Letters to a Mysterious Stranger [ONGOING]

Resolutions

(Sent on Jan 1st, Tuesday, 12:45 am, Dog Kennel Hill)

To: prisoner24601@mpu.edu.ph

From: jerusha.abad@gmail.com

Dear Zorro,

Happy New Year!

We're spending a quiet new year with the Natividads watching the fireworks on the Thames. The view is relatively ok from here.

I don't know what Tita Edna said to Julia, but she suddenly became civil to Jervis and me since yesterday. That's a start. She surprisingly joined the youtube karaoke session we had last night prior to the fireworks, and even sang a couple of songs. Honestly, she was not a bad singer. Jervis set it up by connecting his laptop to the Natividads' TV and some bluetooth speakers. Of course, he did vow to get the Natividads a magic sing for next year. I tried to avoid singing, but I couldn't refuse him when he pulled me towards him while he loaded an instrumental version of "Falling Slowly." I have a feeling that he picked that just to get me to sing, because I am less shy about singing when it is not a solo.

I am glad that I am spending more time with different people nowadays. I am on my way towards becoming more confident. With all the changes in my life recently, I've decided on a few resolutions and action plans for this year:

Befriend and try to connect to difficult people like Julia and Dorcas Get a job Try to tour more of the country, as this can be part of my education Invest on theatre and books that I will bring home Read up more on theory, and avoid defaulting to Foucault

I must admit that I thought of most of those during my conversations with our local Jedi Master, and life coach Jervis, though he does not seem to approve on number 2. He believes that I should try to enjoy my life here more, and I don't think he truly understands where I am coming from. I'm not being a killjoy. His idea of enjoying life involves spending a lot of money. I, of course, don't have a lot of it, and I am not the kind of person who asks for money. I believe one has to earn one's way through life. Maybe it's just because he grew up rich, and I didn't. I'm glad that I didn't grow up rich because it taught me contentment. Contentment teaches one to live in the now, and not regrets or future successes. That, I've discovered, is the secret of happiness. Of course, I am not perfect. A part of me still wishes that I could be prettier, smarter and well connected. You see, I am still a work in progress.

Gosh, I could so write a self-help book.

Yours philosophically,

Judy

PS. What are your new years' resolutions by the way? Maybe something that involves a letter to your little Judy every once in a while?

PPS. There is so much about Master Jervie that makes me think about you and I can't help but wonder...

(Sent on Jan 2nd, Wednesday, 3:15 pm, Dog Kennel Hill)

To: prisoner24601@mpu.edu.ph

From: jerusha.abad@gmail.com

Dear Zorro,

I just had a very embarrassing conversation that I had with Master Jervie today. I have to write about it because it concerns you, and I need to be honest to you.

While we were walking at Greenwich park, I asked him if he's you.

At first, he was confused because I never even told him that I have a benefactor. He assumed that I was on a Ford or government scholarship like the rest, so I had to tell him about you, and he was highly amused.

"Do you really think I go around Manila in a superhero costume driving a batmobile?" he said laughing.

I bit my lip. "It is possible."