Eddie arrives in the valley as a little boy, and is part of the “second chance” for Amy that gives one of my books its title.
He’s a tall, striking-looking young fellow, with red hair, blue eyes, and a lovable nature. He’s always called Eddie within the family, and generally Ed by his friends as he grows up. His formal name is Edmund. Story-internal he’s named after an uncle who died in infancy; story-external I gave him the name partly after Edmund of the Narnia books, and partly for the much-loved New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary. The latter has turned out to be particularly appropriate, as Eddie is something of an explorer (another E).
Life could have taken a very different turn for Eddie, as he came close to ending up in a boys’ home. This would at best have been a spartan institution, and at worst a grim place indeed.
These boys are probably in one of the better homes; at the very least they appear to have plenty of fresh air:
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| Boys outside the Mercy Jenkins Boys’ Home, Eltham, Taranaki. Standish, R :Photographs of Eltham. Ref: 1/2-044821-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22758224 |
Eddie has instead found himself with a very comfortable life and a loving family. I’m pleased to say that he’s been brought up to appreciate his advantages.
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What an amazing photograph. There’s such a combination of wild and structured.
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Yes, even down to the boys lined up so neatly in order of age. And the combination of European flowers and a small grove of native plants (the spiky palm-like plants on the left).
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Good idea for a theme! I’m always interested in knowing more about other writers’ processes. Characterization is a fascinating subject to discuss. I’m an A to Z-er too!
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Thanks for visiting, Lillian!
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Such a striking image, so regimented. They’re like little boys soldiers, though very well turned out.
donnaalam.com
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Supplying potential soldiers for the Empire was considered a worthy goal in those days!
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I love the photo!
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Great, isn’t it? Imagine getting all those kids lined up so neatly!
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Enjoyed this a lot!
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Thanks, Judy!
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