Dear Ma,

Ma, I was really agitated when I was taken away from you. Thanks for the extra potatoes, I ate and savored them on the way.  The train was cramped with young girls and boys, some crying, some being able to hold themselves together. I myself was holding in the screams, yearning to escape my mouth. The train itself was quite dirty and rank. I just cramped up into a corner and held myself while trembling from the deadly stares I was receiving.  After what seemed like decades, we arrived at Lockwood Village. It’s a… quiet place.

Once we got out, lots of adults swarmed us, looking for a child to bring home- It was as if we were the livestock at a cattle market. I was left to last, most likely because I looked wimpy, I smelt and had dirty clothes.

Anyways, I was eventually picked by Miss Ezmerelda although she didn’t look too charmed about it- and I heard her ask the man if there were any more children left. I’m staying with her in a little Era Cottage. She’s vastly strict Ma! Also, her cooking is nothing like yours, yours makes me right full. The cottage had a small stone well with muddy water. I learned that if you turn the big alluring handle that lays peacefully at the side, the bucket appears- just like the magic trick Dad taught me! The first thing Miss Ezmerelda made me do was wash the small tub outside- it was absolutely- revolting! She talks a little weird but it’s okay.

I have a little room in the attic. From it you can see the everlasting, overgrown oak tree, holding a small tyre swing as if it was its own child. I can see across the valley and everything! I can hear the owls singing at night, the wind breathing and the chickens chattering about how hard their day was. Every night, I pray that I can see you again, Pray that you and Carol- and dad are okay. I wake from the sound of a cockerel, begging me to wake. It doesn’t make half a furore! Miss Ezmerelda forces me to clean and go outside (while it’s freezing!). And makes me pick up the chicken’s warm eggs. She doesn’t even let me have boiled eggs most of the time! (I personally don’t think she is very fond of me!) It’s normally dead quiet at this time.

You wouldn’t believe this but Miss Ezmerelda has a donkey named Eyeore, He’s so sweet! The opposite of that witch. He’s kept in a small stone shed. Out of all the annoying chores I have, the best one is  definitely feeding him- He once licked my hand! I also must lock the chickens up and if I forget- Miss Ezmerelda threatened to kick me out!

Lockwood Village is a small village on top of a secret hillside.  I’m not sure how many houses there are as I can’t really count yet. They have these odd pathways that make a cross. I’m sometimes allowed to go outside and see the fields but I must be careful and in Miss Ezmerelda’s view at all times. It’s very very green and not much else. It’s nothing like the field at home.

Every morning at 8:30, Miss Ezmerelda sends me to the little school. I carry my gas mask like it’s my only weapon. It’s a half an hour walk to the school (I was told this anyway). She sends me with a piece of bread- sometimes she puts in a slice of beetroot as a small treat. Lots of the people there have turnips but I reckon  they stole them from Mrs and Mr Dalores’s garden. I’ve seen them washing them in dirty puddles and drying them on their shirts. I questioned them but they threatened to punch me in the face if I snitched. They are mainly okay but sometimes they become irritating. The girls play hopscotch and the boys play jacks and four squares. I’ve learned a lot in school like how to read and write- I can’t do maths too well so my teacher shouts at me.

I hope you and Carol are alright. I dream about you all day and if i’m not dreaming i’m thinking about you. My heart shatters at the thought of you being. Gone. I hope Dad is okay and that he beats Mr ******. I’ll write soon so please write to me!

Your loving son – James