The Cherry Trees

Chapter Eighteen: 2014

The last of  the brisk autumn leaves had fallen, and they were covered by a thin layer of crunchy white snow. Not the soft, fluffy kind that you can shape snowmen out of- the thin icy kind that was good for nothing except for soaking through your socks.

Winters here in England were much harsher than those in Georgia. I would often walk outside to go to the bus stop, and then immediately walk in to add another layer underneath my jacket. It was about mid- December now, and I only had a few weeks left here. The calendar I used to mark the days with big red X's was getting thinner and thinner, and there were fewer and fewer empty date boxes.

It was a Saturday morning, and since it was far too chilly outside, I decided to spend the day in the flat playing with Alice. Jeff was at lunch with Ms. Meyers and her fiancee, and my dad was working, so it was pretty quiet. Once Alice went down for a nap and Sesame Street was over, I decided to write a letter to Lexi, who hadn't responded in a week or so.

Lexi,

I don't know why you haven't replied to me for a while and I'm starting to feel a little neglected.

Just kidding -don't worry. But seriously, write back.

I was at a dance the other week and I was thinking of how when I get back to Georgia I am gonna have to dress up all over again for your brother's wedding. Anyways, I went with my friend Remy, and this other guy Zane. Apparently he likes me, but I don't believe it. Boys are so weird and complicated.Speaking of guys, how are they? Luke and Will, I mean. I miss them a lot. I guess I should try to write to them too.

I'm coming home soon, I promise. I really miss Georgia, and I know that I say that a lot, but it's only because it is so true. Hard to believe, right? I should be home in time for your birthday though! Eleven years old! We are almost preteens! I'm so excited to be a teenager. Even though that's a long time away. But it seems like forever until I get to come home. I miss it so much! You don't understand how much different it is living in the city where I can't really play outside. And it's so cold here too! There isn't really a day that I can go outside because I don't have a real winter jacket.

Christmas is almost here! Remy asked me if Santa came in Georgia, and I started laughing so hard thinking about our operation. It's kind of sad that he doesn't exist, that it was all one big lie for ten years of our lives. Anyways apparently she still believes in Santa so I had to tell her that he did... What do you want for Christmas?

At this point, I placed the pen on the table and put my face in my hands. This was not how we usually talked.

And it was at this point that it hit me.

Either it was just that I had to put my thoughts down on paper, or our friendship was slowly withering away.

I weighed the options, and thought about what I would say if I was talking to Lexi instead or writing. Doing this, I felt comfortable and like I could still tell her anything. But then I thought to how she hadn't writing back to me for a long time, or even called. I let my head slide onto the table and I inhaled the scent of the yellow lined paper.

"Anne!"

My head shot up, and my mom walked in with an envelope flopping from her hand. "Letter from Lexi," she said.

What great timing. I shot up from the table and practically flew over to my mom, tearing open the envelope.

Anne!

I'm so sorry I haven't written to you in a long time! I've been so busy. Actually, that's a lie. I just keep forgetting. Leslie is a monster. I know I've said that billions of times but I CAN"T STAND HER! She always cries and stuff like planning a wedding is so hard. Yeah, right. Woman! All you have to do is walk down an aisle without tripping! Tom is doing the harder part. He actually has to stick around and force himself not to run from the alter! Women these days. They are so emotional.

Anyways, that's my lame excuse for being disconnected from my best friend for a week. BUT I have a fantastic idea. You know what Skype is? It's a video calling thing on the computer, so we can see each other while we talk! It's so cool! Make one and then we can talk just like we do in person. My username is Lexi12345678910. Original, right?

There's only a few more weeks until you come home!!!!!! And you will be here for my birthday, right? I made my mom plan my party for later so you would definitely be there. But if you can't make my birthday, you HAVE to make the wedding. Anne, I will die if I have to go through that alone. Though it is kind of funny that Leslie thinks that I actually care about her. She asked me to be a flower girl, but when I saw the dress... let's just say it did not go over well. Anyways, got out of that one!

So this Zane kid. Luke is so jealous you can tell. I read him you last letter about that dance you went to and he got all red and angry. It was so cute!

But seriously, this kid better be nice.

I can take him. If he hurts you I will fly over to England and kick his (insert parent unapproved word here). Just kidding. Maybe.

Oh guess what! I made the A team in soccer! How's gymnastics by the way? Are you even doing it still? You haven't talked about it much if you have.

Well come home soon! We all miss you!

Love,

Lexi

I smiled after reading through the letter about three times, and then folded it up and slipped it back into the torn envelope. Then I slid it under my bed with the rest of the letters. So maybe I was just paranoid. Lexi did reply, she was just busy with the whole wedding. This thought made me happy, and I wrote a letter back effortlessly, stamped it and raced to the mailbox, not allowing enough time for the cold to seep in through my jacket. Then I made myself a cup of hot chocolate, pulled on an extra pair of socks,  and logged on to the computer to make myself a Skype account.