𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒂 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒏' ≛ m. kelso ✔

≛ chapter nineteen

JANUARY 2021

"Mom, what's this?"

Juniper's tired eyes turned to her daughter. "Bring it here, sweet."

It was a box of photographs, but Jane wasn't interested in that. She could look at those later. It was the letters that caught her eye. They were addressed to and received from someone named Michael Kelso, in a town in Wisconsin she had heard the name of only a few times. And the handwriting in some of them was unmistakably her mother's.

"Damn!" Juniper joked. "You've found my old letters to my weed dealer."

"Mom!" Jane laughed. "Please, tell me, what are they?"

June exhaled. "Let's give them a read."

≛

August 1978

Hi, Michael. I can't believe I'm ALREADY writing to you, but I can't help it. I miss you. You left an hour ago, and I miss you.

I don't know when you'll get this; you might not even be home by the time this gets to Point Place, but I can try, can't I?

This letter is kinda pointless. Anything to be close to you works, I suppose, even if it's not physically.

Let me know how you're doing, yeah? I love you.

~June

≛

August 1978

That was fast, Buggy. I didn't know you were so excited to talk to me. Even though I'm pretty cool, I guess. 

Eric and Donna are back together. I think. They're always confusing me with  t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶   their relationship and all. I thought me and Jackie were confusing.

Donna's going to a Catholic school and she looks SO HOT in her uniform. She's got the short skirt and all, and she hasn't been straightening her hair a lot, so

Oh no she's coming into the basement

I'll just keep writing

Anyway, no need to worry about her. She's all over Eric. I don't think I'd have a chance if I wanted one, which I don't  =)

I love you. I'll talk to you soon, Buggs.

Love,

Mike

≛

September 1978

Hey again! School's started up, which is kind of gross, but Lucy's found a new lady friend, so she's not mad. She sends her regards to Donna, by the way. Remind her to call (she has her number).

Archie's doing well, too, my parents have started paying him to babysit Tommy, but he's really just hanging out with me. Tommy made this airplane model and now he's dead-set on being a carpenter. He's not even five years old yet, and he's got his life more figured out than me. How sad is that?

For me, I'm doing pretty well. Looking into colleges, maybe somewhere near Wisconsin or in Chicago so I can visit you, but it really depends on what I want to do. I've been thinking about doing something with music. I don't want to start a band or anything, but maybe I could teach or do something in music production. Who knows? It's almost the '80s, isn't it? Possibilities are endless.

I love you always.

~June

≛

September 1978