Justine O’Keefe

author of two novels and a memoir, as well as essays and short fiction; former teacher

That evening, under the sloping ceiling of her cramped room, Gemma sat at her writing table. Composing her daily letter to Lionel helped to fill the long, lonely periods between his infrequent visits. Throughout the day, as she went about her routine of chores and errands she mentally compiled fragments of news to share with him. She'd tell how Gramp had praised her latest batch of biscuits or how pleased Grammy had been with the perfect bouquet of violets she had picked for her. She'd complain of having to babysit the unruly Stiles children or write about how she and her friend Annie had tended the handcraft booth at the Heritage Day Festival. There was something about sharing these ordinary occurrences of daily life that made her feel closer to him.

Tonight though, stymied by the letter she had failed to mail, Gemma didn't know what to write. Pulling the envelope from her pocket, she laid it on the table, then impulsively slit it open and removed the several sheets of coarse lined paper.

from Scattered Pages by Justine O’Keefe (Abbot Press)