OntarioOctober 6, 1941
Dear Violet,
I do hope you are able to receive letters. You are so far away, and you have chosen to take such risks. I know you are afraid of nothing, but I wonder if you have gone too far this time. The war is no place for a woman, and I think you should know that. It is bad enough that Perce has signed up and gone overseas. Now I have to worry about you as well as my brother. There is no one much to associate with in Chesterton, since Hazel is the only person from our crowd still around. She is sillier and more scatterbrained than ever. All she can think about is hats. I suppose she daydreams about men too. Mother says that's the one good thing about Perce going overseas. At least we don't have to worry about her, if you can read between the lines.
So many girls from Chesterton have married boys they hardly know, it is a scandal. These boys have signed up and shipped out, and now the girls are working in factories. Can you imagine that? What is the world coming to? I took your advice and decided not to postpone Normal School. I will be finished my education and back home in no time. Even so, I hated to leave Mother, as she is on her own, with just the maid, especially since it is so hard to get good help these days. She misses Perce terribly. How could the government take a man who is the emotional support of an ailing widow? That is truly appalling. Of course, Perce is so patriotic, he insisted on doing his duty. It is such a shame for a capable and ambitious boy like Perce (and Harry too, of course) to have to put his life on hold. As you like to say, we must all be brave. I remind myself that Perce has a lucky streak, although I realize that is just silly and superstitious.
I am beginning to settle in at the school. I have a nice furnished room with a very respectable family. Toronto is so large compared to sleepy little Chesterton. Some of the other girls are much too frivolous to spend time with. I cannot imagine how they think they'll make competent teachers. However, one or two seem quite solid. Time will tell if they will be worthy friends, as you have always been, Violet.
Yours truly,
Betty
Two
Lucky for us, there was no shortage of medical help at this particular gathering. Mrs. Parnell opened her eyes as the first paramedic approached. In a pre-emptive strike, she said, “There's nothing whatsoever wrong with me.”
“We'll just confirm that, ma'am,” the paramedic said briskly.
“I'll be the judge of how I am, young man.”
I was relieved to catch a glimpse of Mrs. P. in her normal mode, but I sided with the paramedic.
“You have to be seen by a doctor, just to be on the safe side. It shouldn't take long. Alvin and I will come along for the ride.”
“Ms. MacPhee, I do not need to see a doctor. The world will not stop because of a moment's lightheadedness and a bit of indigestion. I have things to do.” She turned to the paramedic. “That will be all, young man. I'll be on my way now.”
“You fainted, Violet,” Alvin said. “You can't just walk away.”
“Watch me,” she said.
By this time, we were ringed by observers, veterans and visitors alike. A hum of comment surrounded us.
“But…” Alvin said.
Mrs. P. struggled to her feet. “I'm leaving now. You two can decide whose side you're on.”
“What?” I said, not for the first or last time that day.
“We're on your side, Violet,” Alvin squeaked. He looked truly, deeply distressed. I could sympathize.
“It's best if we get you checked out in the hospital,” the paramedic said.
She said, “I can't be tied up for hours. I have places to go and people to see.”
Dead people? I wondered. I decided to tough it out. “As soon as the doctor gives you the green light, you'll be on your way.”
“No time to dally.” She straightened her shoulders. “Everything's fine. Excuse me, please.”
It crossed my mind that maybe Benson & Hedges and Harvey's Bristol Cream were also calling. Even so, I had to admire her sense of drama.
“Maybe she is okay,” I whispered to Alvin, as we stood uselessly watching Mrs. Parnell clump with her cane toward the exit.
“Do you think?” he whispered back.
“She sounds like her old self,” I said, “although she's a funny pasty colour.”
“And her knees are wobbling. You can see them.”
The paramedic was not as useless as we were. He followed her. “If you don't mind, we'd like to confirm that you are all right.”
“I do mind.” Mrs. Parnell fixed him with a look that should have terrified a lesser man.
He didn't even blink. “Won't take any time at all. And, I'll make sure you get some privacy,” he said, giving us a dismissive glance.
* * *
“Well, you can't just let that go,” my sister Alexa huffed over the phone line. “It sounds like the start of dementia to me.”
“What are you talking about? Mrs. Parnell doesn't have dementia. But something's wrong, and I wanted to tell you Alvin and I are here at the hospital, because I know you're planning dinner. I don't know when we'll be out.”
“Don't be silly. Dementia's extremely serious.”
“Once more for the record, it is not dementia. She seems to have had some kind of shock. We haven't had a chance to talk to a doctor. Mrs. P. was whisked away, in case it was a heart attack.”
“You said she was talking to dead people. I was a nurse, in case you have forgotten, and I can tell you when people are in their eighties and they start having conversations with those who have gone before, it's not a good sign. So just this once, don't argue with every word that comes out of my mouth.”
“I'm not arguing,” I said.
“Of course you are.”
“Am not.”
“As usual.”
I massaged my temple, something I find myself doing in every conversation with one of my older sisters. It's not enough that I have to be the short, dark, stocky one in the family, the three of them get to be tall, blonde and elegant. Apparently part of the deal is that they have the answer to everything. Always. My sisters are very attached to the notion of being right.
On the other hand, I was working hard to be nice.
Alexa said, “Edwina wants to talk to you.”
Great. Just what I needed. The supreme commander. “No time, I have to go right…”
“Now look here, missy…” Edwina began.
“Okay.
