Part 7 (1/2)

Happy Birthday! I miss you!!!!

Beth.

P.S. The food here is awful! One girl said that this stuff tastes like prison food.

I wonder how she knows that?

Dear Beth, 6/27/81.

h.e.l.lo. I was so excited to get your letter! I got your card today, too. Thank you.

I can't believe I am going to be 15 tomorrow, can you? Sometimes I think we are getting so old. Mom says that dad is going to start teaching me how to drive, and he's going to stop at the driver's license place and get me a driving book to study!

Isn't that exciting? I can't wait.

Everything here is pretty much the same. It has been soooo hot here, too.

But as you know, it's dry heat. What's humidity like? I hate it. I've heard that humidity can cause all kinds of pimples. Is that true? I sure hope not! If I plan to live in New York or Los Angeles some day, I'll get the hugest zit on my face as I'm trying some huge case in court!

Wouldn't that be awful? The judge would probably laugh his b.u.t.t off.

Me and Darla went swimming yesterday. It was fun, but we ran into Scott Mathews there. I am so sick of hearing about him, and having to see him. I mean, jeez. I don't care about him or any of his stupid friends! They tried to invite us over to Scott's house for some stupid pool party. Darla was thrilled. I didn't want to go, so I didn't. Besides, I think my parents would have flipped!

My mom says we are way too young to date, and she thinks that Darla's parents are just asking for trouble by encouraging her to. I don't know if I agree with them, but all the same, I'm not interested. I have too much else to worry about other than some boy.

I better go for now. It is so late, and I am so tired. I think my mom has a big day planned tomorrow. She won't tell me. I miss you, too. Please come back soon!

Love, Emily Jane Thomas ~~.

Dear Em, July 3, 1981 I am so happy! We had to write a short one-act play to act out with ourselves and two or three other people, and then we performed them for our teacher, he's this strange guy named Buck. That's what he wants us to call him. Wild, huh?

Anyway, so we perform them, and he'd pick the one he liked the best, and then the winner would do their play for the entire camp.

I won!

Isn't that great? See, Em, I told you those scenes that you and me acted out would be useful (smile).

I met the coolest counselor today. Her name is Casey something. I don't know her last name. She is so much fun. She isn't in our cabin, but the one next to it. I think she is good friends with our counselor, Kim. She is from Montana, but lived most of her early life in England, and has this wicked British accent. She is really big into the theater. She is seventeen. Em, you should see her. She has long, blonde hair with these big expressive brown eyes. Eyes kind of like a puppy dog.

She has the most beautiful smile. I think you'd like her, she's so nice.

I've heard that about humidity, too. But I don't know if that's true or not.

I've actually noticed that my skin is healthier here. Don't know. Either way, Em, no judge in his right mind is about to kick you out of a courtroom! If he does, tell me, and I'll kick his a.s.s for you. (smile) Better go. Happy 4th of July! I miss you so much! I hope these next two months fly by.

Love, Beth ~~.

Greetings!

7/8/81.

Hi, Beth!

I was so happy when you called me. When I didn't hear from you on my birthday I was so sad. But then you called the next day, and it was all okay again. Just the sound of your voice made me happy, and not miss you quite as much. At least for a while, anyway. (grin) Me and mom went to the store today. We both ran out of eye make-up. That stuff is so expensive, you know? Jeez. Those cosmetic companies must think we are all rich. Good thing my parents give me a generous allowance.

I am so proud of you, Beth. I knew you would do well there. I saw your mom today. She asked if I had heard from you. Why haven't you written her? She got a job finally. I think she said she's at the grocery store. I hope she'll like it there. I know it's been hard for you guys since she got fired from the bank after that whole... deal.

I didn't know you guys were allowed to be friends with the counselors?

Better go. Darla is taking me to the movies tonight. I have to start getting ready.

When are you coming home?

P.S. Do you think I should use my full name once we get to high school?

Love, Emily Jane Thomas ~~.

Dear Beth, 7/14/81.

Beth, why haven't you written?

Are you okay? Please write soon. I miss you!

I miss your letters, too....

P.S. My dad took me driving today. It was so scary! We went driving around the cemetery so I could see what it's like with a curvy road. Plus my dad said that if I killed us we'd be in the right place. He's such a goof!

Emily ~~.

Dear Em, July 21, 1981 Hey, Em. Sorry I haven't written in awhile. I've been really busy. Buck has us working our b.u.t.ts off. Me and this guy, Chris had to write a 2-act play together. It is really good. That took a lot of time, though. We couldn't decide on a script forever, but then he finally decided to agree with me.

Of course, I had to persuade him just a little. (evil grin) I'm glad he came to his senses. I hate the sight of blood. Oh! I have got to tell you about this.

Last night me and Casey, remember the counselor I told you about?, snuck out and went swimming. It was so fun! It was so bad. We are not allowed to be out of our cabins past ten, but we waited until about one in the morning, and met out behind our cabins.

She really surprised me, though.

She took off her clothes! She wanted me to 'skinny dip' with her, but I was like no way!

But there we were at the lake, and she is completely nude.

She is beautiful. I really admire her a lot. If I could only have half the body at seventeen that she has!

So my mother got a job? Good for her.

Better go. Miss you.

P.S. Why did you have to buy eye make-up? You don't wear eye make-up. Do you? Oh, and humidity is beginning to get sticky hot. We're in the middle of a major heat wave right now.