Jacques Forêt,
a local gendarme and the hero in my forthcoming novel, Messandrierre, writes to his father in Paris regularly. Here are some more extracts from letters he may have written...
1 Grande-rue
Messandrierre
September 2008
 |
| Fishing Lac Charpal |
How's maman? You
didn't say much in your last letter papa and I'm worried. I can come home for a few days at the end of
the month if you need me to.
It was good to see Thérèse and the boys last month. I see Francis' attitude has changed
little. I know work is hard to find but
he doesn't seem to me to be making much of an effort. I took the boys camping in the woods for a couple of nights
whilst they were here. We did a bit of fishing too. They really enjoyed roughing it! Me, not so much. Family time like this makes me miss Beth even more.
October 2008
 |
| Out on a shoot |
…I'm having a few days off work, papa. Nothing serious, so tell maman not to
worry. Gaston - the manager at the
restaurant and campsite here - took me boar hunting at the weekend. I didn't prepare myself for the first rifle
shot and as it rang out I crashed to the ground and rolled and crushed my
shoulder. I'm in a bit of pain and
there is some bruising and stiffness, but otherwise I'm OK. I don't think I will be taking Gaston up on
his offer for a stag hunt. I haven't
the stomach for it and perhaps, I'm not mentally prepared for it yet.
November 2008
…yes I'm still in touch with Beth, it's just by message. But I can't stop thinking about her.
You say maman wants to know about Christmas. I am trying to organise some time off so
that I can come home, but there are a lot of other married men here who want to
be at home with their families too and my boss, Fournier, is giving them
priority. I will try to be there on
Christmas Eve if I can, papa, don't worry…
Your only son, Jacques
No comments:
Post a Comment