The Letters #2
I tried to bring up being prepared for an emergency with the committee at church again. They didn’t listen. I don’t think they ever will. The pastor’s wife, Kaye, gave me a look like I had grown two heads when I brought it up. I don’t think she likes me very much.
I bought some big flashlights when I went to the grocery store the other day.
Honestly, it was a bit thrilling. I don’t know why I have lived my whole life somewhere with natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes and never had these kinds of things.
What else should I get? I don’t really know about any of that, but the more I think about it, the more I think it’s right.
I don’t think my church means anything by it, but as great as the bible is, how can we read it in the dark while we starve?
Enjoy the cookies and only share them if you really, really want to.
With Cookies and Questions,
Grace
September 15
Grace,
Now this might be the MREs talking, but these are the best cookies I have ever had in my whole damn life.
Dust and all. Thankfully, my grandma isn’t around anymore to hear that.
She’d whoop my ass. I’m not ashamed to say that I didn’t share a bite and even licked all the dust from the package.
You were right. It is significantly better than the dust that’s always around here.
If your pie is half as good as your cookies, you’ll win that Thanksgiving contest by a mile.
I hope you enter. I can’t wait to hear tales of your conquest and how you dominated the competition.
I can’t tell you where I am, but I can tell you my buddy found a cat today.
I think he wants to smuggle it home. Whoever vets these letters is going to see that, and he’s going to kick my ass for ratting him out.
His plan is weak and it will never work.
It’s the cutest cat we’ve ever seen. We’re calling him Midnight.
My buddy just can’t stop obsessing over him.
You’d think it was his actual child, the way he is feeding it and cooing over it and shit. I swear he’s gone insane.
Forget trying to convince the church. They will never listen.
They are clearly idiots. Flashlights are a good place to start.
Don’t stop with one. Get one of those wind-up ones, and get some for your car, too.
Get a kit for your car with some basic tools, a first aid kit with a bleed kit of some kind, some fire-starting tools, one of those foil blankets, and water in green glass jars.
The plastic will ruin in the heat. I’m sure there are some people out there who have some good information and even whole kits you can get.
Worry about the basics: water, shelter, warmth, and food.
The fact that you even think about these things means you’re already doing better than most.
Dance if you want to dance. Why let someone else saying you shouldn’t hold you back? Life is too short not to dance to a good song. Hell, I know just how short life is. Anyone out here knows just how short life can be. Don’t waste yours being afraid of something as simple and wonderful as dancing.
Send more cookies.
Hungry and Hoping,
Anders
October 15
Anders,
I was nominated to chair the church’s fall festival this year.
Last year, Cindy Marks chaired it and we did it early as a Halloween Haunted House.
I manned the last stop and just gave out pamphlets and some cookies.
The kids seemed disappointed by the haunted house.
I don’t know why. I thought something less scary would be good for little kids.
I didn’t get to see it at all, so maybe it just wasn’t very good.
Bill suggested that I should start on the festival now so that I could make it nice and cover everything we needed to be done.
I thought about just keeping it simple and at our church.
We could have a nice Thanksgiving feast. Some church families have history going back generations in America, and I would love to see their stories.
Maybe I can have everyone bring something from their families to share.
Like food or music. I’m not sure I’ll have time to do the Thanksgiving bake-off, after all.
It’s just an extra pie, but the committee is really determined to have the festival that weekend. I just don’t know how to do it all.
I heard about a parasite that cats have that can make people love them more.
It’s been found in rats and mice and apparently, it causes those rats and mice to be less afraid of cats.
I bet your friend is just full of them now.
Do you have a picture of Midnight? I bet he is the best little kitty.
I don’t have any pets myself, but I always found cats to be just the cutest little monsters around.
What other little nonsense, joyful things do you guys get into around there?
I’m sure there’s something just for fun. If not, there should be.
I didn’t dance. I know, dance like no one’s watching.
The thing with that is that everyone is watching.
I just can’t seem to pretend otherwise. The music is good there.
I think they get better every week. I heard they won some award.
I didn’t even know there were awards for marching bands.
I might have to look into this some more.
Maybe they have competitions I can go watch and then Bill would have to just sit there with me for once.
The preacher’s wife, Kaye, is pregnant. Bill spends a lot of time over there helping them get ready for the baby to come. She’s showing now. Hopefully, he can spend some more time at home soon.
I included some new cookies. Pumpkin-themed for the season.
I hope you enjoy them. Don’t get used to cookies every time I write, though.
Christmas is coming up and Bill wants us to host his family for two weeks in December.
Which means I will be very busy getting ready for them and looking after them for the entire holiday season.
I don’t know if it’s because I’m an adult or what, but Christmas just doesn’t feel magical anymore. Is it magical for you?
I think I’m pre-tired with all I have to do this season. Is that a thing? Can I be tired from just the thought of what needs to be done before I ever actually do it? I don’t know how anyone else ever gets through this time of year, and they always seem so cheerful about it.
Also, I included a new address. Can you send letters here instead?
The ladies at church are talking about how I’m still getting letters from you there.
I don’t want to stop writing you, but I don’t want to hear their gossip either.
Bill doesn’t really pay attention to the mail here, anyway.
It will be nice to keep you all to myself.
Is that bad? That I don’t want to share you with anyone?
Not a secret, just personal. I barely even know you, but somehow these letters have become a lifeline that I’m just not willing to give up.
Hanging On and Hoping for the New Year,
Grace
October 30
Grace,
My buddy is infected with something, all right, but I’m sure he was fucked up long before he found the cat.
The fucker gets around so much he’s probably got lots of various creepy crawlies.
I forwarded this information on, however.
He did not appreciate the implication that he was being mind-controlled by a cat.
To paint a picture for you, he said this as he fed the cat pieces of his own rations while the cat lounged on a bed made from his shirts.
He’s definitely being mind-controlled by a cat.
I guess it’s better than the women that he usually finds wherever he goes.
The rest of the squad had a good laugh at this tidbit of information. Keep it coming.
I really don’t think about the holidays much.
It’s all fucking bright lights and stupid music.
Tell Bill he can take care of his family if he wants them around so much.
For that matter, he can plan the fall festival if he thinks it’s so much work you can’t handle it.
I really think you should do what you want.
Take time for yourself. Don’t let the vampires leech everything from you. Me included.
Don’t worry about sending me holiday cookies.
Though I do love them. I’m going to have to be rolled home at the rate I’m going with your baking.
Maybe strapped up and airlifted like they do for rescued whales.
Seriously, the kids at the Halloween Haunted house last year probably hated the house, but they walked away with your cookies as a consolation prize, so did they really lose out at all?
Do you really believe in God? I’m not sure I believe in all that.
I’ve seen too much out here to believe there’s anything but greed, anger, hate, hurt, and innocent people getting in the way.
If you do, can you put a prayer in for me?
Actually, it’s for this kid we came across today.
He’s not doing too well. He is a local and way too young for this war.
I don’t know how much longer I can take this.
Sorry to dump on you. I don’t want the hard stuff to spill over to you, but he could use prayers to whatever God you believe in.
I can’t give you his name. Can you pray for him, anyway?
I’m more than happy to send the letters to wherever you want. I get what you mean about wanting to keep them to yourself. I don’t get the luxury of privacy here, but if I did, I wouldn’t share any part of these letters with the guys.
Barely Holding On,
Anders
March 15
Anders,