"We remember and thank all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and country on this ANZAC day."  – Unknown

Date: April 25th, 2017

Occasion: ANZAC Day

Countries: Australia and New Zealand

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VIII | Love, Poppy

April 20th, 5:00 pm

Dear Greyson,

Well, it's been a century since Gallipoli, aye? I didn't even exist at the time, but I still feel all the pain and sorrow as if I was there, on that day, with those dying soldiers. Actually, that may be heartburn from eating too many wicked wings from KFC, but I'm trying to make this letter heartfelt, so shut your face.

So, you're on a flight to New Zealand to visit your great grandfather, and I'm sitting here alone, writing you a letter. Funny how that was the exact opposite last year huh, when my grandma passed? You spent the entire week trying to cheer me up by making me do the Macarena and wear a purple feather boa while screaming the lyrics to the entire Divide album by Ed Sheeran. That's why I love you.

But I can't be there with you right now. Not when it's meant to be just you and your great-grandpapa. I know I'm some hella fine company, but the reason I refused to go with you is because you need to accept his death. You keep pushing it away, you know, pretending that he doesn't exist. Maybe he's Casper the Friendly Ghost. I never watched that show, I was always more of a Powerpuff Girls and Kim Possible kind of person.

Either way, you and him need to chat. Not literally though. Imagine chatting to a smiling grandpapa skeleton wielding a shotgun? I would rather do the Macarena with Kim Jong Un than see that. Anyway, his service to Aussie and them bros in New Zealand needs to be acknowledged, Greyson, and I'm sure he'd appreciate it from his own son of all people. Show him your love, mate, or I'll slap you in the face with a cactus.

Love,
Poppy

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April 21st, 7:35 am

Dear Greyson,

What up, day two without the Grayson-and-Poppy duo! I know you're only a two hour flight away, but when you're someone who gets dizzy while shaking your hair dry, airplanes aren't exactly an option. How's New Zealand for you? I've never been, so I don't know what it's like there. Do they have kiwi birds running all over the place? Aw, imagine tiny plump birds with their stubby little legs, scurrying around on the footpath! So cute.

The landscapes there too, I've heard that they're beautiful. As long as Gaia doesn't go nuts and swallow you up, you're good. Take some nice pictures for me, and make sure to bloody well visit the place where they filmed The Hobbit. Do Kiwis live in hobbit holes? I asked one of them that question and they accidentally spilled their nachos all over my shirt five minutes later, which wasn't exactly an answer. You reckon they were offended?

On another note, Aussie's still pretty great. People have started pinning those fake poppies to their shirt that you buy for a few gold coins, I forget. In a strange way, I find this time of year hilarious. Did I ever tell you why? Well, I'm telling you anyway. Since my name's Poppy, every time I tell anyone my name, they freak out. I think there's some kind of stigma around the flower at this time.

Never mind that though, have you visited your great grandpapa yet? Or is your family going on the 25th? Either way, I wish you guys all the luck and love. Mum's nagging me to scrub the dishes otherwise she's going to scrub them with my face, so I need to wrap this up pretty quick. Just remember that his death wasn't futile, okay? He passed knowing that he served our countries with all his ability. Be thankful for that. Later, sexy meatball.

Love,
Poppy

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April 22nd, 7:07 pm

Dear Greyson,

Day three and I'm alive? What a miracle! Right, so that's the most insensitive attempt at humour I've ever done, therefore I will grovel on my knees. Let's pretend that I bothered doing that, shall we? So, how's the farm land? Okay, that's rich coming from me. How's the sheep land? Nope, that's not better. If this letter is ever intercepted by a New Zealander, I'd like to issue an apology for being a stereotyping cunt with no off switch.

It's cool though, isn't it, that your heritage comes from both Aussie and NZ? I mean, your great grandparents were Kiwis, and then your grandpa married an Australian girl. Next thing you know, the product of their sexy time marries your Australian father and bam, you pop out! I'm so glad that you did, I don't know what my life would have been like without you. I'd probably be chilling by myself and binge watching Supernatural.

