His Sister Orla

03

By 1914, Tommy Shelby has grown into a sharp looking man. He had filled out and matured. He was 23, almost 24 when the Great War started. Along with Arthur and John, Tommy volunteered to serve their country.

Orla Mae was not pleased to hear that her brothers were leaving, especially her Tommy. She was 9 years old, just shy of a month from 10 and was as beautiful as anyone could ever imagine. She had the fairest skin and her brother's ice blue eyes. She was truly blessed with the Shelby's good looks. Tommy knew that he and her brothers would have to beat the boys off her with a stick. Not only was she breathtaking at a young age, she was extremely smart. She could call anyone's bluff and was hardly ever wrong. Her Aunt Polly could see the gypsy in the child. Not so much in her looks, but in her personality. Orla was carefree and full of life. She had no reason not to be. Tommy as well as her other eldest brothers kept her hidden from the harsh world. That may have not of been the grandest idea because when Tommy told Orla that he was going away for a while, she didn't quite understand why he was leaving.

"Tommy, where are you going? Will you be back soon?" Tommy truly didn't know what to respond with. Would he come back? He knew that it wasn't likely that all three brothers would be coming back alive. The odds just were not in their favor.

Orla sat patiently looking at Tommy waiting for him to answer her. Her bright blue eyes seemed to pierce Tommy's very soul. She knew that he was struggling with answering her. She was so smart and could read Tommy better than anyone else in the family. Instead of asking again, Orla placed her small hand on her brothers cheek and smiled. "Its okay Tom. I'll just wait for you to come back when you can. Just bring Finn and I some sweets on your way home!" Tommy laughed. "Now why do you and Finn need anymore sweets, eh? Aunt Pol might beat me for giving you anymore!" Tommy was thankful that Orla hadn't pushed him to answer. He truly didn't know that to say to her. He couldn't break her heart and the truth would. 

All the siblings sat together that night, soaking up as much of the other as possible. For they all knew that once the boys returned from this great war, they may never be the same again.