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SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - DECEMBER 11, 1941
***
MR. PATRICK C. WHELAN
143 FRONT STREET, SOUTH PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
- I DEEPLY REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR SON, BEVAN A. WHELAN - UNITED STATES NAVY DIED DECEMBER 7, 1941 IN PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, UNITED STATES. HE SUSTAINED MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS TO HIS BODY WHILE EVACUATING FELLOW SAILORS DURING THE JAPANESE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR. PLEASE ACCEPT ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY OUR SINCERE SYMPATHY IN YOUR BEREAVEMENT. -
***
My heart was in my throat and I felt like I couldn't breathe. My stomach churned and I choked out sob after sob. My throat burned and ached and I longed for some relief but I knew that I wasn't going to get it. I was filled with so much pain and sorrow. I knew that I should be with my papa but I could barely get out of my own bed. I wanted so much for what the telegram said to be wrong. Maybe the Western Union down the street had made a mistake? No matter how badly I wished it was wrong, I knew in my heart that it was true. 
"Philly?"
I lifted my red and tear stained face from my pillows and looked over my shoulder to see Ed standing in my bedroom doorway. His face was white as a sheet. 
"Maggie, what happened? your father-" he started.
"Bevan," I choked out. "He was on a ship in Pearl Harbor. Western Union brought the telegram this morning." I held out the crumpled piece of paper towards him and returned my face to the pillows. 
Why did God have to take away my brother? He was papa's eldest and papa was so proud of him. Before mama died she was probably the proudest. We had his uniform pictures in the living room, postcards and other gifts from places he's been in papa's office, and I had collected different coins he had saved for me. Why did God have to take him away?
"Why did God have to take him away, Eddie?" I sniffled, sitting up and resting my head on his shoulder.
"I don't know, Philly. God works in mysterious ways, I guess. At least now he's with your mama."
Ed wrapped his arms around me and squeezed tightly, resting his chin on the top of my head.  We stayed like that for a long time until I felt like I was ready to go out and sit with my father. However, he had shut himself in his office and wouldn't come out for anyone. I knocked on the door a couple times to try and get a response but I received nothing. Sighing, I turned around and walked into the living room where Eddie was sitting and waiting on the sofa. After enlisting his help, we cleaned the entire house to to bottom that day. the only room I couldn't bring myself to touch was Bevan's. 
While Ed was cleaning the upstairs bathroom, I reached out a shaking hand to the door knob and gave it a gentle turn. The door creaked open as they are wont to do in an old house and I entered, stepping forward into his room. I ran my hand along his leather jacket that hung on the back hook, flipped through his sketchbooks and then came to a seat on the edge of his bed. Looking at his bedside table I noticed the last family picture we had together. Mama and Papa were on the ends, sandwiching Bevan and I together in the middle. I had my arms wrapped around Bevan's waist, hugging him tightly. In that moment, all I could thinking of was flying with him right after I got my pilot's license in the mail. I remember racing outside to one of our vehicles and racing to the airfield where I got to fly by myself for the first time. I remembered all the picnics we used to take by the airfield and the forts we would make by the rivers. We went to the movies and the diner together... He was my best friend and now I only had my papa and Eddie. I must have spent too long sitting in my brother's room because Eddie poked his head inside.