Creative Writing Group - November 2023               

Our November task was to write letters to Great Aunt Agatha about one of the following topics:

     Thanking her for adding you to her will.
The state of the world
  Family quarrels

Carol Scrimshaw managed to write all three - see below.
 

Letters to Great-Aunt Agatha

Thanking her for adding you to her will.

Letter dated 5th September 2023 from Tom, aged 14, Agatha’s great-nephew

Dear Auntie Agatha
Mum has told me that you aren’t well.  I don’t know what the problem is but I really hope that it isn’t serious and that you will soon be better.
She also says that there has been a bit of a rumpus about your including me and Emma in your new will. I’m really sorry if it has caused a problem but I can’t believe how generous you are being.  I understand that you want me to have a sum of money, which Mum says is substantial, to help out when I go to university.  I’m really, really grateful, Auntie Agatha, but I honestly don’t want to go to university.  I daren’t tell the parents that, after they have spent so much on my school fees, but what I desperately want is to be an actor.  I know that they won’t approve and I am aware that it can be a precarious living, but I can’t see the point of going to university to do something which is just delaying my chosen path in life and which is going to end with my being in enormous debt.
So, what I wanted to ask you is whether I would still be able to have the money if I went to drama school instead of university?  Would it be ok to keep this between ourselves because I know I’ll be in hot water if the parents find out that I’ve asked you?  You’ve always been great at keeping secrets.
Please get well soon and let me know when I can come to see you.
Lots of love,
Tom  xx

Carol Scrimshaw

Letter dated 20th September 2023 from Kate, wife of Agatha’s nephew, Charles, and mother of Tom

Thanking her for adding you to her will.

Dear Agatha
I hardly know where to start in writing this letter to you.  That dreadful disagreement at the family lunch must have been heart-breaking for you, especially after the generosity you have shown always to all the children in the family.  Singling out our two, Tom and Emma, for particular favour is, of course, entirely your prerogative but it was inevitable that it would cause ruffled feathers, to say the least, between your son and your nephew.  However, some of the hurtful things that were said were totally out of order and I can only apologise for any part my husband had in the distressing argument.  I just hope that you can forgive him and your son.
We are all devastated to learn of your illness and the prognosis.  That such terrible news could follow a family rift caused by insensitive infighting makes the argument even more despicable.
I hope that you will allow us to help you in any way that we can.  You are very precious to us all.
With love,
Kate

Carol Scrimshaw

Letter dated 14th October 2023 from Emma, aged 25, Agatha’s great niece and Tom’s sister.

Family quarrels
 

Dearest Aggie
I had a message from Dad just before we lost power here.  He tells me that your illness has progressed frighteningly quickly and that you have opted for end of life care.  You have been so brave and uncomplaining and I know that we must all respect your decision but I am distraught that I am unable to see you because of being here.
You know, of course, that I am with MSF but I don’t believe you have been told that I am in Gaza.  It is truly terrible here: hundreds of thousands of people made homeless yet again.  We are here to help them but we are overwhelmed.  We cannot help them without drugs for the wounded, food for the children, fuel for the hospital generators.   There is not even clean water and people are getting sick through drinking from filthy puddles.  The noise of the bombardment from bombs, mortars, drones is a constant hell and for the first time in my life, in any conflict I have been thrust into, I am truly afraid of dying.
I can say this only to you, Aggie, who have always listened to my problems and given me good advice.  I have never felt such hatred before but now I do truly hate.  I hate Hamas for what they did in Israel and I hate the Israelis for their unremitting vengeance.  I cannot see any end to this appalling conflict.
I have no way of knowing whether this letter will ever reach you, or reach you in time.  But, dearest Aggie, know that you have been loved.  I hope that you will find peace.
With all my love
Emma x

Carol Scrimshaw