Our ANZAC In The Attic

• Chapter 24 •

{ Lucy Hamilton }
[ 27th November 1915 ]
"Postie! Postie!" I heard Trevor announce at around 6:30 in the morning.
"Be quiet Trev!" James yelled out.
"Yeah go back to sleep Trev!" Lincoln called out, his voice muffled by the feather down quilt.
I had the Shearer boys again, they added life to our little house and they helped me with Alistair.
"Luce he's got a letter!" Trevor ran into my room. I threw back the covers and pulled my gown across my shoulders. I twisted the door to reveal a smiling postman,
"Goodmorning ma'am," Gilbert greeted.
"Hello sir," I shook his hand, he handed me the letter and a parcel that looked as if it was from New Zealand.
"Have a great day Mrs Shearer, seeya boys!" Gilbert winked with a smile, my heart skipping a beat.
Mrs Shearer. He just called me Mrs Shearer.
"Go wave goodbye boys," I told them as the three of them ran down to the fence.
"CATCHYA LATER GILBERT!"
I looked down at the letter lodged in my hand, in lead pencil Shearer's messy link script read;
Mrs Lucy Shearer
39 Baker Street, Hillford South Australia, Australia, 5891
"C'mon boys breakfast time," I called and they ran back up the steps.
"Can we open the parcel please Luce?" James asked tugging on my dressing gown.
"We'll see, Linc could you go and get Alistair for me please?" I placed my hand on his shoulder. He smiled up at me and slowly walked down the passage way.
"Right eggs? Bacon?" I questioned the little boys who cheered eagerly.
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"Luce we have to go!" Lincoln ushered.
"I know Linc you can tell your brother to get off the top cabinet," I replied.
Lincoln didn't just tell Trevor to get down, he grabbed him, slung him over his shoulder and carried him out the door. James and Alistair were in fits of laughter as I laid Lincoln's bat and ball in the pram.
"Out on the board, the old shearer stands, grasping his shears in his thin bony hands," Lincoln started to sing. He was a good singer, just like the other Shearer brothers.
"Fixed is his gaze on a bare bellied yoe!" James grinned.
"Glory if he gets her won't he make the ringer go!" Trevor swung his arm into the air as he rode upon Lincoln's back.
"Ready sing with us Ali," Linc smiled at the baby who clapped happily.
"Click go the shears, boys, click, click, click, wide is his blow and his hands move quick, the ringer looks around and is beaten by a blow, and curses the old snagger with the bare-bellied yoe," the boys chorused, grins spread across all four of their faces.
"In the middle of the floor, in his cane bottomed chair sits the boss of the board with his eyes everywhere, notes well each fleece as it comes to the screen, paying strict attention that it's taken off clean!" I sang, shocking the boys with my knowledge of the lyrics.
"This it's Lincoln's part," Trevor informed me.
Lincoln grinned, "The tar boy is there, awaiting in demand,
with his blackened tar pot, in his tarry hand, sees one old sheep with a cut upon its back; here is what he's waiting for it's," "Tar here Jack!" we all bellowed with laughter.
"Shearing is all over and we've all got our cheques, so roll up your swags, boys, we're off on the track, the first pub we come to, it's there we'll have a spree, and everyone that comes along, it's," James sang looking up and Trevor.
"Come and drink with me!" Trevor cheered, making Alistair squeal with laughter. As we got closer to the oval, we could hear voices calling out,
"LINC HURRY UP! QUICK YOU'RE BATTING FIRST!" Tom Granger yelled, his deep voice echoing down the street. Lincoln put Trev down and grabbed his bat off the pram. "Run Lincoln!" I ushered making him smile and bolt for the gate.
"Why can't we play Lucy?" James asked.
"Well I don't see why you can't, Trevor's a bit little but you could for sure," I told him. James was a butting footballer, he was never really one for cricket. He and Lincoln were total opposites.
"Hey Luce!" Cassie waved as we made it to the grandstand.
"Hey Cass, right what are you boys gonna do?" I asked the two of them.
"We'll go play with the other 'little brothers'," James sighed before running off with Trevor hot on his heels. Cassie, Alistair and I made our way onto the soft grass that would be brown by the end of the summer.
"Guess what came through this morning," I smirked, taking Alistair out of the pram and placing him on the ground before sitting down myself and revealing the letter. Cassie sat down and read the front, he jaw dropped and her hand flew over her mouth.
"Mrs Shearer, Lucy!" Cassie threw her arms around me as we both laughed.
"I can't believe it," she wiped her eye.
"I haven't opened it yet," I said.
"Hurry up!" Cassie ushered.
I slowly opened the envelope, my hand shaking slightly. The two certificates were snatched from my hand, "both signed by Shearer and Ollie and Harry," Cassie grinned. "Let me read the letter,"
I unfolded it and began;
"My sweet Lucy, signed, sealed and delivered. I'm trying to come to terms with the fact I have a wife now, how amazing does it feel? Look after that ring, it took me a good 100 hours of work to get that. Wear it proudly my darling. Not a lot has been going on here, except yes, snow is real and so is sleet and mud. Blimey it gets cold. But my love I was given a camera, about a week ago by a bloke named Charles Bean, he's a journo and wanted to capture the war through a snipers eyes. I think I've found a new hobby, and I also think I better share the things I see with you. Harry took a few of me and Ollie took one of the peninsula. We also have one that someone gave to Harry. Enjoy them my sweet, I'll see you in my dreams. Love always, Shearer," I unfolded the letter and revealed the cardboard photographs.