Dear Lindsey

To: lindsey.gelling@gmail.com

Subject: GREAT STORY, Must Read!!!

Dear Lindsey,

I totally realize that my last email was way too short. Not a lot was going on and I didn’t want to bore your grand adventure with the mundane details of my sedentary life. But the craziest thing happened today, and I just had to fill you in!

So, I was at the grocery store, you know the one on 33rd? I was just there to get some toothpaste, because I ran out last night, and I meant to get some while I was out with Sherlock, but I forgot. Anyway, I was at the grocery store, or no, I was right outside because I just left, and I saw Josh across the street…that Josh! Like he-who-will-not-be-named Josh, insane right? I yelled out to him, I said, “Hey Josh, remember me!?” and he didn’t turn around or say anything! Fucking coward. Maybe he didn’t hear me. Anyway, I had Sherlock with me and he was getting really impatient; you know how he sits down and then stands back up, over and over, It’s like the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. Anyway, Sherlock is getting all antsy and he is fidgeting and doing his dance, and I had to keep going and catch the bus, and I just hate missing the bus ever since that time, do you remember that time, when we couldn’t catch the bus and it started pouring cats and dogs down on our heads!? How we jumped from puddle to puddle, trying to stay dry but getting miserably soaked down into our bones? Do you remember how we burst into giggles at the absurdity of standing in our underwear trying to dry out our clothes on the ancient metal radiator of that tiny apartment? Everytime it rains I take a moment to remember, like paying your respects.

Anyway, I didn’t have any time to call out to Josh again and say something like, “Hey dick, it’s Lindsey’s friend Marlene. You know, the Lindsey you’ve been completely avoiding for 6 months!?” I just had to run for the bus. Luckily I made it, but the clouds in the sky did look pretty threatening. Anyway, so I’m just sitting on the bus, with Sherlock and my toothpaste and some orange juice and that bread you said tasted weirdly sweet but also crazy dry (I told you I wouldn’t stop buying it). Oh, writing this just reminded me to tell you that Peter says hi. Or I guess said hi, I forgot to tell you sooner. I was riding home from work like two weeks ago and Peter got on and saw me. He asked about you, about how you’re doing after the accident and how Seattle is treating you. I told him what you told me; that everything about that city feels like a brand new beginning. That before your mom left she would find you bundled up under a mountain of blankets and pillows watching television on a rainy overcast afternoon, and she would tunnel underneath to find you, bearing cookies and lemonade, and just sit with you, not saying a word. I told him that Seattle feels like that moment, perpetually warm and welcoming. He didn’t seem to know what to say, so he said “Tell her I miss her, and I’m glad to hear she is doing so well.” I told him I would, but I figured that was more for his benefit than yours and that’s why I forgot to tell you.

So I’m on the bus right? And I sit down and look up from my groceries, and there’s Josh sitting 4 feet away just staring at me! It wasn’t him on the street, but he was right there! Isn’t that so weird, the coincidence!? But he’s right there and I’m speechless! He says “hi Marlene,” and I’m like “hey asshole,” and he’s all stunned, and people are staring and I’m trying to think of what to say, and Sherlock just starts pissing right there on the floor of the bus! I cracked up laughing, the chaos was just too much, and the bus stopped and I got kicked off. Sherlock is such a little bastard. Do you remember when we got him? I had the worst day I’d ever had; work was a nightmare, Allen had just broken up with me, and that was around the time my dad started getting sick. I came home, so tired, just wanting to sleep and never wake up, when I was greeted by you and little Sherlock at the door. He was such an ugly dog, but he was still the best gift I think I’ll ever get.

Anyway, it was great to hear from you, and again, I’m sorry that I am so long in writing anything good. This year has been absolutely crazy, but I’m sure you know why. Say hi to Jess for me, I just know she is doing great out there. She sent me a picture of the two of you just last week in front of a fish the size of a whale! It was awesome.

Otherwise I guess everything’s going good! It’s been tough here and there, Sherlock’s pretty lonely and I can get why. I read a poem the other day that was pretty pretentious and dull, the kind of poems you’d wrinkle your nose at. One line in particular I just had to share: We cannot blame the dead, for the dead do not know of the long shadow they cast upon the world of the living. I could hear your snide comments drowning out the words in my head, but something about it stuck with me. I understand why you left, I really do. And I’ll be okay, I promise. Winters are just hard I guess.

Write back whenever you get the time! Know that you’ve still got a lot of friends here thinking of you, friends that miss you, and can’t wait to see you again.

Sherlock and I love you a lot Lindsey. Take care.

- Marlene