Letter Home

Address: 84 Melbourne street, Tenby, west Wales. Q65 9R2.

Dear mother,

I am pleased to say that I enjoyed you hot cross bun. It was like a delight in melancholy. I am doing well and safe, and I hope you are too. The train ride felt longer than ever, and I got so tired from crying that I needed to go to sleep and started dreaming of food. After coming out of my reverie, I layer my eyes on the vast and deep Welsh ocean. The arrogant water was crashing on the sea wall as little children were getting afraid of the thunder. We arrived in Tenby, west Wales. I took my ration book and bag, with Luca (little brother) holding my hand. Our carer was a young and kind woman called auntie Isabella, and she surprisingly told us to call her just Auntie Isabella or nana, not even miss! Her real name was Isabella Wallace though.

after getting off the train, me,  Luca and auntie took off the train and we knew a lot about her. We had to walk a long distance, and I smelled the aroma of chicken legs roasting from other houses, making my mouth water. She showed us the the house; me and Luca were going to be sleeping in the basement when auntie was going to be sleeping next to the door to hear any sounds of bombings to alert us. After she showed us, we went to the cattle market pub to get some meat and the local tavern to get milk, tea and a rest. I was set a series of tasks to clean the house, double the amount than Luca science he is only 6 and I am 11. I had to do chores such as cleaning dishes, mopping floors, hoovering carpets, and dusting lampshades. Auntie and Luca did the cooking, setting out tables gardening and more stuff. I enjoy the house, even though it is cramped for a young girl and a boy but who cares, I am glad I even get food! I hope I will see you again, I really do. What chores do you do? Anything fun, or maybe just boring?

Oh yeah….About my school. It’s not horrendous, but let me just say it is unpredictable and gagging. There could be mild floods, the bathroom is filled with unflushed waste and there are no ventilation systems! I have good friends there, but I met this nasty lady called Amelia and she is very rude. Oh yes, there isn’t any toilet roll too; you do NOT want to be going in those bathrooms! The teachers there are horrible too, infinite detentions for something you didn’t do! The only nice person there beside my friends is Mrs Johassen, who gives me sweets ( depending how much I ate from my ration book) at the end of the day and who comforts me when I am shattered. The floors look like they haven’t been mopped in years; gee, should the janitor be even getting paid! Is there even a janitor? The books are always soggy and you get very blunt pencils. Auntie is planning to send me somewhere else which is a good school. We don’t have chairs so there is nothing really good about it. (Not any trays, school uniforms, not any PE teachers, no computing room, cramped classrooms, ripped students artwork, no library, no class novel, lockers or school dinner depending on the ration book!) some of my friends are coming to a better school, where I am going, as well as Luca. Miss Carly is my private tutor, about 3 shillings per hour. Auntie Isabella can only afford so much due to the war. How are you today? Anyways, I love you!

from Lila-Rose Miller, xoxo