Dear Edward - Heather Parsons (smart books to read .TXT) 📗

ONE

Dear Whomever,
I'm told to write home but really there's no one I know to write to so, here I am writing anyway. Right now my platoon is on a recon mission, staying low to the ground and out of the way of enemy fire. I'm a 91 bravo, that's an Army Medic and really I don't know why I'm here. They tell me because I'm needed but that's a lie. Anyway, what else can I say. It's strange to write this down because I don't know if anyone will read this or if it will end up getting lost in the mail. God, I feel stupid sitting here talking to myself.
Okay I was told after several times of trying to get out of it, to tell you something about myself. But really I wonder who you are and if you really want to know anything about me. But Captain Dumas yelled at me yet again to do this and I have to follow orders even though I think it's dumb.
Anyway my name is Edward Carter, I'm twenty-three years old and never in a million years did I believe that one day I'd be where I am now.
Honestly though as much as I say I hate what I'm doing, it's a lie. Everyone around me is family, the only family I have.
It would be so much easier to write if I knew someone would write back. It would feel more life like than just writing knowing this letter will end up in the trash.
Anyhow, I've been sitting here for hours trying to find something to say and now we're moving again. I feel like a child waiting for Santa even though I know he doesn't exist but I hope I hear from you soon.
SPC Carter, Edward, 91B

