My Story: The Winchester House [Completed]

59: Love, Mother

"Mother! Amanda took my doll and started playing with it," Syren said, exasperated. Amanda was crying that Syren was telling me, her hand tight around the doll. I was cleaning a bathroom. In the bathtub, Eric played sitting up. I looked at the doll. Max got Syren that doll after her first skating competition where she won first place. It sat proudly on her shelf, so how Amanda got it down, only God would know.

"Sh-she doesn't play with it! How is that fair?" Amanda cried out. I took the doll and handed it to Syren again, who hugged it to her chest. Amanda looked at the ground and sniffled. I continued washing the sink.

"It's fair because it's mine. Father bought me the doll, not you," Syren said. She was fifteen and so confident in telling people how and what should be done.

"At least your talent is recognised," Amanda huffed as she crossed her arms. I uncrossed her arms before continuing cleaning the sink.

"You just have to write something and then Coach Teller said that we would do a routine to it," Syren said as she moved the dolls hair.

"It's harder than that," Amanda stated. At seven, she already had a hard grasp on life, even though she did have childish moments.

"I am aware that's why you need to challenge yourself," Syren told her.

~*~

Dearest Mother,

How are you, the girls, and Eric? In regards to your question in your last letter, I am quite fine. The trenches protect us from the gun fire and such, but it also protects the rats. They attack while we try to sleep to get the scraps of food that we keep on us.

Officer Sire keeps telling me to keep my head down and don't start anything with any of the other men or the Huns. I think he wants to see me play baseball when the war is over, because he keeps saying that he will be my number one fan and his wife and him will go to all of my games.

I mentioned my new friend in my last letter, and I wish to tell you more about him. His name is Jonathan Black from London. He joined our regiment on orders of the British officer to make sure that we were covered to talk to the French. He is quite talented. I do stand taller than him, while he is larger width wide compared to me. He is quite talented in translating English into French.

Just to let you know, people are respecting both last names that I wish to carry. I didn't expect everyone to be so open about the names, but most of the older men find it honourable that I am willing to respect the man that raised me as well as the man that made me breath.

I do miss home, Mother, but I am enjoying the mere fact that I get to visit other places that I would not get to see otherwise. Please don't worry about me. I will be home in no time. Once these Huns are killed.

Much love,

Luke Jameson-Burbidge

I folded Luke's letter as Amanda ran in, playing with her doll. Syren followed her, walking in with her back ever so straight. I picked up a pen and paper in order to write back to my son.

"Amanda, you do know that we need to cook dinner," Syren said with a certain air of certainty in her voice. Amanda looked at her like she was insane.

"I'm going to work on my music," Amanda said as she pulled a book out from the shelf. It was her blank music sheets. She was an exquisite composer even at seven.

"Very well. Leave Mother alone while she is writing," Syren states as she walked into the kitchen. With my constant writing to Luke, Syren started doing more of the cooking and household chores mixed in with her practices.

Luke,

I am glad that you are enjoying your travels, but I must remind you that you do have your fiancée here back home.

Amanda tapped a few keys on the piano then scribbled something on her paper.

Nonetheless, everything is quite fine here at home. Amanda has started on a new piece that Syren has decided put a skating piece too.

Amanda hummed as she wrote a few more notes, and Syren sighed as she nearly dropped a pot.

Eric is getting larger, as most babies do. He does have the same temperament you did when you were a baby.

Syren walked into the living room for a moment to grab a cook book before walking back into the kitchen. Amanda paused to look at her before playing the piano for a minute to hear what she had written.

I'm glad that you are making friends with the other men. Mr. Black seems like an honourable man that is a good soldier to make acquaintance with.

Amanda wrote more on her paper as Eric babbled on the floor.

I am proud of you for being out there and fighting for our nation, but please do be careful.

"Amanda, will you please set the table so we can eat? I am also done with dinner," Syren told her, and Amanda reluctantly walked to the dinning room to set the table.

We all love you very much.

All the love,

Mother