When the Snow Fell

Written in the house by the river

My name is Joel. My dad is Samuel. Our surname is Gustafson. On the wall in the house where we live is a ship called Celestine, in a display case. I think it is similar to the Bounty. We live on the bank of a river where ships never ride at anchor. All that flows past here is tree trunks, logs; the water is cold, there aren’t any palm trees. But in the summer we hear the whining of mosquitoes.

We’re going to travel to Pitcairn Island, my dad and I.

I can’t say when we’ll arrive, because I don’t know when it will be possible for us to set off. Maybe when the snow has melted away and spring has come? One can always hope.

Do you ever have snow on Pitcairn Island? It’s not possible to work that out by looking at a map. But if you do have snow, I can bring my skis with me. Samuel is very bad at skiing.

We’ve read about your mutiny, and we think you did the right thing. Captain Bligh was a cruel man. He didn’t understand how bad things were for the crew. How hard it can be to leave paradise. Where women wander along the beaches in transparent veils with nothing on underneath. Fletcher was a hero. May he rest in peace.

We shall be traveling to Pitcairn Island in order to live there. Do you have a B&B place? It will have to be cheap, as we don’t have much money.

Samuel wonders if there’s a school. But I don’t think that’s very important.

Samuel can chop down trees in the forest. He’s very good at that. If you have a forest, of course.

As for me, Joel Gustafson, I’m still very childish. But I don’t normally cause any trouble.

When we get there, it would be great if a woman wearing transparent veils could surprise Samuel on the beach.

Me as well.

With best wishes,

Joel Gustafson

Written this 19th day of December.