Chapter 4

4: 4

4.

Once I was sure she'd gone, I studied the letter that had slipped out of the college acceptance letter.

The handwriting was neat and delicate, familiar somehow, but I couldn't place whose it was.

The paper was far better quality than anything I used.

The ink had a bright, vivid color.

Nothing like anything you'd find these days.

I turned it over and over.

At last, in the bottom right corner, I found a string of red numbers.

2008. How was that possible. This letter had come from thirty years in the future.

I thought of everything in the dream.

Could it be that my future self, dying, had written this letter to me now.

I gripped the paper tight.

Since I'd received this letter, since I'd had that dream.

This time, I would not let Amy get what she wanted.

David moved fast. The sky had barely darkened before he'd gathered all the sent-down youth.

Inside the village office, the kerosene lamp glowed dim and yellow.

But it couldn't hide the flush of joy on Amy's face.

"I've called everyone here tonight because there's something to announce. Sophie has gotten a college acceptance letter."

The youth in the room gasped.

"But she's giving up the spot to Amy."

A lot of them looked at me, confused.

"Amy is the daughter of our great hero. His old wounds have flared up, he's gravely ill, and Amy needs to return to the city."

Amy came toward me, eyes red, the ration coupons clutched in her hand.

"Sophie, my father and I will never forget your kindness. I earned these ration coupons with my work points. It isn't much, but it's from the heart."

I pushed her hand away and looked at Thaddeus Fox. "Mr. Fox, you're not finished."

Thaddeus took a hard pull on his pipe, and Amy stepped back.

"Sophie is a good, sensible girl. For our hero's sake, she's willing to give up this spot. I've called you all here to witness it. I've written the whole thing down, and everyone needs to sign it."

However confused they were, Thaddeus was the village head.

He held the future chance for every one of us to return to the city.

No one dared cross him.

Soon, all seventeen of them had signed their names.

David held up the paper for me to look at.

"How am I supposed to read it if you won't hand it over?"

Thaddeus gave a nod, and only then did David warily place the paper in my hands.

"I've already given the acceptance letter to Amy."

She nodded quickly.

"Mr. Fox, where's the village seal? I need to stamp it. And where's the ink pad? Everyone has to press their fingerprint."

Thaddeus's eyes narrowed.

Amy panicked. David flared up.

"Sophie, are you pushing your luck?"

"Pushing my luck? I've handed the college acceptance letter over. All I need is a stamp."

Thaddeus signaled David to go get it.

I watched with my own eyes as the red seal came down and every person pressed a fingerprint.

I read every single word on it, carefully.

David snatched the paper back.

Amy's tight brow relaxed.

She picked up the stack of ration coupons and tried to force it into my hands.

"Sophie, I don't know how to repay such a great kindness. Take these coupons, please."

"No need, I have my own. I'm giving you the acceptance letter only because you're the daughter of the great hero Edward Dickerson, not for your handful of coupons."

Displeased, she took them back and retreated behind the Fox father and son.

"Amy's train leaves tomorrow morning. Everyone can say a proper goodbye to her tonight."

The crowd dispersed. Amy was overjoyed.

The smile at the corners of her eyes wouldn't stop.

She went out with David.

In the village office, only Thaddeus and I remained.

"Sophie, what is it? Something else on your mind?"

I took out a square-folded sheet of paper.

"Mr. Fox, take a look."

His eyes went wide with shock.

"You're sure?"

"Yes!"

"When?"

"Tomorrow at noon. Later than Amy's train."

He smoked his pipe, thinking fast.

"If you've made up your mind, then I respect it."