Frances-Jane and the letter

She shuts her eyes as she feels the sweat fall down her face as she yet again vomits from the morning sickness caused by her pregnancy. She gets up looking in the mirror her face is pale from the morning sickness, her hair everywhere like a small bird’s nest; as she gathers her strength to walk outside and eat breakfast that her mother is making. ‘Good morning sweet heart, how are you feeling this morning?’ asked Frances-Jane’s mother in her sweet and innocent voice.

‘Does this always happen when your pregnant mother…. I mean the morning sickness?’ Frances-Jane asked as she felt her stomach coming back up her throat running towards the little old bathroom in the house.

‘Oh my pour baby girl it will only get better I promise.’ Frances-Jane’s mother yells from the kitchen while plating up breakfast she made for Frances-Jane; ‘oh and honey when your ready breakfast is on the table.’

Frances-Janes walks back into the kitchen looking much better than before. She sits at the old handcrafted wooden table eating bit by bit of her breakfast that her mum had made. Bacon, eggs, sausages, toast and a nice hot and steamy coffee to warm her body from the winter wind coming from the opened window. She stands up walking to her room knowing no one is home and that it is the perfect time to write a letter to Andy and to write in her diary. Frances-Jane pulls out her ink and feather and starts to write neatly in her diary.

 

 

April 26 1917,

Springthorpe, Queensland

Well today is the day the day I send the letter. The letter that I have been strangling to write. The letter to which I tell Andy Lansell that he is going to be a father. I don’t know what to expect from him; I don’t know what to feel or if he even wants to child.

 

Frances-Jane sits up in her chair looking out the window into to quiet neighbour where she lives. She looks out admiring all the young married couples chasing after their kids playing and watching grandparents laugh as they watch them play in the neighbourhood. Frances-Jane looks back down at the slightly crumpled blank piece of paper as she thinks of a way to tell Andy he is going to be a father in 6 months. ‘What if he doesn’t want the baby? What if he doesn’t support me? There are so many what if questions’ Frances-Jane thinks to herself questioning if what she is doing is the right thing to do. She finally decides to pick up her feather pen and ink and starts writing the letter to Andy.

 

Dear Andy

               The night we met was the most wonderful night of my life. I had a lot of fun. But now you are away at war I can’t understand what you are going through but I hope you get home safe and sound soon. Andy I have some news to tell you but I don’t know how to explain it too you so I am just going to tell you. I don’t know how you are going to take this news because I know that you have a fiancé back in your home town. So I am just going to tell you now that I am pregnant and you are going to be a father in six months. It is up to you Andy weather or not you want to be a part of the child’s life; but I do know that you will make a good father. So when you are ready write back and please let me know what you think. I hope you are okay over at war.

                 Love, From

                                    Frances-Jane

 

After writing the letter to Andy; Frances-Jane feels like a whole heap of constant worry has been lifted off her shoulders and she can keep moving on with her everyday life. Frances-Jane then seals the letter in an envelope and addresses it to Andy and starts to head out to the post office. As Frances-Jane is leaving the house she spots her mother talking to an elderly lady.

“Good morning mother, Mrs Williams” Said a cheerful and relieved Frances-Jane.

“Good morning sweetheart; it seem like you are feeling much better” Says a very confused mother as to why Frances-Jane is so happy.

“Yes mother I am feeling much better but will you just excuse me for a minute. I need to send this letter away before the post train comes.”

“Certainly darling, off you go now; I will meet you back at home with some lunch ready okay.”

“Okay mother I will see you in a bit and good bye Mrs Williams I hope to see you around sometime soon.”

As Frances-Jane walked away heading to the post office she turns around to see Mrs Williams and her mother waving happily as she walked away.

Imprint

Publication Date: 06-02-2014

All Rights Reserved