A story of two people, told through letters.
Dear Sal,
I hope you’re doing well. It’s started snowing here, and it’s getting colder. I hope you still have those gloves that your Great-Aunt Cecilia knitted you a few years ago—they’re really quite nice, and your skin is going to get chapped if you’re not careful.
I saw your mother the other day. She doesn’t have your address, so I told her I’d send you a letter myself and let you know she says hello. She’s looking lovely these days. She told me she’s on a new diet or something. Nothing but green vegetables and iced tea. Or was it iced vegetables and green tea? I can’t remember. Still, like I said, she looks nice. She misses you.
Anyway, there’s a reason I’m writing. Well, obviously the main reason is that I don’t have your phone number, but that's beside the point. Either way, I needed to ask you about something. The other day, I was looking for this notebook I used to have, and I think I might have given it to you before you left. It has a lovely light blue cover and unlined pages. If I’m remembering right, I gave it to you so you would have something to write letters with, but I really should’ve given you something with lines. Whenever I try to write without them, everything just gets so crooked. I don’t know if you’ve used it or not, but I’d really like it back. It was a birthday present from my aunt Lucille. I think she brought it back from Japan.
If you have time, I’d love for you to come out and visit me. You’re more than welcome to stay at my place as long as you’d like—you know my guest room is just sitting there collecting dust, and my husband, Sam, makes some fantastic pancakes. I know you two would get along just great. He’s one of those guys who work with baseball numbers, figuring out player statistics and that sort of thing. I hope you still have time to watch baseball. I still have all your cards in my attic—I found them the other day when I was looking for my notebook.
We’d love to have you, but if you can’t make it, just slip my notebook in the mail when you get a chance. I’d really like to have it back.
Hugs and kisses,
Clarissa҉
Dear Sal,
I hope you’re alright! I know I tend to worry, but I haven’t heard from you in a few weeks and I just thought I’d write again in case you missed my other letter. I've had a lovely last couple of weeks. You know the end of the year is always busy in the office, but this year has gone really smoothly. I think it's the new management. I hope you're staying warm! Our bay window frosted over the other night.
I know how you are, and I know you probably didn't really think too much about coming up to visit us, but I think you'd have a good time. You could come up for Christmas! We have a great tree this year. Sam drove the truck up to the mountains with a couple of his friends the other day and got a really lovely fir. I don't know how I ended up with them, but somehow I got all the family ornaments. There's one with a picture of you on it wearing that horrible yellow jumpsuit your father insisted on dressing you in when you were too young to know any better. We have one of your sister, too, and all your cousins. They're absolutely adorable.
Now, I don't want you to think that I'm only asking you to visit because I want my notebook back, but I do have to mention it. I've really been thinking about it a lot lately, and I'm worried that you're not writing back because you don't have it anymore. It's alright if you don't, honey. I'd never be angry at you for that kind of thing, especially since I did give it to you. If you used it up or got rid of it, of course I wouldn’t hold it against you. Don't ever think that.
I've included a new pair of gloves. I thought you might have lost the ones that Cecilia knitted for you (which is also fine and I don't want you to think that I'm blaming you for anything) so I went to the thrift store and I found these. They're very warm, and I think you'll like them a lot. They had a pair of black ones, but I got you the blue ones instead because I always thought you had too much black in your wardrobe. I know the ones Cecilia knitted for you were pink, but it was only because that was the yarn she had laying around. I'm sure she wasn't suggesting anything.
Anyway, I hope you're alright, and we'll look forward to hearing from you soon!
Love,
Clarissa
Dear Sal,
I still haven't heard from you, honey! I'm starting to think I might have the wrong address, but wouldn't the postal service take care of that? Of course, everything's so automated now--maybe no one's around to pay attention to that sort of thing anymore. Well, either way, I hope you're getting these letters. I'd much rather you be ignoring me on purpose than lying frozen in a ditch somewhere. I know that doesn't really happen all that often, but I can't help worrying. That's what all those violent TV shows will do to you--Sam says they make me more paranoid by the minute, but you know what they say: it's only paranoia if it's not true!
