V-mail from Gloria Whitehall to Seaman Tobias Vincenzo
Dear Toby,
Please let me introduce myself. My name is Gloria Whitehall. I am a friend of your mother’s. We met writing letters to each other.
This is a bit awkward as I feel I know so much about you, and I’m sure you know next to nothing about me. Suffice it to say that my husband is fighting this war, as well. And your mother and I have developed a strong bond because of the absence of our beloved heroes.
I’m sure by now you know about your father. I am so sorry for this tremendous loss. Please accept my deepest sympathy.
But this is not the reason I’m writing to you.
Your mother needs you, Toby. She’s taken this news in an unexpected way. We all expect Rita (she likes me to call her Rita) to be tall and wise and strong. Stoic, even...but she’s fairly crumpled under the weight of this enormous sadness. I’ve tried, through flimsy pen and paper, to draw her back into life. But she still struggles with your father’s ghost.
I think (and I am by no means right about most things...) but I DO think that a note from you...something from your childhood? This might just do the trick.
Well, that’s it, I guess.
Be safe, Toby. She needs you to come home safe. Don’t look for more trouble than necessary. Okay?
With love and prayers for peace,
Glory