A Letter Home

Dear Momma,

I made it momma. The lighthouse that daddy made is still perfect. The light still burns but daddy ain’t here. They say he drowned last summer but no letter they sent out made it to the other shore. It’s an isolated island. Not much here. There is no more then ten people. Used to be more but when the sickness came they lost most of the men. And then there was the lost ship that they saw get taken down by pirates. That was the night the light went out. And the night daddy died. I’m gonna stay here mama. They need an extra hand. With no one coming to the island they don’t get no new recruits and most of the men here are dying. Tell Susan I miss her. I know she is no longer little but she will always be my baby sister. She must be what two or three by now. Time flies by fast mama. I know you were hoping I would bring daddy home but since he ain’t here someone has to do his post. Tell Jackson that he is the man of the house now. He is thirteen or fourteen now. He can take on the responsibility. Tell Tessa that I miss her tons and I send my love. And I hope that I can come home to her and baby Paul soon. He is gonna be walking by the time I get home and talking. He might even be in school. I only have time to write one letter so I will try to tell you how it works here quick. One man looks for the lanterns hanging on the ships' bow. He then shouts up which direction and how many lanterns to the runner. He runs and helps the six men up top to turn the light. But mama when you get this letter let someone know we are out of food and we don’t know how much longer we can last before we must leave. We are almost out of fuel for the light and it doesn’t hardly turn anymore. The roof is collapsing and I just can’t keep you thinking it’s safe here and it’s perfect. Most of the men are missing limbs from accidents and they are so discouraged that nothing can keep their spirits up. Daddy didn’t die in an accident. He jumped off the cliff. You have to know this mama. Not even my fiddle can keep their spirits up. Tell Tessa I might not make it back. And that she might have to raise our baby Paul on her own. And mama don’t tell Jackson to come for me. You need at least one man to help raise Susan. My brother must stay with you. No one can come here. The lighthouse can’t be kept up any longer. We must abandon it. I’m hoping I will be able to go home but only one ship comes to the island a year and it can only take one letter per man and two men who want to go home. It’s more a small boat then a ship. Most of the letters get washed overboard same with the men. I’m wishing and hoping that I will be able to come home and bring some money. Daddy is gone mama and soon I will be if I don’t get on the next boat. Hopefully if I don’t make it back you will at least get this letter. Mama I can’t deceive you, the men kill each other just to eat the flesh off their comrades bones. We are starving and no one has brought us food in a long time and the crops won’t grow in this rocky soil. The men have gone mad. There is no sickness. Please mama send help. Before I get ate. Save our souls.

Your Son,

Micheal