Ha...

I'm sorry. I can't help myself. I laughed. I did! Mean, huh?

Who does she think she is talking to me like this? Ick. It's not like everyone else sweet-talks around me. There's a man who watches me everytime I walk to the shower. His eyes are weird, pupils kinda dilated, like, I dunno. He's not all there, I guess.

He watches me from the moment he is in sight. His black eyes quivering. I wish I knew why he looked at me like that, on the other hand, I probably don't wanna know.

I try to move to the other side of the corridor before I reach where he stands, but somtimes I can't. Suddenly the man curls his lips back over brown teeth, and he hurls sware words at me. I ignore him.

Same way I am ignoreing the tone of this weirdo letter. Mad woman.

Makes me laugh, it really does. Hahaaha!

I'm probably too cruel...

Don't answer that.

Bored...

Gosh it gets boring sometimes. Actually, it's boring most of the time. There isn't much excitment around, unless you go in for the kind of thing that...well, it's not for me that's definatly for sure, and certain. I prefer to keep to myself. Don't even talk much.

No one to talk to! Their all dull, or dumb, or both. I talk to you though. Heck, I even... Hang on.

Sorry, I got called away. I've got another letter that just arrived. And from the slant of the handwriting, it's...interesting.

"Hello... I didn't think you'd reply. I think I hoped you wouldn't. No, that's heartless of me. Lets pretend everything dandy. I'm fine, thanks for asking. You asked how everybody is. A little vague, you mean the family? Want the truth? I thought not. They are all fine, then. Yes, it has been a while. What? Did you expect me to start writing weekly after you went in? Would that have pleased you, well, sorry, I didn't. Why should I have? To make you happy. Forgive me, I should have done that ages ago, shouldn't I. God forgive me for not making YOU happy. Oh, you miss the world. The drink, you mean? Or the world in general? You miss the others. I bet you do! Forget it. You're such an idiot! Jerk. Oops, I'm SORRY, did I upset you??? T.L.J."

Wow...that was polite...

Hi...again?

"Hi...How are you?"

Lame begining. And...why'd I go and write that? Duh!

"Hows everybody. are they ok?"

Lame, lame. I can't get past the lameness! This was pointless.

"Thanks for, writing. It's been a while since. Yeah. Since."

What was I thinking? Why did I wrote this letter...What should I have said next? Something different, i wish. Drat, drat.

"I miss you too. Miss that world, everything it holds. Sometimes. I sometimes miss the world, but I more miss you. And the others, of course."

Others...clever. Nope. Stupid. I'm ripping it up. That is NOT going to be sent. Actually, I lie. Again. I didn't rip it up. That would be a waste, and, it's not like I have a limitless supply here. So...I finished it, read it, didn't rip it up, and I put it out to be sent.

Boy am I in trouble. Why'd I do that?

Ok...

Ok. I am a liar too. Add that to my list of crimes.

That letter. I didn't want it. I screwed it up. I thought I could throw it away, but I was wrong. I never made myself throw it. Instead, I shoved it under my matress as far as my arm could reach. Then I lay back on the bed, and stared at the ceiling and the ceiling stared right back at me.There is graffiti scrwled in bad hand on the ceiling and one of the walls. At frst, it was interesting. Then after a while, it gets to you. Annoys the hell outta you. Then, you forget it's there.

But sometimes, it stares right back at you.

The letter is like that story. The Princess and the Bean. Where the bean is under her matress, and she can't sleep.

I sware if I keep it any longer I'm going to reply. And I Do Not want to do that.

I don't. I shan't. But, like I said, I'm a liar.

Oh...

Oh, I forgot...this is what the letter said. That's why I knew it was wrong. And why I swore I'd never reply and all.

"Hello...Hi...Um? I suppose that tradition would have it that I start with something cursory and preliminary like, "How are you?" or "I hope that you are well." But, I think i can figure the answers myself. You are not of course well. How could you be?And I suppose you would reply with words like, "I am well," (whether you meant it or not), "And how are you." To which I would reply, "I am fine!" or "Great!" or some such nonsense.The fact is I miss you. A lot.But there's nothing I can do about that, huh.I think that's all I wanted to say.Good night then.Forever,T. L. J."

Hi...?

Weird.

A letter arrived today. I never get letters.

When it arrived with its dark looking stamp of approval whacked on its envelope, I didn't even think he was talking to me. He had to repeat hismelf. "Oy, you! Letters."

"Letters?"

"Well, letter more like. Here."

And he'd shoved the letter through to me. It dropped onto the floor. My name wasn't on the envelope. I bent to pick it up, then sat on the thin matress, tore it open and read.

That's when I decided, "Weird."