Congratulations! 

The White Feather

"I am a pacifist, I will not kill another man!" Those words echo through my head over and over again. They are the words that my brother calmly spoke before he was taken five days ago by the army. I sit here thinking of him on the ship, travelling to Egypt to fight in a war he doesn't believe in. Suddenly my heart skips a beat. The creak of the letterbox opening and banging closed startles me. Slowly walking towards the door, my heart still in my mouth, I bend down and pick up the envelope. Unsealing it, a snow white feather floats to the ground softly, making me gasp. I gently pick it up and look at it for a long time. This is meant for my brother. Someone has sent this feather, a sign of cowardice. How dare they, they don't even know him. It takes a strong man to stand up for his beliefs and survive the punishment he will take from our army. We have heard what they do to conscientious objectors. He is no coward. I go through to the kitchen where mother is baking bread. I throw the feather down on the table, my eyes flashing with anger. She has mixed feelings, some days she is proud, some days angry, and some days the sadness inside her is too much to bear. She tells me to forget about the feather. She sits down and puts her head in her dusty hands, quietly asking me to go and get the weekly rations. Pulling on my leather buckle shoes I cautiously step out into the street. I look around nervously at people whispering to each other and glancing at me. Taking a brave breath I walk swiftly up the hill to the store. Entering the shop the bell jingles loudly above the door making everyone stop to look up at me. I take my place at the back of the line thinking more about my brother. How he was bravely courageous! Suddenly some whispering brings me back into the present. "Yes! She's the conscientious objectors sister." I look up to see two girls huddled next to each other, their eyes darting back and forth, eyeing me cautiously. I know their brothers wanted to go to war, proud to fight and kill the enemy. Sadly sighing, I hand my stamps to the shopkeeper and receive one bag of flour, a dozen eggs, and a pint of milk. Grabbing the rations I head out of the door not looking back at the two girls. I knew they were still watching me, I could feel their eyes burning into my back like the welts left by a school masters cane. Shuffling back along the street, the cold breeze whips the tears from my eyes. Grey cloudy sky looms over me. I know what Mother and I must face, the spiteful comments of those who don't approve of my brother, is nothing compared to what James is going through. Opening the door and stepping inside I hear gentle sobbing, rushing to the kitchen I see that mother is sitting by the fire, her heart breaking ripped apart like tree roots from the earth. I hold her hand softly and whisper to her quietly. "It's alright, he will get through it, if I know James, he will come home to us."

But I know in my heart that when James returns he won't be the same. I stare at the white feather lying on the table and I realise this is just the beginning.

By Ashleigh