“Cecily! What are you doing home in the middle of the day, dear?”
“I quit.”
“You what?”
“I quit my job at the telegraph office today.”
“That was a very foolish thing for you to do, young lady,” Janet scolded.
“Mother, you don’t understand. That job was so depressing. All day long I would sit there getting telegrams from the War Office telling about one of my old playmates getting killed. I just couldn’t take delivering those messages…the look people had in their eyes…they’d start crying just as soon as they saw me walking up to their house. It was horrible.”
“Oh, Cecily,” Janet said with concern. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were so busy with Felicity and Felix and preparing for the baby. I guess I just didn’t want to bother you with my problems.” Cecily thought a moment. “It was very selfish of me. Perhaps I should go ask Mr. Carsdale for my job back. We all have to make sacrifices.”
“Don’t give me any of that rubbish from your aunt!” Janet replied vehemently. “I won’t have any of my children miserable, especially because of this war.”
“So, you’re not angry with me?”
“Of course not. Now, you can help your father out more on the farm.”
Cecily’s face suddenly became sober as she remembered the other bit of news that she had to tell her family. She removed a telegram from her pocket. “I guess this was the last straw. It’s from Uncle Roger.” At that, Janet sighed and clasped the back of a chair. Cecily continued slowly “Andrew has been badly injured. He is being sent home in two weeks’ time.”
“Well, at least he’s out of there.” Janet walked over to the stove and stood there a moment, remembering eager, studious Andrew. Cecily went to her. “Oh Cecily. I don’t know how much more of this war I can take.”
“You look tired, Mother. Why don’t you let me look after Felix and Felicity today?”
“No, no. I’m fine. Felix is resting now…I’ve finally got Felicity settled down. Oh, supper…!”
“Mother, let me take care of things. As usual, you are running yourself ragged.”
“But you can’t look after things all by yourself!”
“Mother, sit. I don’t want to have to tell you again. I’ll get Great Aunt Eliza to help me.”
Janet sat in the rocking chair that sat by the fireplace. She sighed, looked around her, and fell asleep.
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