Part 1; Introduction

Late October 1918- Sumter, Ontario, Canada

It was a chilly autumn day quite restless, the autumn wind shaking the leaves of the trees. 22 year old Maud was working in the fields with her sister Irene on their family farm. "Its quite a cold day" muttered Maud to Irene she nodded "Yes, I just want to get this done. I want to go down to the Spaarbeck's house" while working at the crops she asked "Why are you going to the Spaarbecks?"

Irene sighed "Because the children. their ill with the Spanish flu" Maud gasped "really are they badly ill" her sister nodded. This was a new reality in the small town Spanish flu was a new disease among them killing whole families and with a war going on it didn't help matters much. This new wave was more deadly especially to the young.

"Okay go Irene, I'll finish the work here you go ahead" she told her sister. Irene smiled "Thanks don't tell father. He worries for me to catch it." Maud nodded. Irene walked off then yelled "Thanks sis".

It did not take long for her to finish the work in the field, she then milked the cows for the night. She went into the house and got ready to retire for the night. She first said goodnight to her parents. Alfred and Susanne Bram were good farmers and well respected among the town. Alfred had black hair with grey streaks dark blue-gray eyes, his wife Susanne known as Sue had blonde hair like Maud but green eyes like Irene, she also had gray streaks she smiled at her youngest child. "Off to bed Maudie?" she affectionately questioned her daughter. "Yes mama, is Irene back yet?" her mother shook her head "No do you know were she went off to." Alfred sighed "she better not be "nursing" people again she is going to get sick. I just read in the paper that a young nurse from Gateswater, that works in Toronto has contracted the Spanish flu and died."

"Do we know her?" Sue asked her husband "No but I know her father he's a fellow farmer names William Edgar, its his eldest June. She's the same age as Irene" Sue cried out "That poor girl. When is this all going to end the war, this outbreak"

"Hopefully soon, goodnight" she called walking upstairs to the room she shared with her sister. She climbed into the bed. It did not take long for sleep to come to her.

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few hours later

She felt a cold hand touched her shoulder shaking her "Maud, Maud" it yelled. She fluttered her eyes open only to find Irene shaking her. "What is it Irene, what time is it?" she moaned "It is 5am, get up you must hurry" she urged her sister "Why the cows can wait another hour" she groaned.

"Come it's serious" she called out Irene made her way to the wardrobe grabbing a gray dress of her sister's and some simple stockings. "Why are the Spaarbeck children alright? I thought you and Dr. Sidey had it under control" Her sister shook her head "No they are okay for now its not them. It's Elizabeth she's sick she has it. Dr. Sidey says it serious lets go". She immediately dress and ran out of the house with her sister heading to the Barclay farm.

For as long as Maud and Elizabeth have been alive they had been friends. The girls both born and raised in little Sumter had lived next door to each other. Maud and Elizabeth were infants when Maud's mother Sue befriended Elizabeth's mother Florence Linton. Their daughters played with each other and became friends they were as close as sisters. Going to school together, joined at the hip. Liz as Maud called her affectionately since they were 3 had no siblings she was her parents only child and often lonely had Maud. She always was at the Bram's farm she had brown hair and golden hazel eyes, and was commonly referred to as the Sumter beauty.

Everyone knew Elizabeth Linton as a kind and caring soul. Sue often referred to Liz as her "third child" because she was around so often. When the girls were ten tragedy enter little Liz's life many months earlier she was told by her mother that she was finally going to be a big sister. Maud remembered that time when Liz came out to the farm and screamed "Maud I am going to be a sister Mama said so" she remembered her friend's hazel eyes burning bright her friend's joy.

But it was not to be one cold December day Sue was summoned to the Linton farm. Maud looked back on that day as one of the most horrible days of her life. She recollected back when the two stood outside the farmhouse hearing her friend's mother's screams and her friends's father James' pacing and eventually sobs. She thought back to when he came out to his daughter sat her on his lap on the porch and told her the baby and her mother were dead. Florence Linton had a long agonizing labor she birthed a stillborn son. She died not long after from blood loss. The funeral was horrid the mother and baby who was called John were buried together. The loss always affected Liz and Maud. The girls grew and when they were both eighteen in 1915 Liz met Ray, who was new in town. He was handsome man with curly black hair and dark brown eyes and very tall he swept Liz off her feet and they married two months after his arrival and the next year in June 1916 their baby girl Beatrice Maud Barclay was born. Ray had never liked Maud very much he thought she was annoying, Maud felt he was boring and egotistical, she found the way he did things annoying but she loved Liz so she ignored the pain in the neck.

Maud and Irene ran and made it to the farm half an hour later Dr. Sidey the new doctor in town was there already. He was talking to Ray, Maud walked in a saw Ray he was pale and looked concerned he looked over to Maud and glared at her. He thought in his head "what is she going to do here?. She probably going to talk poor Liz's head off, she is already very ill must she add to it ?".

Maud turned to the young doctor and asked "Doctor how is Liz, may I see her?" the Doctor turned his grave face and said "She is not well, you can go in but don't stay too long in the room she needs rest." She nodded "Thank you Doctor" she walked past Ray returning the glare back to him and made her way up the stairs.

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She entered the narrow hall and walked by she heard crying in the room on the far left. She entered there in the crib cried the a little toddler of 2 little Beatrice standing in her crib holding her hands out to Maud. "Oh Bee its alright" she held the toddler and rocked her, the little brunette and brown eyed girl snuggled into her chest. Irene came in "Give her to me Maud I've got her go see Liz" she handed Bee to Irene and walked out and entered the main bedroom across the hall.

She saw Liz lying in her bed pale her hair full wet with sweat. "Liz are you awake?" she called to her friend "Yes" Liz relined. "How are you" Liz opened her eyes and looked at her friend "Could be better, is Bee alright I heard her" Maud sat on the edge of the bed "Yes Irene is in there taking care of her" Liz smiled "Good old Irene, Ray is downstairs I assume with the doctor I hope the bill won't be a terrible expense for him" she sighed.

"How can you say that Liz, your sick" she laughed then coughed "I know but it's expensive. All this fuss I will be fine" Maud shook her head "The Doctor says its Spanish flu. Its such an unpredictable disease" she got off the bed and face her friend "I know Maud let's not argue. I very tired"

"of course the Doctor said not to stay long. Just get better I am staying here until then Irene and I will nurse you and care for Bee" she smiled "Thank you Maudie. You are the best". Maud left the room and returned downstairs.