and it's easy sex. Brit could get away with murder if it happens Friday nights. She goes out drinking with her popular friends in the Eldens' field. Ma believes every word that comes out of her mouth, even lets her sleep off her hangover! She never lets the boys sleep in. We have to milk at 5 am. Stupid! Good thing Mom can't read this.
-Mikey
Written on the page:
July 7th, 2010
Dear Diary,
I got a letter from Mom and Mikey today. Of course, Mom didn't write about much except the marital status of all my siblings. She's eager to see me settled down, but I'm not so sure. I shouldn't let her bother me, it's my life, after all. I'm not going to date just anyone or just because. I gotta like him. It seems like all the guys I know are one of two ways - jocky airheads or depressing emos. I don't know. He's gotta be like, into the world, philosophical, like the same music as me, love the environment, I don't know... I just know I haven't met him yet and I wish she wouldn't care so much. She measures success by spousal reputation, children's behavior, and the state of your house. That's just not me, is it? It's not that I don't want marriage and family... it's not just everything I think about. Dear god, I think my mother is Mrs. Bennet!!
