The Christmas Parcel
On Christmas Eve a large parcel arrived from overseas. It reinforced
the finality of Colin’s death and at first she could not even look briefly at
its contents.
Christmas was bleak for the whole family, but after a week Daisy
finally began to go through some of Colin’s mementoes.
She found the photos he
always kept with him wherever he travelled: a framed photo of his sister
Shirley and the small photo of his parents always in his wallet with another of
Faye.
There was also a bundle of letters creased from continual rereading, and another, still sealed, addressed
to her. Daisy contemplated the envelope’s familiar handwriting for several more
days until at last she steeled herself to lift
the flap. Then she began to read the words her
son had written four days before he disappeared…
“Dear Mum,
First of all excuse the pencil but I am just in a slight rush so
naturally can write faster…Once again I am at a new station and once again
trying to settle down. At last the training for ops. has finished and I have
already done my first one… I am safe and sound… we work 7 days a week but have
6 days leave every 6 weeks all being lucky! Our 6 weeks isn’t up till near the
end of Sept....
…2 am.
Well Mum I’ll break this off now till later and pick it up when I have
some more to tell you.
Your boy – Colin xxx…”