And there I go again, getting of topic! I ran into your mom again the other day. I didn't want her worrying, so I told her you'd mailed me back and were doing just fine in Fort Lauderdale. You might actually think about Florida one of these days. Sam and I went down there last winter for a couple of months, and we had the most delicious oranges in the backyard of the little house we rented. They were wonderful! Speaking of food, are you getting enough to eat? I know it's hard to come by fruits and veggies in March--we look through the ads every week and get some pretty good deals, but it's still tough. We eat a lot of frozen veggies this time of year (of course, we defrost them first!). Sam loves corn.
I'm not going to bother you too much about it, because I don't want you to feel pressured, but we'd still love to have you come visit. We decorated the guest room really nicely, if I do say so myself! Your Great-Aunt Cecilia knitted a lovely afghan that we put on the bed in there, and the other weekend, Sam finished assembling the new unit for the closet. And if you're worried about whether or not your cousin Clark is going to be here, he decided not to come home for Spring Break this year. It would just be you and me and Sam. Like I said, though, don't feel pressured. We'd love to have you, but we'd love to hear from you even more. You know we all miss you--it's not just your mom who asks about you! Cecilia asks about you all the time, and she can hardly even remember the rest of us! And you remember your cousin Janet? She's thinking about going to school out by you. Maybe you two could stay together. You always got along well with her, didn't you? Don't worry, she was always my favorite too.
We hope to hear from you soon!
XOXO
Clarissa
Dear Sal,
I was so happy to get your letter! Our postman, Michael, brought it by just this afternoon, and I was so thrilled that I sat down to write a reply right away. I wished it were longer, but I'm just happy to know you're ok. So, a couple things you mentioned: yes, your mom is still in town. I don't see her terribly often, but we run into each other every now and again, like I told you. I try to invite her over for dinner once a month or so, just to catch up. You know how I like to keep in touch with people! But she wouldn't even have to know you were in town if you didn't want her to. It was hard enough leaving her once--I wouldn't want you to have to go through it again. As for your other question, no, you haven't met my husband. I only met him a couple of years ago, and that was after you'd already left. I know, I'm not usually impulsive with things like that, but marrying him felt so right at the time, and I haven't regretted it. He's a sweetie pie. And, like I said, he makes delicious pancakes. I'd keep him around just for that!
Are you thinking about coming out to visit? If you need help with the airfare, Sam and I can take care of it for you. You just don't even worry about that, ok?
Love,
Clarissa
P.S. Do you still have my notebook?
P.P.S. Your Great-Aunt Cecilia knitted you another pair of gloves, so I'm sending them on!
Dear Sal,
I hope you're still coming out to visit! You know I can take off from work anytime, or you can just have the house to yourself during the day. Sam works too, so he won't be in your hair too much! Cecilia wants to know if you're liking your new gloves (I swear, I don't know how she remembers these things with you--she hardly remembers to brush her teeth in the morning) and your mom said that she hopes you're having a nice time in Florida. I know you don't want me giving her your address, but it might be nice for you to send her a letter every once in a while, you know, just to let her know you're thinking about her. Are you thinking about her? Sometimes I wonder if you're even thinking about me anymore. Well, anyway, I just thought it might be nice.
Now, listen, I know I told you that your cousin Clark wasn't going to be coming back for Spring Break, but he changed his mind. (You know how that boy is.) So, if you're worried about him being here, just come visit us in April instead. And if you don't mind him being here, then of course you're free to come any time you'd like!
Alright, honey. It's snowing out there, and I'm going to be frank with you: you need to find a place inside somewhere. Find yourself somewhere warm and make sure you do your best to make yourself be happy. Smile until you really mean it, honey. You wear those gloves I gave you, and the ones your Great-Aunt Cecelia gave you--even if they're pink.
Stay warm,
Clarissa
P.S. Burn the notebook.
