Message in a Bottle [LGBTQ+] [ONC 2024]

Chapter Ten

Three days later, the letter was mentioned again.

Eli had done his best to avoid his father, going as far as to make sure his chores were completed long before his father returned from one of the upperfields. He knew neither of his parents would mention the letter if Constance was around which left his evenings the only real threat. Once supper was done, he would slip up to his room under the guise of having school work even though it was long completed.

It was a conversation he couldn't avoid forever. He hoped his mother had already had the conversation, or at least mentioned it, to his father. At least Eli wouldn't have to try to explain it to someone who didn't care. That, however, was just a hope.

After supper, Eli sat staring out of the window in front of his writing desk. The latest letter he collected from the stream lay spread out in front of him, though Eli wasn't sure why he took it. He wanted nothing more to do with Samuel Owens, yet curiosity got the better of him. Since reading the letter, he'd scrawled a hasty reply but wasn't sure if he wanted to send it. He'd written the letter, tucked it in the bottle, and hidden both in the stable.

"Eli?" his mother called. "Can you come here, please? And bring the letter."

For a moment it felt like Eli's heart stopped beating. The edges of his vision darkened before coming back into focus and he listened to his heartbeat echoing loudly in his ears. "I'm coming."

With shaking hands, Eli grabbed the envelope that he tucked into the back of his writing desk drawer. He took a small breath to try to calm his nerves. Eli climbed down the ladder to the main living space, his heartbeat still roaring in his ears with every step he took. Reaching the bottom rung of the ladder, Eli turned slowly.

His father sat at the table, a coffee cup steaming to the left of him, but his eyes remained fixed on Eli. On the other side of the table, standing with her hands slightly knotted together in front of her, was his mother. She looked as nervous as he felt.

"Give me the letter," his father said.

Eli handed over the unopened envelope, hoping no one would notice the slight trembling in his fingertips. His father ripped open the letter with no care for what was inside. He dropped the envelope onto the table and flipped open the letter, his eyes moving slowly over the page. Unlike Eli, he hadn't had a decent schooling and struggled to read.

"Why you?" he asked, shaking the paper. "Of all the students in that school, why'd he pick you?"

"I have the best marks in the school. Mr Fredricks thinks I can do well on the exam, and for the school." Eli fought to keep his voice from shaking, though it felt like his whole body was shaking with nerves.

"And your train fare to the city is covered?"

Eli nodded.

"What'd you want to go to University for, anyway? It's just a place for the toffs to go and lord it over the rest of us. Our sort doesn't go to University."

"He's a smart boy, Ronald," his mother said. "Why shouldn't he at least try?"

"Because his role is here." His father threw the letter onto the table, where it drifted across the wooden surface and stopped just in front of Eli. "He is supposed to take over the farm from me, not go prancing off to University to discuss politics with the rest of the toffs. We don't need a scholar, not in this family."

"And why not? If the opportunity is there, why should he not at least try? Let him take the exam. The farm won't fall apart without him here for a few days."

"It falls apart even though he is here!" His father slammed a hand down on the table, standing up. The sound caused Eli to jump and take a small step backwards. "He spends all his time at the pond with his fishing pole or doing some useless school work then helping look after the farm. There isn't any use in him taking the exam, or finishing his schooling. He's supposed to be here."

"Ronald—"

"—No. That's it. You're done with school, Eli. From now on, you're to help me out on the farm full time."

Silence fell over the room. Blood roared in Eli's ears, his heart drumming against his chest with such force he thought it was going to rip through his chest. The edges of his vision darkened once again, the room going out of focus for a few seconds.

School was one of the few places that gave him peace. It was somewhere he could go and use his studies to forget about his father's latest insult to his strength. Were it not for Peter Upton and his friends, it would have been the perfect escape. He couldn't lose it, not when it was one of the few things he had left to hold onto. The one place that gave him his sanity.

Eli shook his head a little, the room coming into focus. His father stood across from him, his dark eyes fixed on Eli.

"I know you'd never let me go," Eli said. He didn't raise his voice above a whisper. "Why can't you see that I don't want to be a farmer?"

"Don't you talk back to me, boy."

"Fine."

Eli snatched the letter from the table and rushed past his father before anyone could move. He slammed open the front door and stepped out into the warm evening air, crossing to the stable where he retrieved the glass bottle. The glass was cold against his warm skin. Eli took off running across the farm, not knowing where he was going but glad to get away from the farmhouse and his father, even if he knew what punishment awaited when he returned.

A slight breeze ruffled the air, soothing his skin as he headed towards the stream. Eli stopped in front of it, listening to the lightly flowing water. His chest heaved as he fought to catch his breath. He glanced down at the letter from Mr Fredricks, his hands shaking as the words stared back at him. Tears blurred his vision.

Eli screamed, balling the letter up and throwing it into the stream. The ball of paper drifted away from him. He stood on the bank of the stream and watched the water slowly cover it, blurring the ink until it was no longer readable. His heartbeat slowed to a slight thump and a small headache pounded behind his eyes. Eli crouched before the stream and laid the glass bottle amongst the stones.

"Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in."

Startled, Eli shot to his feet. He turned to see Peter Upton's smiling face staring at him through the evening eyes, flanked by his two friends, Luke and Michael. Eli turned to run, but barely made it one step before a large hand slammed him into the grass.

~~~

First Published - April 17th, 2024