Mark Dunn - Ella Minnow Pea

Almost all the villagers, Mother tells me, are leaving — either moving to Town or to the States. She says that it’s nearly a ghost town up there now. As there are no more customers, the store is no longer open. This is all right, though, she says; victuals were starting to run scarce. Soon she will have to come to town as well, to move into my Aunt Gwenette’s house. (At least I will get to see her again. I truly miss her.) Uncle Amos, I am sorry to say, is no longer with us. There was a harsh exchange, Aunt Gwenette unhappy with his return to the alcoholic spirits! Now he lives with Uncle Isaac across town. Soon he will resolve one way or another — to leave or not to leave the isle.

Yes, that is now the topic on every lip. This salient, impertinent, Hamlettian choice.

To leave or not to leave.

To waive claim to our homes. To renounce our mother soil. To give up everything to those who warrant only our lowest contempt — to those who aspire to reign in outright tyranny, who misperceive Nollopian thoughts in service to rapacious intentions. Can they not see that we see what is happening here? Are we to them only silent, witless nonessentials — prostrate irrelevancies to step over in their march to own, to expropriate, to steal everything in sight — even our very tongues!

Nate, I have to tell you something important. I wasn’t going to; however, it seems crucial to me now that you have a true, complete account as to what is going on here.

I wrote the letters. The ones with the threats. Were anyone to learn this, it will mean my ruin, perhaps even my execution.

(Smuggler-courier: my very existence is in your palms!)

I love you, Nate. I miss you greatly.

Tassie

PS. The Mephistophelians live here. Not in the Orient. You will get my meaning later.

Six big devils from Japan quickly forgot how to waltz.

NOLLOPVILLE

Riggy-roo, Octopus 20

Mrs. Mittie,

Help us.

Please. Something appalling has put my son Timmy in harm’s way. The school says that he is eight. The school says he was eight last month. Since last month he has not given any care to what he says. He thought — we all thought — that he was exempt. That his exemption continues until Novemgroogy 13, when he turns eight. When he truly, legally turns eight. It seems that someone at the Village Archives got it wrong. Unless we can prove otherwise Timmy will have to leave Nollop. We haven’t the necessary papers to prove our claim. We lost our last home, you see, lost everything in it to Hurricane Elspeth. Perhaps you might go to the school — might locate something to prove that Timmy won’t turn eight until Novempoopy 13; thus Council proclamata cannot in any legal sense apply to him. Otherwise he will have to go!

We implore you.

Sincerely ,

Georgeanne Towgate

NOLLOPVILLE

Satto-gatto, Octarchy 21

Mrs. Towgate,

I went to the school. With my erstwhile colleague Miss Greehy’s assistance I spent the morning searching all the papers pertaining to your son. I must relay that nothing that might help your case came to our attention.

I am truly sorry.

Sincerely ,

Mittie Purcy

PS. The tempera picture on your letter’s verso is really lovely. I am partial to seascapes; it will gain a choice spot on my wall.

NOLLOPTON

Sunshine, Octangle 22

Sweet, sweet Mittie,

I have ghastly news. They have Tassie. She awaits trial as suspect in those recent anonymous threats to the Council. Come as soon as you can. In the event there is a guilty ruling, expulsion will not constitute a legally punitive option. Such a ruling will only result in something much, much worse. Something I venture not even to say.

Gwenette

[Upon the Minnow Pea kitchen table]

NOLLOPTON

Sunshine, Octane 22

Gwenette, loving spouse,

Ella, my Ella,

A slip-up near a police goon. Now only minutes away: a rap on the portal, then a hasty trip to Pier Seven. Will I see you two prior to my leave? I’m sorry to hear the news concerning Tassie. Who is her lawyer? Are they even allowing her counsel? I might suggest someone. There isn’t much time, though.

Will you see me go, or will you remain at the Correctional Center with Tassie? I will neglect something, I am sure. Without your help. What a help you have—

Enough!

I simply can’t do it anymore. And why should I? Why be so careful now? Moments away from transportation to the dreaded “Pier of Goodbyes.” What’s the point? What is there left to lose?

Like a retarded robot I go into the preprogrammed mode, placing my brain on high-alert to avoid these Nollop-frowned-upon devil letters. The devils aren’t in Japan! The devils are here. Satan is alive and well, right here in all his z-q-j-d-k-f-b, jumpy-brown-fox-slothful-pooch-quick-and-the-dead-glory — right here upon this devil’s island of hatred and anger and unconscionable, inconsolable loss.

Hide this letter. Hide it well, but let me say the things that I must say. Before it’s too late. Let me say that I love you both dearly. Let me say that I am so very sorry for returning to strong drink, for turning my back on you when you needed me most. Now that I have a voice, there are hundreds of other things I want to say. But cannot. Look into my heart and know them all.

And find it in your own hearts to forgive me.

You don’t have to see me off. I know you’re worried about Tassie. Be there with her, for her. But if you do come, please do me a small favor — a large favor, really. I’m not able to transport my miniature moonshine jugs to the pier. I would like to take them with me, though. You know that where I’m going they will be as good as money. You’ll find them in my studio — stored together — all ten dozen of them. Half that number should suffice. Put them in one of the little crates; they’ll be easier to convey that way.

Would you mind doing this one last thing for me? Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs?

Thank you.

Be well. Be safe.

Until we meet again.

Your loving husband and father ,

Amos

HIGH COUNCIL

Sunshine, Octonary 22

Notice to all Nollopians,

At precisely 12:00 tomorrow morning the letter “C” will cease to exist at all points on this isle. You will eschew its use or receive penalties as per earlier Council proclamata. We note that a “U” is gone as well. Its twin, however, remains intact.

Sincerely ,

Hamilton

Executive Secretary

Nollop High Council

Th* * ui** * r* wn* ox** mps ov* r the la* y** g

NOLLOPVILLE

Monty, Otter-paws 23

Mrs. Mittie,

I value, nonetheless, your going to the learny-house to help my son. Little Timmy values it as well.

He is gone now. Timmy. This morning. With Nash, my spouse. I must remain. I must remain, as I am without violation. Nash has two. One among us must stay. I am the one. Our home, our property — it’s all that we have, you see. Were we all to leave, they will expropriate it. They expropriate property, you’re aware, are you not?

Please exonerate me. In your heart. I am so sorry that I was the one to report your violations. I’m so sorry that I was to learn what is truly important in our lives too, too late.

Write me as well. When time permits. I am the last one on my street. It gets so still, so lonely here at night. Eerily still. Anguishingly lonely. Not, though, when the L. E. goons motor through — their horns wailing. Hooligans. As a rule, though, it is ghostly silent here.