Dear Marcia,

I do hope your trip is going well for you. We really miss you here. The work on the farm is much harder without your help and knowledge! I have to get extra early, just for the cows! Anyway, i hope you are doing well, and are happy and healthy. And that no rich people are picking on you! Marcus says that rich give farmers like us a hard time, sometimes. Is that true? I hope not!

How is the weather in the Kingdom of Kararn? It must be hot doen there if it's so far in the south!

We really do miss you, Marcia. everything feels emptier without you here. Papa and mama seem distant and sad, and so does Marcus, but he seldom shows it. Has it really been only a week since you left? It feels like an eternity, and to think, you still have 11 weeks left until you come back.
It's going to be miserable having to wait that long.

But as long as you're happy, we'll pull through.

Please, be safe! I love you.

-Linette.

Dear Marcia,

It's been raining here for what feels like ages, though I believe it has only been a few days. Marcus says it never rains in Kararn. Is that true?! Do you have enough water? Should we send some? We have plenty.

You should see how soaked everything is! The thunder frightens the animals, so mama goes out to comfort tells her she'll get sick if she keeps going outside,
and that she should let the animals calm down naturally, but she won't have that. She wants to comfort them. She must really love them. I'm worried, though. What if she does get sick?
Marcus and papa tell me not to worry, but I can tell they are trying to convince themselves as much as me...

My studies are going most well. I am one of the top in my class, now! The teacher, , is very proud of us.
Some of the other students are mean to me, though. Marcus says that they're just jealous that a "farm girl" like me is smarter than them, and that I should be proud of myself for being smart, but I don't want to have to much pride.
Mama says it's a sin.

Maybe if I study hard enough, I can be as smart as you,
Marcia! Then I'll be able to help more around the farm.

-Linette.

Dear Marcia,

Oh, Marcia, it's terrible! Mama has fallen ill!

We were just walking through the forest to visit our neighbors, to see how they are after the rain, when she just collapsed! I called for papa and Marcus and they carried her back to the house. Papa went and got the local doctor,, and he said she has pneumonia. He says she should stay in bed and he'll come back in a few days with something to help. I'm not so sure what that is, but papa and Marcus seem most in distress over it.

Mama tells them not to worry, but it seems to do no help.

I am worried, too. It looks to me like pneumonia is a serious thing, but I don't know how serious. Everytime I ask the subject gets changed. Why won't they tell me anything, Marcia? Is it because I am young, too young to understand?

Mother is resting comfortably now, so don't feel the need to come back early from your trip, Marcia. We don't want you to pass up this chance you have gotten. Mama says you should stay as long as you need, but you only have 10 weeks left, right? These weeks go by so dreadfuly slow.

Hey, Marcia, can you tell me what pneumonia is?

-Linnette