I hope you’re doing well. It’s started snowing here, and it’s getting colder. I hope you still have those gloves that your Great-Aunt Cecilia knitted you a few years ago—they’re really quite nice, and your skin is going to get chapped if you’re not careful.
I saw your mother the other day. She doesn’t have your address, so I told her I’d send you a letter myself and let you know she says hello. She’s looking lovely these days. She told me she’s on a new diet or something. Nothing but green vegetables and iced tea. Or was it iced vegetables and green tea? I can’t remember. Still, like I said, she looks nice. She misses you.
Anyway, there’s a reason I’m writing. Well, obviously the main reason is that I don’t have your phone number, but that's beside the point. Either way, I needed to ask you about something. The other day, I was looking for this notebook I used to have, and I think I might have given it to you before you left. It has a lovely light blue cover and unlined pages. If I’m remembering right, I gave it to you so you would have something to write letters with, but I really should’ve given you something with lines. Whenever I try to write without them, everything just gets so crooked. I don’t know if you’ve used it or not, but I’d really like it back. It was a birthday present from my aunt Lucille. I think she brought it back from Japan.
If you have time, I’d love for you to come out and visit me. You’re more than welcome to stay at my place as long as you’d like—you know my guest room is just sitting there collecting dust, and my husband, Sam, makes some fantastic pancakes. I know you two would get along just great. He’s one of those guys who work with baseball numbers, figuring out player statistics and that sort of thing. I hope you still have time to watch baseball. I still have all your cards in my attic—I found them the other day when I was looking for my notebook.
We’d love to have you, but if you can’t make it, just slip my notebook in the mail when you get a chance. I’d really like to have it back.
Hugs and kisses,
Clarissa҉
Dear Sal,
I hope you’re alright! I know I tend to worry, but I haven’t heard from you in a few weeks and I just thought I’d write again in case you missed my other letter. I've had a lovely last couple of weeks. You know the end of the year is always busy in the office, but this year has gone really smoothly. I think it's the new management. I hope you're staying warm! Our bay window frosted over the other night.
I know how you are, and I know you probably didn't really think too much about coming up to visit us, but I think you'd have a good time. You could come up for Christmas! We have a great tree this year. Sam drove the truck up to the mountains with a couple of his friends the other day and got a really lovely fir. I don't know how I ended up with them, but somehow I got all the family ornaments. There's one with a picture of you on it wearing that horrible yellow jumpsuit your father insisted on dressing you in when you were too young to know any better. We have one of your sister, too, and all your cousins. They're absolutely adorable.
Now, I don't want you to think that I'm only asking you to visit because I want my notebook back, but I do have to mention it. I've really been thinking about it a lot lately, and I'm worried that you're not writing back because you don't have it anymore. It's alright if you don't, honey. I'd never be angry at you for that kind of thing, especially since I did give it to you. If you used it up or got rid of it, of course I wouldn’t hold it against you. Don't ever think that.
I've included a new pair of gloves. I thought you might have lost the ones that Cecilia knitted for you (which is also fine and I don't want you to think that I'm blaming you for anything) so I went to the thrift store and I found these. They're very warm, and I think you'll like them a lot. They had a pair of black ones, but I got you the blue ones instead because I always thought you had too much black in your wardrobe. I know the ones Cecilia knitted for you were pink, but it was only because that was the yarn she had laying around. I'm sure she wasn't suggesting anything.
Anyway, I hope you're alright, and we'll look forward to hearing from you soon!
Love,
Clarissa
Dear Sal,
I still haven't heard from you, honey! I'm starting to think I might have the wrong address, but wouldn't the postal service take care of that? Of course, everything's so automated now--maybe no one's around to pay attention to that sort of thing anymore. Well, either way, I hope you're getting these letters. I'd much rather you be ignoring me on purpose than lying frozen in a ditch somewhere. I know that doesn't really happen all that often, but I can't help worrying. That's what all those violent TV shows will do to you--Sam says they make me more paranoid by the minute, but you know what they say: it's only paranoia if it's not true!
