Condemned

• Jill Flockhart, Grade 11, Marrara Christian School
• Short Story
• 2015

Excellence Award in the 'The Write Track 2015' competition

23/2/1922
Letter of conviction;
Name: Dr. James Wilson
Crime: Manslaughter
Sentence: Two years in solitary confinement
Privileges: Letters

25/3/1922
Dear James,
Jamie my good fellow! What have you gotten yourself into this time? I hear you are being held at Westbrook, shan’t be helped I suppose. I apologize for not being able to visit during the trial, travelling and such. I wouldn’t have been much help anyhow. Well yes…I heard about the accident. Now James you know me better than to ask trivial questions, what has been done has been done. I trust you acted rightly. A man must do what a man must do after all.


Theodor
28/3/1922
Dear daddy,
Mommy is writing this for me. What is it like there? I hope you make a lot of friends so you won’t be lonely without me and mommy. I turned 8 eight today so I tried cooking, just like mommy cooks but I forgot to pluck the feathers off it and Mistress got mad that I wasted a chicken. Mistress overreacts. When will you come back daddy?
PS It didn’t stop her from eating it.
Claire
5/5/1922
Dear James,
Hello again James. I’ve realized it must be quite uneventful in that tiny cell so I decided I will share the stories of my travels with you. So far, I am on a train heading back to Carlton. There has been an outbreak of sickness, mostly in children. You’re the doctor, maybe you would know something about that?

Theodor
8/6/1922
Dear James,

I’m sorry it has taken me so long to write…. I just couldn’t think of what to say… If you must know, I don’t hold it against you. The patient was suffering and you took him away from it. Still…two years is a long time…and Claire is still coughing ever so much.
Remember I love you.
Your wife, Hazel


13/1/1923
To James,
It has come to my attention that your daughter, is suffering from a certain influenza, Polio I believe? You, being the only doctor in your estate, puts you in a rather, inconvenient, circumstance. I own a certain medical facility that has, in fact, found a cure. However, it is quite costly. But surely you would do anything to save your daughter?
Sir. Westbrook

9/4/1923
To James,
Thank you for your business.
Sir. Westbrook

16/4/1923
Dear James,
Do worry not about me and Claire. We will move into Theodor’s estate. Claire will be cured now. Remember we love you.
Your Loving wife,
Hazel
20/8/1923
To daddy,
Mistress was crying last night. I’m going to be okay right daddy?

Claire
27/8/1923
To James,
the Bastard! Westbrooke says this cure works but Claire’s no better! He’s taken your life, estate, and now he’s going to try take your daughter! I won’t let him James I promise you as your brother!

Theodor

7/9/1923
To James,
The cure is non-refundable.

Sir. Westbrook

30/12/1923
James,
I am so sorry…… I will take care of Hazel for you.
Theodor