The bold black letters and brush strokes were clear, sitting on top of the projection screen waiting for the students to enter the class. Mr Thomas thought it would be the perfect assignment for his Creative Writing class. To give those soldiers back what they longed for, a response from someone who actually cared what they were doing and praised the Lord for their efforts.
Sitting back in his chair, he grinned at himself for such a marvelous idea. Just the thought of fighting for your country and never hearing that you're doing a great job, stung him, hard. He'd once been in the military and wouldn't have been able to make it through if it wasn't for friends and family encouraging him. Writing him letters and knowing there's more to live for than what he saw.
So, his plan was to give back and what better way to do that than make it an assignment were not only one student but all would be writing this one individual and praising them at the same time. A smile creep on his lips when he glanced at the letter once more. But he couldn't look long because the letter reminded him so much of those that didn't come back. Those fellow soldiers that wrote letters but never made it through the week to send them off.
Quiet whispers between students and the side door opening brought Mr. Thomas out of his thoughts and back to the project at hand. Maybe this, he glanced over to the letter again, wasn't a good idea after all. His eyes were already tearing up with just a glance at the letter but would his students be able to handle this? He thought for another minute but never moved an inch as the letter sat where it was, piercing into his heart. Old wounds resurfaced and before the class even started he excused himself.
Brianna and her best friend Lindsey were the first one's in the class, whispering among themselves about their weekend and what exciting things happened. Taking their seats, Brianna looked up and caught sight of Mr. Thomas' eyes. Seeing them tearing up, caused her more pain than she'd admit too.
But before she could ask what was wrong, he left the room, leaving her dazed and a little confused. Mr. Thomas was a friend of her father's, therefore a friend of hers and seeing him this way, hurt.
Lindsey on the other hand wasn't paying attention to anything around her, wrapped up in her story-telling of events. “....so, we were at the beach this weekend and you'd never guess who talked to me. Brianna are you listening to me?”
Brianna's eyes were glazed over as she watched the very door that he walked out of. Her mind only focused on what could have been so bad to make him cry?
Snapping her fingers brought Brianna out of her daze and right back to the conversation, never missing a beat. “Who talked to you? Oh wait, let me guess. Was it Chase?” Everyone knew Chase liked Lindsey, that is everyone but her.
Her cheeks flushed and Brianna knew she was right but before Lindsey could confirm, the door opened and in walked Mr. Thomas. Instantly Brianna's eyes shot back to his and she could see the pain in them. Even though he tried hard to hide it, she knew that look.
“Class since this is the beginning of a new year, I thought we'd start off with an assignment.” The word assignment brought on moans from everyone in the room, including Brianna. But her moans were for something entirely different. Mr. Thomas cleared his throat and the room was silent again.
“I paid a visit to the post office and there are hundreds of letters that come in every week from soldiers posted overseas. Soldiers who have no one to write to or who answer their letters and I figured since this is a Creative Writing Class that we'd, once a week read a letter and respond. This project I'm calling 'Giving Back'.” Mr. Thomas turned the lights off and flipped the projection screen on before anyone could see his tears returning.
The letter shone on the white screen for everyone to read. Sighs were heard from most of the students as they read the words that were wrote. Some of the students had tears in their eyes when the lights finally came back on while others sniffed back their cries.
Clutching her chest and breathing in shallow breaths, Brianna suddenly and unexpectedly stood up and ran out of the room. Her heartbreak from the words she'd just read were to much to handle. Running out the door, she made it as far as the wall before the tears escaped her eyes. “Oh God.” She murmured to herself.
She'd not known who this soldier was but his pain she could definitely feel. The words he wrote of family, were the one's that hit the hardest. The lack of family in her life was so real it hurt. Her mother with whom she'd bend over backwards for, died years ago. And her father, well he's not around much, leaving her to fend for herself, weeks on end. She'd had a glorious life up until the day it happened. Cries rocked through her whenever she'd remember and being in school and balling like a baby wasn't something she did. Ever.
This project Mr. Thomas had assigned was wrong on so many levels, she thought. How could he do this? He knew what had happened but still he's throwing it back in her face. This was the only thing she could think of, the only thing that made sense. But why?
Now the tears were streaming down her face and just the thought of stopping them, wasn't there.
Lindsey poked her head out the door and spotting Brianna hunched over against the wall, made her only pain double. Knowing instantly there was something wrong, she walked out to the hallway and right to her side. “Brianna...” She rubbed her back, soothing her the only way she knew how. Feeling her pain deep inside too, as her own eyes teared up.
The door opened again but this time it was Mr. Thomas who walked out. “Lindsey would you mind going back to class?” He asked and walked over to take her place and soothe Brianna. “I thought this might help you, you'd be giving them something to look forward to by just replying.” There was another reason behind his madness but that reason would have to wait.
Shaking her head no, she hunched over further, placing her head between her knees just to catch her breath. Memories, flashes came at her from all angles behind her eyelids. Seeing these made her whole body shake and soon, all too soon she knew she'd loss it. Holding her breath, she bit down hard on her lip to stop the pain that rocked inside her. Pain that never went away no matter what she did and no matter how happy she was, it never went away.
“Brianna whenever your ready please come back and join the class. This assignment will do you good, I promise.” Mr. Thomas stated and walked back into the classroom. He paused inside the door and glanced around the room to see the students all teary eyed and staring at the letter.
Some were writing in their notebooks while others were talking among themselves, quietly. Lindsey was the only one who wasn't doing either, instead she looked at the now empty seat next to her and cried. Knowing what had happened to Brianna's family and reading the letter only once since the lights went out, brought out her heartbreaking tears for her friend. The conversation she'd had with her a few seconds ago didn't seem to matter much anymore. Just being able to make it through this class without running out the door, was a struggle in itself.
Brianna took deep breaths, controlling herself and finally returned to class. But not before she'd run to the restrooms and washed the evidence away. She knew the moment she'd return everyone would see that she'd been crying but that didn't matter. What did then? She asked herself. Did she really care if someone saw her this way?
Stepping back in the classroom, she took a deep breath and returned to her seat. Peering over at Lindsey and seeing her friend silently crying brought back the tears she'd tried hard to hide. Looking up, she caught sight of the letter again and said to herself 'I can do this', as convincing as she could. Repeating these words over and over until she was sure she could.
Mr. Thomas smiled a grim smile at her when her eyes met his. He nodded once to her before continuing on with his on work. He'd planned on writing this soldier as well and sending all the letters