Letter
Holly River, Texas
Dear Colt,
Guess what?! You’ll never believe what happened today!
I started screaming the second I saw the email from Texas A&M University.
I got in, Colt! I’m officially going to be an Aggie!
Mom and Dad are really excited. Dad keeps telling me the names of agricultural and engineering tycoons who graduated from there.
I kind of want to major in Fine Arts, but Mom and Dad say I should get a management degree.
That it’ll be useful when I work for their company.
Do you remember that time I lost my favorite hoodie?
Mom said it was a valuable lesson in being responsible for my belongings, and Dad refused to buy me a new one.
But you went out and retraced my steps, and you found it!
Remember that kid had it and you made him give it back?
That poor kid was probably scared stiff.
But that’s who you are, Colt. You’re a helper. You’ve always been someone who steps in when people are in trouble, and that’s exactly what you’re doing in the Marines. You’re helping people! You’re probably helping people you’ll never even meet. How cool is that?
Sometimes I lie in bed at night and think about how you’re keeping people safe.
It makes me feel secure, like I can do anything just knowing you’re out there.
You’re a hero, Colt. I know you’ll probably roll your eyes at that, but I’m serious.
You help people. And you keep them safe. That’s what heroes do, right?
Remember to send me that one beautiful thing in your next letter. It’s okay if you can’t write back for a long time. I know you’re doing really important things and don’t always have time. That’s okay! I’ll just keep sending you letters unless you ask me to stop. I don’t mind at all.
Before you know it, you’ll be back in Holly River. The very first thing we’ll do is go straight to the river. I’ve been practicing while you’ve been gone. I bet I can swing out much further than you now! Or maybe not. You are a Marine after all. And I’m just an Aggie. I’m an Aggie!!!
Stay safe.
Love,
Alice