has been pestering you for help. She has assured me that you have encouraged her visits but please let me know if she is being an inconvenience.
With best wishes, and thanks again,
Nell
73. email from nell baker to angie griffiths
God forbid, poor Robyn should actually be allowed to have something good happen to her for the first time in years. I canât believe Dadâs been saying she stole from him. As if she would. What on earth would he have that she might want? His athleteâs foot cream? After your last email, I asked her straight out and it turns out she was visiting another resident at Pilgrim House whoâs been helping her with poetry. Sheâd wanted to thank him.
Anyway, it proves Brenda Lewis was right with her theory that nothing was ever taken from Dad in the first place. He must have been imagining things. Robyn doesnât even want him to know about her poem being published now, and Iâm inclined to agree. We are pretty practiced at keeping family secrets, after all. She says heâs made it clear he doesnât want to see her too. Thatâs why sheâs been talking to Martin.
Strange about this Martin Morris, though. Do you think I should be worried heâs taking such an interest? Iâve written to him just to let him know I know about him and Robyn. Best to have it out in the open.
Iâve just been up to her room and sheâs ripped Dadâs schedule off the wall. Instead sheâs put up a photograph of a baby fox blinking out from its hole. I guess thatâs what she feels like and I donât really feel like sticking up for Dad this time. I took the bits of the schedule, though. I didnât want to see them just thrown away.
Where are you by the way? Are you ever at home? You canât be out having fun anymore at least. Not now youâre pregnant!
74. letter from martin morris to nell baker
Dear Nell,
It has been my pleasure to spend time with Robyn so please donât apologise. She must make you very proud. I have been interested in poetry for a long time, and it is especially heartening to find a young person nowadays who appreciates my old favourites and doesnât find them â and me â too boring. She mentioned that you often quoted from some of the poems we have been looking at. She even thought you might have told her my own particular favourite line, âLove lies beyond the tomb, the earth, which fades like dew! I love the fond, the faithful and the trueâ. If you ever had time to join me for a cup of tea and a talk about poetry, it would make me very happy, but I understand that family visits come first, and, of course, your father may not want to share the pleasure of your company.
Yours,
Martin
75. letter from martin morris to mo griffiths
Dear Mo,
Iâve just written to Nell. It was so strange. I wanted to ask if she remembered coming to my studio when she was a little girl. She must have only been about three or four. Remember how you made me take all the pictures down from everywhere and put them in a cupboard. It took hours. You brushed her hair, and sat her on the stool but you wouldnât let me take her photograph. I loved to see you brush her hair, the comfort you gave her, the love. Many years later, I watched you both walking down the street. She was a teenager by then, too old to touch really, but I saw you just lift your hand and touch her hair at the back. I donât think she even noticed, or if you wanted her to. You held your fingers a few inches from her head and then, Iâll never forget this, you put your hand up to your face and shut your eyes. You were inhaling your daughter.
It doesnât look as if anyone has brushed Nellâs hair or loved her like that for years. But donât you fear, if I couldnât save you, Iâll save her.
M
Communications 76-100
76. email from nell baker to angie griffiths
Me again. Just to say how wrong can you be? I got a letter from
With best wishes, and thanks again,
Nell
73. email from nell baker to angie griffiths
God forbid, poor Robyn should actually be allowed to have something good happen to her for the first time in years. I canât believe Dadâs been saying she stole from him. As if she would. What on earth would he have that she might want? His athleteâs foot cream? After your last email, I asked her straight out and it turns out she was visiting another resident at Pilgrim House whoâs been helping her with poetry. Sheâd wanted to thank him.
Anyway, it proves Brenda Lewis was right with her theory that nothing was ever taken from Dad in the first place. He must have been imagining things. Robyn doesnât even want him to know about her poem being published now, and Iâm inclined to agree. We are pretty practiced at keeping family secrets, after all. She says heâs made it clear he doesnât want to see her too. Thatâs why sheâs been talking to Martin.
Strange about this Martin Morris, though. Do you think I should be worried heâs taking such an interest? Iâve written to him just to let him know I know about him and Robyn. Best to have it out in the open.
Iâve just been up to her room and sheâs ripped Dadâs schedule off the wall. Instead sheâs put up a photograph of a baby fox blinking out from its hole. I guess thatâs what she feels like and I donât really feel like sticking up for Dad this time. I took the bits of the schedule, though. I didnât want to see them just thrown away.
Where are you by the way? Are you ever at home? You canât be out having fun anymore at least. Not now youâre pregnant!
74. letter from martin morris to nell baker
Dear Nell,
It has been my pleasure to spend time with Robyn so please donât apologise. She must make you very proud. I have been interested in poetry for a long time, and it is especially heartening to find a young person nowadays who appreciates my old favourites and doesnât find them â and me â too boring. She mentioned that you often quoted from some of the poems we have been looking at. She even thought you might have told her my own particular favourite line, âLove lies beyond the tomb, the earth, which fades like dew! I love the fond, the faithful and the trueâ. If you ever had time to join me for a cup of tea and a talk about poetry, it would make me very happy, but I understand that family visits come first, and, of course, your father may not want to share the pleasure of your company.
Yours,
Martin
75. letter from martin morris to mo griffiths
Dear Mo,
Iâve just written to Nell. It was so strange. I wanted to ask if she remembered coming to my studio when she was a little girl. She must have only been about three or four. Remember how you made me take all the pictures down from everywhere and put them in a cupboard. It took hours. You brushed her hair, and sat her on the stool but you wouldnât let me take her photograph. I loved to see you brush her hair, the comfort you gave her, the love. Many years later, I watched you both walking down the street. She was a teenager by then, too old to touch really, but I saw you just lift your hand and touch her hair at the back. I donât think she even noticed, or if you wanted her to. You held your fingers a few inches from her head and then, Iâll never forget this, you put your hand up to your face and shut your eyes. You were inhaling your daughter.
It doesnât look as if anyone has brushed Nellâs hair or loved her like that for years. But donât you fear, if I couldnât save you, Iâll save her.
M
Communications 76-100
76. email from nell baker to angie griffiths
Me again. Just to say how wrong can you be? I got a letter from
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