Annie is horribly damaged by life.
She believes she cannot be loved.
Then Bud becomes her pen pal
and love finds them both...
in one way or another.
Every few days I will post a little more.
Soon you will be able to read it all.
If you absolutely can't wait to find out
what happens between Annie and Bud,
(and I hope you can't!)
you are welcome to click a link and buy an e-book or a paperback copy.
And now, today's post:
CHAPTER SIX
Part 1
Written Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Dear Annie,
Merry Christmas and happy New Year! No, I haven’t bought the bike
yet because I can’t test ride one with snow and ice on the ground, but I’ve
been visiting bike shops and doing a lot of dreaming. I have the money set
aside in a separate bank account and I’m leaning toward a Japanese dual sport
style bike. That would be perfect for what I want to do, which is to ride
around eastern Washington with my girlfriend on the back, on paved roads and on
dirt ones. I’m not a Harley kind of guy (I hope you don’t drop me as a pen pal
over that) and I don’t like crotch rockets. Those are the bikes where riders
have to bend way over and hold all their weight on their arms. That’s just too
uncomfortable.
But enough about my future bike. I spent Christmas Eve with my
folks and we went to midnight services together. That’s kind of our tradition.
On Christmas day I went to my girlfriend’s house for dinner. Her name is
Jolene. Or did I tell you that all ready? We played cards with her whole family
until midnight.
New Years is just a couple days away and I’ve made a resolution.
I resolve, as of January 1 and not a moment before, to
Oh no, my pen just ran out of ink. Now I can’t finish my
resolution. Oh well, there’s always next year.
Resolutionless Tag!
Bud
PS – I wish my pen wasn’t out of ink so I could tell you how much
I love cookies
Received Monday, January 17, 2005
Dear Bud,
You are so silly I laughed and laughed. If you’re pen run
out of ink how did you write the rest of the letter. HAHA!!
If I was someones girlfriend I would never ride on back a
bike. Thats scary to think of. Give me four wheels everyday. When you buy it,
be careful. I don’t like losing penpal’s.
My dad was a big Christmas nut who always put out too many
lights and yard decorations but I like them. My mom wasn’t much for decorations
but she could cook great christmas cookies. I miss them. They died when I was
14. Dad had a hart attack. No wrong, it was a heart attack. I’m still using
that dictionary. It was sudden and he was way young. Mom died a few months
later from cancer she was too sad to fight it. Death is my only constant
friend.
Now I’m sad, and you too probably. I’m sorry. Back to
happier things. My sister learned to make Christmas cookies from my mom and she
loves to decorate too. My Christmas was beautiful.
Be careful on your new bike, make sure Jolene holds on
tight. It sounds wonderful.
Happy New tag!
Annie
Written Monday, January 31, 2005
Dear Annie,
I’m sorry this letter is a few days late. Work just got crazy
busy. Do you remember that salesman I wrote about who travels all over the USA?
He was skiing on New Year’s Day and broke his leg. He’s taking early
retirement. That’s right, you are reading a letter written by the Wallace
Specialty Hangers’ newest traveling salesman! How cool is that?!?! I’ve spent
the last four weeks learning the route and everything about every customer we
have. Giant headache!
BUT HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!
Please don’t apologize for making me feel sad. You are my friend
and it is a privilege to experience your sadness with you. That sounded kind of
cheesy, didn’t it? Let me try again: You don’t need to hide your true feelings.
That’s what pen pals are for – to share truth, even if it is uncomfortable. I’m
sorry you had such heartbreak when you were 14, but I’m glad your sister and
you were there for each other.
I’m holding off on that bike for now. I’m going to be too busy
for the next several months with my new job to be able to ride it much. No
worries. The dream is not dead, it’s just taking a long snooze. Instead, I
bought myself a new suit, new luggage, and the brand new, high tech, whiz bang,
with all the bells and whistles cell phone. You are now corresponding with an
extremely well decked out sales rep.
Okay, I need to get back to it. I’ve been working every day since
January second, and I mean EVERY day. This bigwig stuff is tiring.
Bigwig Tag!
Bud
PS – Jolene wasn’t too thrilled with the bike idea either.
Received Saturday, February 19, 2005
Dear bigwig Bud,
Don’t worry about being late because I wrote early so you
can have extra time to write back. Im excited for you to be a bigwig. That is
very cool!!!!! You will do great I know it and I’m relieved you are not getting
the bike now though I am sorry for you. But happy for me. A suit and a phone
are better things I think.
Valentines day is in three days. I will make valentine
cookies for all the people I work with at the hospital which are yummy. I love
eating the sugar cookies which have pink frosting.
Snow is still every where here and slush and cold. Spring
needs to hurry up. I like spring and flowers. Daffodils are amazing because
they sleep under the snow all winter and just wait for spring and then they
grow up without any help from anyone. Daffodils are like my heroes. Crocuses
too. What are you heroes?
My sister is coming and we are going shopping at the mall
for spring clothing. Its cold now, but spring time warm weather clothing time
is coming soon. I’m counting on it.
Future spring tag!
Annie
Written Sunday, February 27, 2005
Dear Springtime Annie,
Springtime just happens to be one of my favorite seasons. I love
watching the whole world coming back to life. It makes me want to sell hangers!
Okay, I admit it, that’s kind of pathetic, but I really do love my new job.
I’ve been to four of the eleven western states so far and I’m on track for
going to every state, including Alaska and Hawaii, within three years. What a
life! Of course, we don’t have customers in every state, at least not yet, but
we will by the time I’m done. Bet on it.
Oh, here’s some exciting news – I’m scheduled to make a visit to
Boston in June for a fashion trade show. While I’m there I would love to take
you out to dinner. What say you?
We still have snow on the ground here in Spokane, too, by the
way, but I took a drive through wheat country yesterday and saw that the winter
wheat is already coming up. Once that happens, winter has no choice but to
relinquish its hold on the land. Spring is definitely on its way and nothing
can stop it now.
I can’t wait to experience Boston. They tell me it’s pretty over
there.
Tag!
Bud
Received Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Dear Bud,
Yes Boston is pretty. I like living here on the east coast
because it has lots of pretty places and scenery. You will like it too.
Its not a good idea to have dinner together. You have a
girlfriend and I don’t come between that. Beside, we are better friends if we
only think we know what the other is like. Thank you anyway.
We have flowers everywhere here now and the piles of snow in
the parking lots are almost gone. Its raining now and that is good because
slush and dirt are washed away making boston clean. The city isn’t always
because it’s a city and is hard to keep clean. The country side is though.
Easter is coming soon on march 27th, it’s early this year,
and I like the candys. Even better I like Jesus rising from the dead. I’m
looking forward to Easter sunrise service. It was always my favorite.
Chocolate bunny tag!
Annie
