Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Writing (01/11/07)
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TITLE: Writing Home | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lisa Anderson
01/14/07 -
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She carefully walked back inside the house. Kneeling down by the sofa she prayed, “Lord, bless Nathan where ever he is. Protect him from the dangers that surround him and the others with whom he serves. Lord, please bring him home in time for ...” Tears rolled down her cheeks as she placed her hands upon her stomach.
“Hey Jones! You got some mail today.”
Nathan eagerly grabbed the letter and ran to his tent. His heart raced as he opened the beautiful envelope. Though plain in appearance, the handwriting on the outside made it the most beautiful thing he had seen all week. As he pulled the letter from the envelope a picture fell out. He cried as he gazed upon the image of his glowing wife.
Dear Sweet Nate,
Oh how I miss you. You would have loved to feel my tummy today. There was definitely some movement inside. It was amazing. I just wish you were here to experience this with me.
Everyday I pray for you and your protection. I want you to come home more than anything …
Finally, a letter!
Jessica ran in the house and cuddled up on the couch with her favorite blanket. Her little one must have shared her excitement as he or she kicked around inside.
My Dear Jessica,
Thank you so much for your letters. How I wish I could be there with you. I long to feel the movements of our child as he or she kicks and squirms within your womb.
Thank you so much for your prayers – they get me through each day. Not to worry you, but we had a close call the other night. Moments after we left, an incoming rocket took out the base chapel. A bunch of guys got together and rebuilt it in time for services two days later. Needless to say, we had a full crowd on Sunday …
So much had happened, it was hard for Nate to process it all. He was stressed out and needed to unwind. If only he could get to a phone and hear his wife’s sweet voice, but the phones were down again, a result of the recent events.
He walked back to his tent and grabbed his box of letters.
“This one,” he whispered as be pulled out his favorite letter. He had read it over a hundred times, but he couldn’t get enough.
Dear Nate,
I pray this letter makes your day, as it news it bears has made mine. You’re going to be a dad …
“Knock, knock. Jess? Are you home?”
“Up here! I am working in the baby room.”
Jessica’s father hurried up the stairs. “I grabbed your mail. I think you got a …” he paused as he walked in the room, “nice!” Jessica had been decorating. Her father helped paint the weekend before, but now there was life in the room. Pictures were up on the walls and baby supplies were neatly put away.
“Do you think Nate will like it?”
“He will love it! And speaking of Nate, I think you got a letter.”
Jessica smiled like a little kid getting candy. “Thanks, Dad.”
“I’ll wait downstairs. I brought dinner, so don’t be too long.”
“Alright.” She settled back in the new rocking chair and opened the letter.
Dear Jess,
We have had another rough week. I can’t go into details, but it has made me think of you and our unborn child. I love reading the letters you send and hearing about how you are changing. I read them over and over every day, clinging to every word as an individual blessing from you. The words you write are the lifeline that brings you to me each day. They soften the harsh distance separating us during this trying time in our lives. Without them, I could never survive the pain and suffering we endure here in this dreadful place.
On a more cheerful note, I thought of some possible names …
“Jones, I think you’ll like this.” Capt. Brown handed Nathan a thick envelope stamped “original orders.”
Nathan smiled, “thank you, sir!”
“When is she due?”
“In a few weeks, sir.”
Nathan hurried back to his tent and took out some paper. His hand shook with excitement as he wrote:
Dear Jess,
Our prayers have been answered - I’m coming home …
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Something to consider would be to add something unexpected--this covered familiar territory.
You really make your readers care about Jessica and Nathan, and cheer for their happy ending.