Actually, that's not a bad way to live.

Anywho, your great grandfather's sending his love your way, and you're probably asking how the hell I know that. Well, dear pal, I may have a connection with Nico Di Angelo! Nah, I'm kidding. As much as I wished that kid existed, because I would have seriously wanted to play Mythomagic with him, he's just a book character. Oh, the sad life.

Never mind that though, we were actually studying ANZAC Day in class today. Did you know that ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps? For the longest time, I thought it stood for Astronauts Neglecting Zebras After Christmas but I suppose that wouldn't have been important enough to have a public holiday about. 

Then again, tomorrow is National Zucchini Bread Day, so I guess anything could happen. I miss you, Grayson, but I'm still going to slap with a cactus when you get back, because I'm such a caring girlfriend like that.

Love,
Poppy

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April 23rd, 12:57 pm

Dear Greyson,

Two days before ANZAC my boyfriend gave to me, a bouquet of flowers which arrived at my house this morning! I hope you sang that in the right Christmas tune. Anyway, because mum didn't order the delivery, she thought there was dynamite in there. She's so paranoid. Oh, and how are your parents doing? Send them my love, darling.

Wait, why did I call you darling? I think I'm on a high from the gorgeous flowers, because damn, you sure know how to be romantic.

I know what you always say over text, that it's so much easier to call or Skype. I'm sure glad you didn't say FaceTime, otherwise I might have had to shove some of these pretty petals down your throat. But I think it's way cuter with these letters, don't you? I know you secretly love them. I mean, I saw tears leaking out of your eyes while watching A Walk To Remember. Don't give me that onion cutting bullshit, you love mushy stuff.

The air's constantly humming as people exchange sorrow for others' losses, and I think there's something so beautiful about that. That our country is uniting over this single day, once a year, every year, and giving their thanks to the people who were heroes.

Man, you don't know how much I want to visit NZ. Aussie's fantastic, but it's too friggin' hot. The Kiwis are chill. That's what New Zealanders call themselves, right? They're so exotic and serene, though I've heard them bitch about how expensive things are. They're also big on rugby, right? With the– um– what's their name? The All Blacks and their hakas, I think. Yeah, that's the one.

Either way, I give all my love to your awesome great grandpapa. I would have loved to meet him, and so would you. He's family, and don't you forget that, otherwise you're going to have a nice face-to-face conversation with a cactus soon.

Love,
Poppy

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April 24th, 9:00 am

Dear Greyson,

It's the day before ANZAC Day. I know the look you on your face when you read this, like, "nah, Pops, I thought it was Guy Fawkes!" I always found it so weird when you called me Pops. Isn't that what people call their fathers? I'd make a great father, if only I didn't have a uterus and all. The nickname's become endearing, and so have you. I miss you so much, and it hasn't even been a week. This is an important occasion though.

Even though I've never had family fight in this war, it means something special to me. Poppy by name, Poppy by nature, Poppy by occasion. I know I'm not Australian by blood, but those soldiers means as much to me as they do to you. I remember when we were arguing and you said that I had no reason to care about ANZAC Day. Looky here, now I do!

Tomorrow's a public holiday, and I'm probably not going to write to you any more after that. I mean, we have the world of social media and calling, right? But also because I believe that you need to have some alone time with your great grandpapa, exchange some heart-to-hearts. Don't give me excuses, it's not stupid to talk to a grave. Don't be embarrassed! Be proud that he gave it his all. Be appreciative.

Say hi to the New Zealand poppies for me, sexy meatball. I'll make sure I tend to the Aussie ones, and you better make sure that you visit Narnia. I was going to send you a box of chocolates, but I ended up eating them all. Would you prefer a cactus instead?

Happy almost ANZAC day, sexy Greyson.

Love,
Poppy

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A/N: I hope I got the info in this chapter right! I'm a Kiwi, so this is one of the few holidays in this anthology that I actually grew up with :') let me know what you think!