Siofra al'Kinsella's Letters From Home

***



Siofra quietly ate her breakfast still not fully awake. Noticing a girl that she thought she recognized
from one of her classes coming towards her with an envelope in her hand.

"I have a letter here for you Siofra."

"Thank you. You must be mistaken though, I haven't been here very long I shouldn't have a letter
already." The girl shrugs and Siofra takes the envelope from her hand and it indeed does have her
name on it. "Well it is mine. Thank you."

Siofra turns back towards the table to open the envelope with her mother's tidy script on the front.

My dearest Siofra,

Margie and Miles ask for you everyday since you left. They miss you darling as much as your da and
I do. Now it is like we have lost two children, but you are a child no more, my dear. There was a
bit of a commotion here in town the day after you left. One of the Children of the Light killed
himself. Someone was saying something about how he had said he couldn't keep living if the
woman he loved so much was one of those Tar Valon witches. I hope that nothing bad comes from
that. Margie wants to write you something and your Da says that you must write us as soon as you
can. We love you sweetie,

Mother

She folds up the letter from her mother and puts it back in the envelope and turns to the second
page with two different scripts covering halves of the page.

Sio,

You left me here with Miles! He is getting into that mean little brother stage. I got a new dress
and it is so pretty. Some boys from town have been caught trying to sneak around and watch me.
Silly boys. I don't want to think about boys right now. I haven't seen that Children of the Light that
was following you around like a little lost puppy. Maybe he was moved elsewhere. I have to go
finish my chores so you better write me back. I miss you big sister.

Margaret

Siofra giggles as she starts to read the part from Miles.

Meanie! You run off and now I have to do more chores! Margie is a meanie too. Da's teaching me
how to hunt down rabbits and I like that a lot. Well Siofy you should come back so I can pick on
you again. At least write to me.

Miles

"Oh my!" Siofra says quietly to herself. "I didn't think that he was that infatuated with me." Sio
shakes her head and places the other page back into the envelope and takes it to her room before
getting ready for her class.