How are you doing this week? Mom and I got a bicycle a few days ago, which has been much fun to use — I’m going places much faster now! I rode by the middle school on Vashon yesterday at around 3 PM and saw that children were leaving; school is still in session, in the middle of June. What absolute nonsense. I hope it isn’t the same for you. There’s 104 days of summer vacation, not 80.
I can’t say I’m excited about my birthday tomorrow. I haven’t been for years. The night I turned 15 I cried because I would be an adult soon and didn’t know what to do. I feel in my head that I’m still eleven and on vacation in Government Camp, still not home yet. But I’ve graduated, and I never got to have a normal childhood after eleven. Alas, alas, and it was longer for you, you were only nine. At least I get presents tomorrow along with my worry. And pizza.
In 2016 when I turned 11, Mom (Mel) gave me a little necklace with a little black diamond. I still have it. Why did she bother to get me something so nice at all? Likely knowing what she was about to do? Perhaps you know, perhaps you don’t.
I am sad today, so I won’t keep going lest you become sad. I will write tomorrow with perhaps some better things to say. I love you. Write to me, please.
With love,
Alice
P.S Mom (Jess) tells me that Mom (Mel) wanted to call me Esther. Part of me wishes she won on that front, so that she couldn’t deny that she is my mother.