PENELOPE CLEARWATER: 23 September 1987
Dear Lucy,
Mum told me
How are you doing? Things here have been so very busy as I’m sure you’ve heard from the other letters I’ve sent. I thought though that I should write one just to you. I miss my little sister after all, and I do hope that you are missing me, even if it’s only a little bit!
How is school going? Well, I hope. And your friends? How are they? The girls in my dormitory are nice so far, but it’s certainly not the same as having you around. I’m sorry We know all our own little secret jokes and have our things we do together and I miss hearing you sing while you do chores around the house. (Did Mum ask about those lessons for you? It would be so wonderful if you could get some instruction. You already sing so beautifully. Imagine what it would be like if you got the training we were talking about!)
Mum wrote me to say that
I am interested in hearing all about what you’re doing, but there is something else that I wanted to ask you in this letter. I’m hoping you don’t mind me writing about Hogwarts and all. It’s not as if there’s really anything else for me to write about, you know, since this is what I’m doing right now. I don’t want you to feel badly, though. Mum said that you were seemed a little sad lately and I was hoping that maybe it was just because you missed me. Was it? I do hope that’s all it is.
I want you to listen to what Mum and Dad say about all of this. It doesn’t matter that you may not end up going to Hogwarts. It doesn’t matter to me, I mean, and I know that Mum and Dad will be proud of you no matter what you do. I will, too. So will Reece once he gets old enough to know how to be proud about things. If you do feel oddly or badly, I hope you know that you can write me about it. (Or talk to me over hols) You’re one of my best friends and we always tell each other everything, isn’t that right? I hope you can talk to me about this as well. We had that one chat just before I left, but if things start getting hard for you I wish you’d tell me. I know I don’t always listen as well as I could, but this is really important, Lucy. We are sisters, after all.
Hoot-hoot (WHY did Dad insist on letting Reece name the new owl? AGH!) is very fast and so you can write me any time and I’ll reply just as soon as I’m able, alright? Take care and let me know how everything is going. I’m especially keen to hear about the singing lessons once you’ve found out more about them.
Write soon!
I love you loads!
Mum told me
How are you doing? Things here have been so very busy as I’m sure you’ve heard from the other letters I’ve sent. I thought though that I should write one just to you. I miss my little sister after all, and I do hope that you are missing me, even if it’s only a little bit!
How is school going? Well, I hope. And your friends? How are they? The girls in my dormitory are nice so far, but it’s certainly not the same as having you around. I’m sorry We know all our own little secret jokes and have our things we do together and I miss hearing you sing while you do chores around the house. (Did Mum ask about those lessons for you? It would be so wonderful if you could get some instruction. You already sing so beautifully. Imagine what it would be like if you got the training we were talking about!)
Mum wrote me to say that
I am interested in hearing all about what you’re doing, but there is something else that I wanted to ask you in this letter. I’m hoping you don’t mind me writing about Hogwarts and all. It’s not as if there’s really anything else for me to write about, you know, since this is what I’m doing right now. I don’t want you to feel badly, though. Mum said that you were seemed a little sad lately and I was hoping that maybe it was just because you missed me. Was it? I do hope that’s all it is.
I want you to listen to what Mum and Dad say about all of this. It doesn’t matter that you may not end up going to Hogwarts. It doesn’t matter to me, I mean, and I know that Mum and Dad will be proud of you no matter what you do. I will, too. So will Reece once he gets old enough to know how to be proud about things. If you do feel oddly or badly, I hope you know that you can write me about it. (Or talk to me over hols) You’re one of my best friends and we always tell each other everything, isn’t that right? I hope you can talk to me about this as well. We had that one chat just before I left, but if things start getting hard for you I wish you’d tell me. I know I don’t always listen as well as I could, but this is really important, Lucy. We are sisters, after all.
Hoot-hoot (WHY did Dad insist on letting Reece name the new owl? AGH!) is very fast and so you can write me any time and I’ll reply just as soon as I’m able, alright? Take care and let me know how everything is going. I’m especially keen to hear about the singing lessons once you’ve found out more about them.
Write soon!
I love you loads!