Dear Ma, All my thanks for that crunchy. I gobbled it up on the long journey and it kept me full for most of the expedition. After what had seemed like years, we arrived somewhere in Russia. It is a big place near Moscow which is much bigger than our little place. It’s not like our street Hauptstrasse. It’s hardly a street, just one house in it. 

Once we got there, many people came crowding us and chose which children they would like to look after. It was like the Queen’s coronation. I was chosen first. I think because I was the cleanest girl there, but still I was very dirty. 

Anyway, I am being cared for by Miss Young who lives in a little cottage by the woods. The water comes from a little well by the stream. There’s a thin handle you twist and the bucket comes racing up! First thing, Miss Young made me wash in a little bucket by the stream because she wanted me to be a little bit cleaner. Then she gave me a steaming cup of tea. She speaks with a very soft voice but we are like best buddies. 

I have a dainty room by the living room. I can see right through the forest. At night, I can hear the fox’s scream and the hedgehogs hustle. I’ve  prayed so much for you and da to make sure you are both ok. Every morning, I wake to the thrushes song. It makes the most beautiful sound and song. There are little parrots in little cages and everything I say they repeat back to me. She also has a massive garden of fruit and veg. There aren’t any electrical things about like cars or trains, it is just such a peaceful place to live and I wish you were here to see it.  

You’ll never guess but Miss Young has a pet lamb called Freddie, and treats it like a dog, but he likes it. I have chores that I do every two days and the best is taking Freddie for a walk through the forest. I also have to feed the parrots lots of worms and sunflower-seeds. First thing in the morning, she makes me some warm porridge with a dumpy of milk. 

Moscow is a massive village and luckily I live at the end of it on the hills. There are about 1992 houses. They have little stone pathways leading to the front doors. They are made from limestone and they glow in the sun. The forest is different shade of green. It’s nothing like home. 

Every morning, Miss Young sends me to a big school in the middle of the city. I carry my gas mask like I promised. I get the school bus there and it takes about thirty minutes to get there. Lots of people go there. Everyone prays for an hour for the country and I kneel on a cushion in the middle of the classroom, with my chalk board and chalk. I’m trying so hard with maths and writing. 

We have the choice to eat lunch outside or inside and we each get a cushion to bring out with us. Sometimes Mrs Young sends me with a tub of salad and with bits of cheese blocks as a treat. Lots of people climb over the school fence and jump into the field and steal vegetables for a treat to put in their lunch box. I’ve seen them stealthily putting them into their lunch box. I tried doing it and I put it back but somehow got me in lots of trouble. The boys and girls here are fine. They’ve taught us all sorts of things.  

I hope you and da are alright ma. I think about you every day. I really hope da soon kills sir ****** and comes home. I’ll write later. Hope you can write to me soon. 

Your daughter-Amy.