T.S.

Letter to Ada: August 1915

To my dear sweet Ada,

Thank you for sending me all those lovely letters. No Fred hasn't been in here yet but Arthur and John have. For minor things like infected cuts and shrapnel cuts. I know it sounds awful to hear but it's nothing to see. Especially with the influx of boys. I've been careful to look out for Freddie too. He's been about but I've never gotten to tend to him. They've asked for socks and jam. I've found them a pair but there's no way for me to make jam out here. Freddie sends his love. John's said various things, most of them dirty and to do with Martha. The boys are more than starved for sex, I tell you. // It doesn't surprise me you've gotten back those letters too. Whilst they were training, I popped round to see them but I couldn't go past a certain point. They're disgusting up at Ashton. They have some stupid initiation involving accosting the 'young and pretty' nurses. I have learnt the hard way. It didn't go on for long though all I had to say was I was looking for my boyfriend, Thomas Shelby, and they flew away like pigeons. I didn't find him when I went though. I think he was hiding because I saw a very familiar crop of black hair jog past me. They've done the most awful thing to them too, Ada. They've chopped the bottom bit of their hair off, right round the neck up to the earlobes. The lieutenant who walked me around (I sweet talked him into it) was saying something about fucking lice. It made me want to cry a bit. To be fair Arthur's has always been cut in that fashion but John had lovely golden hair locks, like Rapunzel from those stories at school. I can see why Tom was off running when he saw me. He's always been a bit vain. The lieutenant was stubborn though and wouldn't take me to the actual place they slept and that. Would've been nice to cheer up the battalion. // I'm sorry if I don't write so often and it's wonderful that Martha's pregnant again. Tell Finn and Isiah to do exactly this: Go together to school, meet early in the morning and walk so confidently no one on the way even tries to talk to you. Then when you get to school and the stupid pig comes up to you smack him right in the face and shoot him a look that would make Arthur piss himself (ask Polly about the look) and they should leave you alone. It's exactly what I did, to a tee... apart from the asking Polly bit. Please tell Jayden to pick up a pen and write me a sodding letter.

que Deus nos abençoe a todos nós,

Diana Pereira

PS- Still Di, For Jay, para de seres estúpida, escreve uma carta e deixa de gastar os materiais da Ada, vagabunda. Beijinhos linda. <3