No Harm, No Fowl

Chapter Five: Lovely Little Letters

Dear Alma,

Hello! I know I promised to write soon, and I hope this is soon enough. Getting back home from Cairnholm was slightly stressful, and I had to do a lot of head counts to make sure no children were left behind. Although Agatha has been shockingly mellow, which I'm of course quite thankful for. Settling in at home was easy, and getting back into the swing of teaching was nice. School has resumed fully, our trip to Cairnholm having been an optional field trip. The students who didn't come with us were lovely to see again, as well. The ones who did quite enjoyed seeing the island, so perhaps I'll organize another trip and set aside a day or two to visit you and the children. Speaking of, how is the loop? How are you doing? How are the children? I hope all is well, and that we didn't disrupt your lives too terribly much. I miss you all, and very much look forward to the day that we meet again. I have to draw this letter to a close as it's getting late, but I hope you have a this letter finds you well and I can't wait to write again. I look forward to your response. Please tell the children I said hi!
P.S. Matilda says hello, and requested that I tell you she has been practicing her peculiarity rigorously!

                                       Love,
                                              Jenny

Dearest Jenny,

It's wonderful to hear from you. I'm glad you've settled in at home well, and that Agatha is behaving. I hope it stays that way. It's good to hear that school is going well and it was simple to get back into the swing of life again. What are the children learning about currently?
Another visit would be wonderful. We would be very excited to see you again.
The loop is good, everything is the same as always of course. Big surprise there. Although Millard, Hugh, Olive, and Emma snuck off to the village yesterday and played a game of 'raid the village', which resulted in a very uncomfortable set of conversations with the police on my part. I'm quite thankful for the reset, as now no one but us remembers that. Though I'm sure it won't be too long until they do it yet again.
I'm doing well. I do quite miss you and Matilda, but of course I'm faring. The children miss you two terribly as well. Not a day has gone by without at least one question about you. It's incredibly rare that we get visitors, and they took a special liking to you and Matilda. Even Enoch has inquired about you both, although it was of course disguised as a snide remark. He cares, just maybe not in the way most are used to.
The children are doing very well, and have been attempting to find new ways to occupy their time. They've taken to playing records on the phonograph and singing along loudly. Some of them have quite a bit of talent, whereas some of the others... Well, they're having fun, and that's truly all that matters to me.
You didn't disrupt our lives at all. I'm confident I speak for everyone when I say we were glad for the change. We miss you too, very much. We're very excited to see you again soon, and I'm very excited to hear from you again.
P.S. Hello Matilda! I'm very proud of you for practicing. I'm sure you're doing very well. Jenny dear, have you been practicing as well? I hope so. If I recall correctly, which I know I do, you were a bit unsteady on your wings last time I saw you.
    
                                Yours Truly,
                                                    Alma

Dear Alma,

You write back quickly! I'm happy to know that, as I quite like hearing from you. I certainly hope that Agatha stays this way as well. I believe she's still shaken from the incident at the inn, which definitely helps. It's quite nice. I've taken to supervising phys-ed to make sure she doesn't mistreat the students.
Funnily enough, they're learning about World War II in history currently. I actually dedicated the first day of school returning from the island on Cairnholm's history during the war, and the children's home even made an appearance in my lesson. Of course, I didn't let them know that you're still alive. I wouldn't want to endanger you, or expose the peculiar world.
I will be excited to see you again as well. Do I want to know what raid the village is? It sounds concerning. And you make it sound as though they've done it a lot before? Thank goodness for the reset. Without it, I feel as though you might be in a bit of trouble.
I miss you too, Alma. I'm glad to know the children care, though I must apologize for the questions about us. It must get annoying. We took a liking to all of you as well, and Matilda asks about you all too. I believe she might write a letter to you herself, soon.
Enoch asked about us? That's impressive. I'm unsurprised it wasn't obvious though. Would you let him know that I specifically said hello? I'll be amused to hear his reaction, I'm sure.
I'm sure I can guess which of the children have natural talent. I look forward to visiting and hearing each of them sing. I do hope they'll share that with us when we return. I'm glad they're all having fun with it. Does little Claire sing too?
Here you're hearing from me again. I look forward to your next letter. Hopefully we'll be back to change up your lives again before long. I eagerly await the day we are.
P.S. Matilda says she is trying to strengthen her peculiarity enough to pick me up. I'm slightly scared now. Let's hope for the best.
P.P.S. Yes, of course I've been practicing. I even tried to make a loop, though it didn't go too well and I assume it must have collapsed within the first ten minutes. It was odd. But oh well. I'd love for you to teach me. I have gotten quite used to being a bird though. I wasn't unsteady, thank you very much!