A letter to me
I woke up that morning remembering last night. A silent tear dripped down my face at the thought of never seeing my dear father again. He wouldn't leave without saying goodbye, would he? I ran down the stairs, my father was sitting at the table with a suitcase resting at his feet. Another silent tear came up my throat daring to fall onto my cheek. I can't cry, I said to myself. Father stood up and walked slowly towards me. He kissed me softly on the lips. I didn't care whether I cried or not right now, I was never to see my father again. “ Now Lola don't you cry” his wrinkly hands wiped a tear from my face. That only made me cry more. “ Lola I promise that I will come back” he held his pinkie out towards me. I linked my pinke between his, holding it there for as long as I could. There was a knock on the door and a young soldier stepped into the house. “ Lieutenant Colonel the cab is waiting” . I pulled Father's hand down and kissed him one last time on the cheek. “ Lola you be good for your Mother Ok she will need your help”. I nodded my head slowly.
I walked up to my Mother's room and knocked on the door. She opened it and let me inside. I sat down on the bed making Primrose our or should I say mother’s snobbish cat. Primrose hates me so much. “ Mother could I get a cat of my own now that Father has left and well you’re always in bed” I pause trying to figure out what to say without hurting Mother. “ Ummm doing what you do all day long”. Mother looks confused but soon answers back in a voice that's too high and mighty for her “ yes darling but you have to get yourself to the shop and I will give you the money”.
I walk out of her room with money in my hand. I still miss Father as much as I did when he left a few hours ago. A heavy cloud of guilt circles around me. I have taken Mother's weak head for granted and I am now getting the cat Father forbade me to have. Oh well he will never return home. The bell dings as I walk into the pet shop. A lady asks me what I want and leads me slowly to the kittens. I can see 10 kittens huddled together. But one of the kittens just catches my eyes.” umm excuse me Miss but could I please hold the very small one that is in the corner”. The lady looks at me then opens the cage door with a key and hands me the tiny little kitten. I smother my cheek into the tiny kitten's fluffy fur. “ may I please buy this kitten, and what gender is the darling” “ she's a girl”. I walk to the pet care aisle and pick out everything that I need: toys, a bowl, litter tray, bedding,carry cage, food and last of all a tiny little pink collar that has a bell.
I walk out of the shop with the kitten in a carry cage. I can't stop thinking about what to call the darling and then it hits me. I will call the kitten Esme after my father's nickname for me, he always says Esme my beloved in a sophisticated way. It really does suit her. When I get home my Mother is on the porch with Primrose in her hands. I put all the bedding and other stuff for Esme down. My Father always told me that Esme meant beloved and loved is the first thing my kitten would be. I pick Esme out of her cage and she huddles into my blue jacket. Mother walks to me still holding onto Primrose. “ So this is our new family member” I nod and Esme turns her head towards Primrose and then Primrose does the unexpectable and reaches towards Esme and scratches her down the side of her face. I pull Esme back into my jacket and take a few steps back. Esme yowls and licks her scratch. “ Don't you ever let Primrose do that to Esme ever again” This time Mother nods fearfully. I lead my mother to her room and settle her into her bed, making sure Primrose is on her bed still I go out of the room and run back to Esme. The flimsy kitten is sitting down in her cage with her eyes dropping down like she's asleep. When I stroke my hand down her back she flinches and opens her eyes so they are all the way open showing her pretty emerald tints that sparkle in her eyes. “ I love you Esme I love you so much” I mutter into her silky soft fur. I will not let that mean Primrose hurt you I think solemnly. I take Esme into the backyard and give her a ball of string. She tears it from my hand, she obviously loves playing with the string. That night I dream that Father is sitting next to me and playing with Esme whilst reading me a story. I sigh wishing that I could be with Father instead of Mother, I don’t mean to hurt Mother but Father and I have a bond with each other while the only one who has a bond with Mother is Primrose. Huuuh I just cant survive without Father he just brightened up the world.
A man knocks on the door, disturbing my thoughts. I open the door and he holds out a envelope and says " its from Lieutenant Colonel". I muffel a silent sob. I walk back inside and tear open the letter. All that is says is ' I am sorry my darling but I will never return because' I can hardly read the rest for it is wet from the tears that have fallen from his face I continue reading' because I am dying, I have been shot in the chest and cannot live much longer. I love you so so much, be good for your Mother. Love your father' I start to cry this time I shall not hold the tears in.