And there I go again, getting of topic! I ran into your mom again the other day. I didn't want her worrying, so I told her you'd mailed me back and were doing just fine in Fort Lauderdale. You might actually think about Florida one of these days. Sam and I went down there last winter for a couple of months, and we had the most delicious oranges in the backyard of the little house we rented. They were wonderful! Speaking of food, are you getting enough to eat? I know it's hard to come by fruits and veggies in March--we look through the ads every week and get some pretty good deals, but it's still tough. We eat a lot of frozen veggies this time of year (of course, we defrost them first!). Sam loves corn.
I'm not going to bother you too much about it, because I don't want you to feel pressured, but we'd still love to have you come visit. We decorated the guest room really nicely, if I do say so myself! Your Great-Aunt Cecilia knitted a lovely afghan that we put on the bed in there, and the other weekend, Sam finished assembling the new unit for the closet. And if you're worried about whether or not your cousin Clark is going to be here, he decided not to come home for Spring Break this year. It would just be you and me and Sam. Like I said, though, don't feel pressured. We'd love to have you, but we'd love to hear from you even more. You know we all miss you--it's not just your mom who asks about you! Cecilia asks about you all the time, and she can hardly even remember the rest of us! And you remember your cousin Janet? She's thinking about going to school out by you. Maybe you two could stay together. You always got along well with her, didn't you? Don't worry, she was always my favorite too.
We hope to hear from you soon!
XOXO
Clarissa
Dear Sal,
I was so happy to get your letter! Our postman, Michael, brought it by just this afternoon, and I was so thrilled that I sat down to write a reply right away. I wished it were longer, but I'm just happy to know you're ok. So, a couple things you mentioned: yes, your mom is still in town. I don't see her terribly often, but we run into each other every now and again, like I told you. I try to invite her over for dinner once a month or so, just to catch up. You know how I like to keep in touch with people! But she wouldn't even have to know you were in town if you didn't want her to. It was hard enough leaving her once--I wouldn't want you to have to go through it again. As for your other question, no, you haven't met my husband. I only met him a couple of years ago, and that was after you'd already left. I know, I'm not usually impulsive with things like that, but marrying him felt so right at the time, and I haven't regretted it. He's a sweetie pie. And, like I said, he makes delicious pancakes. I'd keep him around just for that!
Are you thinking about coming out to visit? If you need help with the airfare, Sam and I can take care of it for you. You just don't even worry about that, ok?
Love,
Clarissa
P.S. Do you still have my notebook?
P.P.S. Your Great-Aunt Cecilia knitted you another pair of gloves, so I'm sending them on!
Dear Sal,
I hope you're still coming out to visit! You know I can take off from work anytime, or you can just have the house to yourself during the day. Sam works too, so he won't be in your hair too much! Cecilia wants to know if you're liking your new gloves (I swear, I don't know how she remembers these things with you--she hardly remembers to brush her teeth in the morning) and your mom said that she hopes you're having a nice time in Florida. I know you don't want me giving her your address, but it might be nice for you to send her a letter every once in a while, you know, just to let her know you're thinking about her. Are you thinking about her? Sometimes I wonder if you're even thinking about me anymore. Well, anyway, I just thought it might be nice.
Now, listen, I know I told you that your cousin Clark wasn't going to be coming back for Spring Break, but he changed his mind. (You know how that boy is.) So, if you're worried about him being here, just come visit us in April instead. And if you don't mind him being here, then of course you're free to come any time you'd like!
Alright, honey. It's snowing out there, and I'm going to be frank with you: you need to find a place inside somewhere. Find yourself somewhere warm and make sure you do your best to make yourself be happy. Smile until you really mean it, honey. You wear those gloves I gave you, and the ones your Great-Aunt Cecelia gave you--even if they're pink.
Stay warm,
Clarissa
P.S. Burn the notebook.