#mary may have been an oopsie baby but tbh i sort of love her

[sablebay]

winter, 1910

the train from britchester was a long one, and the sun was beginning its descent by the time henry made it home to brindleton bay. he has promised he'd be home in time for winterfest dinner. no sooner had he rounded the corner from the station to the familiar main street, then he heard his name shouted across the square. "henry!" at the end of the block stood a gangly mary - a teenager now, if only just - and henry stopped in his tracks when he realized how quickly his little sister had grown in his absence. he had little time to recover from the revelation before she had barreled into his chest, knocking him back a step with the force, hugging him fiercely. "you must tell me everything! mother reads the letters you send, but i know you don't tell her any of the interesting bits," she insisted, her grin wide. henry laughed, "it's school, mary, not a party." "it's university," she corrected, "so, yes it is. louis appleton says so." he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and began the walk back to the farm. "well, i guess if if louis appleton says so..."