Pen Pals

July 1st, 2006

Dear Penn

    know the fourth of July is soon, and I wish I could be there with you ;( I swear as soon as Basic Training ends you'll be the second one on my list I visit, mom would freak if I didn't see her first. I never thought that I would find myself smiling at these goofy letters, but I still grow anxious waiting for a reply. Our conversations make my everyday and I can't wait to chat in person. This friendship means so much to me. I'm glad I always have you to talk to. 

So, how's the diner been?  I know you've had some interesting customer's visit with the bus station being so close by. I wanna hear all about how the family is and if you've gotten a letter back from ETSU. Man, if you do as well in college as I think you will we may have an issue with what will be number one priority. I'd like to think you're not wanting to get rid of me so easily. 

Basic Training has been hell. I know the work is supposed to pay off but can it pay off faster? I'm dying for some home cooked food, or even diner food for that matter. Piloting has by far been the best part of this place. My bunk mate, Faye, is probably the only person who can relax in any given situation. Like, even when Srgt. Charles is screaming in his face Faye looks like he was hit by a nice breeze. Newsflash bud, that's no breeze, it's a shower of spit. 

I gotta go now Penn, the boys are waiting for me. It's currently personal block and I've already spent most of my time writing to you, which is no problem at all might I add. 

Sincerely your favorite person in the entire world,

Finn.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I can't help but smile to myself through the entirety of reading this. We can talk so effortlessly; it's like talking with another part of me. Reading over the letter again a certain sentence keeps catching my eye. 'This friendship means so much to me.'  I internally groan. Yes, I'm happy that this means a lot to him, but the friend-zoning part is cringe worthy. I know that all we'll ever be is friends yet still I cling to the hope that he feels something more. Even through writing letters I can feel this connection to him. We've talked about some pretty deep stuff and sharing those types of feelings take a lot of trust.

I smile again at him wanting to be my number one priority but quickly wipe that smile off. I can't keep getting my hopes up. Even if his ego is trying to charm me back into catching feelings.

"Uh- oh" I snap my attention back to the diner as I hear my manager Greta call out to me. "Looks like she's talkin' to pretty boy again!" She raises her voice. Suddenly Riley pops out from the kitchen's food window. He rests his elbow on the metal sill and leans his head in his hand. "Mmmhmm, If we ain't careful he'll snatch her right out from under us!" His chestnut skin catches the light with the oil splatter likely caused by the fryer.  I giggle and shake my head. These people will drive me even more crazy. 

Sal, who is sitting farther away than usual, pipes up his two cents as well. "What's it this time, a love letter or is he actually comin' back to spill his heart out in person?"  A few heads turn towards our conversation causing my face to redden. I raise the letter to face to try to conceal my likely tomato looking face. "Ooooh! She's blushin'!" 

I clear my throat and move the letter into my apron. "Riley it's not like that! You know that, all of you know that." I snap back moving my eyes between the three musketeers who seem so interested in my personal life. Then again I have my personal mail sent here since I'm more often here than home.  

A couple I've seen come in a few times comes up to the register to pay for their meal.  The women whisper's something to her boyfriend. They're quite young, can't be any older than Riley and he's thirty-five. "I just love the cozy atmosphere of this place, very familial. I think you just found some new regulars!" The woman says excitedly. I give her a toothy smile and continue to help her. "I thought I've seen you guys a few times? Got a name a can call ya?" Once she finishes signing her receipt her boyfriend answers before grabbing their coats. "My name's Jeremiah" he says then places the coat over his girlfriend. "And this is my lovely girlfriend, Bonnie." He kisses her cheek. 

"Y'all are so cute! Must be nice!" I say on their way out the door. Before it shuts however I hear Jeremiah again. "From what I hear, you already know." Then through the glass windows I see Bonnie elbow him. 

I love them already.

Once my break begins I grab a sheet of paper from a notebook I stashed away for writing. I find a quiet place in the storage room to focus on my letter. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Finn,

I'm glad training is going well. You know as soon as you step back into this little ole diner that you're gonna be the center of attention right? Then again we could use the audience, the diner has seen better days. It could use the extra money for some renovations. :P

Just today we got some new regulars, a couple. They truly are the cutest little things, whispering in each other's ears and knowing one another's order. Being a waitress you really notice the little things. Either that or I'm just observant, who knows? 

I can't wait to see you again, whenever that may be... I enjoy our conversations too. I'm writing you in a storage room on top of a...saw dust box? That's what the contents look like at least. I hope you've write your mother like I you said you would. We made a deal remember, I stop taking the graveyard shift as long as you keep in touch with your mother. You're gonna worry that woman to death. If you stopped writing me, I may have to come down there myself and see what it is that's taking up all your time. 

Maybe one day I'll get to meet Faye, not like I'll be going to college soon. It's been a month and I'm worried, I probably didn't get in. I should stop getting my hopes up, God knows that's the story of my life. Even If I did get in, I don't have enough money to stay past a year, and that's including financial aid. Guess you'll have to stay a priority, here I thought I was gonna get rid of ya. ;)

Sincerely the one and only,

Penelope.