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Dear John(ny),

First of all, thanks for writing me back. That was a really nice

surprise. Second of all... the story behind the letter. I wrote you

that letter in eighth grade, but I never meant for you to see it. It

sounds crazy, I know, it was just a thing I used to do—when I liked

a boy, I’d write the letter and then I’d hide it away in my hatbox.

The letters were just for me. But then my little sister Kitty—

remember her? Scrawny and willful?— sent them all out back in

September, including yours.

I do remember that break-dancing contest. I think Peter won. He

would’ve taken the biggest piece of peanut brittle either way,

though! This is random but do you remember how he used to always

take the last piece of pizza? So annoying. Do you remember how he

and Trevor got into a fight over it and they ended up dropping the

pizza and nobody got to have it? Do you remember how all of us

went to your house to say good-bye when you moved? I made a

chocolate cake with chocolate peanut butter frosting, and I brought a

knife but your forks and plates were all packed up, so we ate it on

the front porch with our hands. When I got home, I realized that the

corners of my mouth were stained brown from the chocolate. I was

so embarrassed. It feels like such a long time ago.

I’m not in Model UN but I was there that day and I did see you.